Help me fight at the World Masters BJJ championship 2025

Please donate to help me fight at the World Masters IBJJF Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Las Vegas 2025 and complete a crucial chapter in my book ‘Old Man Fighting’

A true story of confrontation and emotional recovery, my Brazilian Jiu jitsu adventure is also a rage against old age. It reveals how physical, intellectual, and emotional decline is not inevitable and that spectacular growth and change can happen at any age.

I am now 65 years old. I started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu without any experience of contact or combat sports. I have now been training three times a week for three years. I started competing 18 months in and now have eight medals. I am the current European Champion in the Master 7 Blue Belt Middle Weight division, and ranked 2nd in the world, just 18 points behind the top position.

So far, I have self-funded all eight of my competitions in the UK, Europe and America. However, a change of circumstances means I don’t have the cash to fund my trip to Las Vegas to fight in the World Masters this August. I get my state pension this December when I’m 66 years old, but for now I’m reaching out to anyone who is interested in my story and would like to help, even if it’s only to share this fund raiser to a wider audience.

My funding target of £4,367 includes £140 for my competition entry fee, £472 for accommodation, £820 for my flight, £285 for the train and taxi’s, £200 for sustenance and £2,500 to allow me to take four weeks off work for more focused training and proper rest periods before the competition.

My inspirational coach and teammates at Yama Jiu-Jitsu, have got me this far with all their care and enthusiasm and to bring back a Worlds Masters Medal from Las Vegas, would be the best possible way to thank them!

I’m also hoping that my story will help shift the perception of old age as a time of inevitable decline and inspire more people to use Brazilian Jiu jitsu to change their lives.

Thank you for reading this.

Richard