Chris Taish is a BJJ black belt from Australia. Being 60 years old didn’t stop him from competing  in the adult division of the New South Wales Open in Australia.

He faced a 28 year old  BJJ player, the very popular Kit Dale :

From Chris’s facebook:

“Yesterday was the fulfillment of a promise that I made myself many years ago to compete until I was at least 60 years old .To make it even better I got to do this with one of my idols Kit Dale .For over 12 months I had this dream of rolling with Kit when I had turned 60 but I thought how would that ever happen .Everything just fell into place , as my good friend Julio injured himself and had to pull out and as he was drawn to fight Kit I asked to replace him. I talked to Kit during the day and found him to have a similar philosophy to me and he was very kind to me during our match letting me complete the 10 minutes and even letting me score some points.

I am so glad that at my age I can feel like a little kid getting to meet and roll with someone I admire.

This topped of last weekend where I got to roll with 4 World Champion’s Marcelo Rezende , Bruno Alves , Roberto “Tussa” Alancar and Marco Joca and with 2 Abu Dhabi finalists Guga Pinto and Nicholas Bova . I have now been competing in Martial Arts for 41 years and BJJ for 18 years in that time I have also had the opportunity to roll with Royce Gracie , Bruno Fernades , Rafael Correa “Gordiho” , Clarke Gracie , Flavio Almeida , Peter De Been , John Will , Bruno Pano , Elvis Sinosic , Anthony Lange , Paulo Guimaraes , Steve Oliver , Pina Simpson Rodney Ellis , Adam Kahoon , Jamie Ballard and many more , what a dream come true !! I said to Kit after the match if I could wrestle people like him I could compete forever despite his size , strength , skill and reputation he let me express myself with no fear of injury or being crushed , what a gentleman!!!
I compete because I always have but these days not to win , but to test my body to see can it still get out there and move and in some small way hoping to inspire other BJJ guys who think they are too old or that their students won’t respect them if they lose.
On another point I would like someone in the NSWBJJ Federation to look into the possibility of wearing my goggles when I compete. I know they are not IFBJJ approved but if you want someone who has been there from day 1 supporting the Federation , hopefully to continue inspiring older people to keep competing . The reason I wear the goggles is not for my eyesight but because I have had many serious eye injuries including a detached retina .After my last operation the surgeon said he could not save my eyes if they get injured again .My Goggles are a hinderance to me but it’s so I can keep my eyes and to continue doing what I love.”