Never Too Late: Starting at 52 and Winning Gold with Mark Alexander

In this episode, I sit down with 56-year-old blue belt Mark Alexander. Although Mark didn’t begin his journey until his early 50s, he has already made a serious impact on the competition scene. In a relatively short time, he’s gone on to win gold at multiple major competitions around the world, proving that it’s never too late to begin.Outside the gym, Mark is a father of six, with kids ranging in age from 9 to 30, and a former Marine who served in both Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He brings that same discipline, resilience, and mindset into his jiu-jitsu journey.We talk about his approach to “big guy” jiu-jitsu, his experiences competing at a high level, and the mental side of training; especially when it comes to managing ego and staying focused. Mark also shares what drives his competitive edge and what it really means to have a winner’s mentality, regardless of when you start. I have to say this was one of my most inspirational episodes. Hope you enjoy!