Popular podcast host and BJJ black belt Joe Rogan recently shared valuable insights about practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as practitioners age, drawing from his experience with legendary instructor Jean Jacques Machado.
Speaking about sustainable training methods, Rogan emphasized the importance of adapting one’s rolling style with age. He pointed to his instructor since 1998, Jean Jacques Machado, as a prime example of longevity in the sport.
“When Jean Jacques rolls, he never moves fast. There’s no fast. His knowledge is so wide,”
Rogan explained, describing Machado’s technical approach to rolling.
“He’s talking to you. ‘Joe Rogan, Joe Rogan, I’m about to pass your guard.’ Like he’s talking s**t to you. He does whatever he wants. But it’s smooth and slow, and because of that, he does not get hurt.”
Rogan highlighted how Machado, now in his 50s, continues to demonstrate high-level BJJ while maintaining his health.
“He still like looks fantastic. He’s filled with energy, trains all the time,”
Rogan said.
The key takeaway from Rogan’s advice was clear: practitioners need to adjust their approach as they age.
“You can’t do that ape s**t that you did when you were 23,”
he noted, emphasizing the importance of technique over bursts of movement.
Machado’s success story serves as an inspiring example for BJJ practitioners looking to maintain their training well into their later years, showing that with the right approach, age doesn’t have to be a barrier to continued practice and improvement.
