Age is Just a Number: Roger Mayer's Inspiring Jiu-Jitsu Journey

At the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2025, one competitor stood out not for the medals he won, but for his incredible spirit and commitment.

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Roger Mayer, a 69-year-old from Australia, captivated spectators with a performance that proved passion knows no age limit.

Competing in the Masters division for brown belts, Mayer faced an opponent twenty years his junior. Despite a narrow one-point loss to Russian athlete Gasan Dzhamalutdinov, he left the mat with a smile.

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"I turned 69 last October, and my opponent was 49 and very strong," Mayer said. "But I was happy he couldn’t take me down or submit me. I stayed in the fight until the end... For me, that’s enough to call it a successful experience."

A former police officer of 35 years, Mayer discovered his love for jiu-jitsu after retirement. He now trains almost daily near Wollongong, south of Sydney.

While he practiced martial arts in his youth, he says jiu-jitsu has become his favorite due to its unique blend of physical and mental challenges.

For Mayer, competing in Abu Dhabi was a long-awaited highlight, and he praised the event's professional organization and the welcoming sportsmanship he encountered.

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Though he may not be chasing medals, Roger Mayer’s journey is a powerful reminder of what it means to compete for the love of the sport. Through jiu-jitsu, he has found not just fitness, but a renewed sense of purpose and motivation, demonstrating that the will to challenge oneself can transcend age.

Source: wam

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