<mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net> wrote in message
news:chjbck$ebn$1@news.Stanford.EDU...
> Ryan Ginstrom <ryang@gol.com> wrote:
> > A lot of judo guys -- and probably even a lot of the guys in the
olympics -- 
> > are very strong on the mat. The fact that newaza is marginalized in
> > competition tends to reduce its focus in training, but that has been
true
> > since the first "judo vs. jujitsu" tournaments.
>
> We get a lot of guys coming through Cahill's from various countries.
> Seriously, the only guys worth fighting on the mat (to me) seem to
> be older (age 35 and up.) The younger guys, even much much bigger, don't
> have much technique.

I agree -- most of the really good mat fighters are older.

I think that at least in the case of judo, part of this is because of the
judo life cycle. You start with competition -- in Japan, just about the only
way to gain dan rank until about 5th dan -- then as you get older, you turn
more to newaza, the kata, the philisophical aspects of judo, and the like.

Another reason is because (I think) newaza neutralizes the speed advantage
more, thus it is easier for "old" people (30 and up) to hang.

I have had the honor of being taught by a 9th dan in his 80s. Being taught
newaza by him was mind blowing.

-- 
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
ryang@gol.com