Age question

[xnfx]

Hey guys I was wondering what everyones opinion is on starting to fight late. At what age do you feel it is too late to start fighting?

[South Carolina]

age

I am 28 and started training thai boxing 2 months ago. I have been fighting mma for a few years but wanted to transition over. So- I certainly don't think late 20's is too old at all. I feel like I am 18.

[Vince_Mt]

A few of the guys I train with are in thier late 20's and for all i knew they were about 19 -20 , lol
Im 17 , started 2 months ago , and im loving every bloody minute of it !
We even have some guys who are 40+ . they do fine , most have come over from boxing .

[KZL]

It's not the years, it's the milage. I love that quote. I'm 32 now, and that's not too old to fight. I have had several permanently dibilitating injuries that make it sketchy though. As you age, you will slow down, and not heal as quickly. For me it's my screwed elbow, my expensive dentistry repairs, my limited remaining ankle mobility, ect.... These types of things can make a young fighter have issues.

So I definately think it's the milage on the body more than the years in age.

Now, mind you that doesn't really affect training. You can train pretty safely well into your 50's. It's the full contact stuff that wears on a body.

Just my little opinion....

[HuSanYan]

y'aaaallll spring chickens!!
39 yrs old and still getting bashed
lovin it

[xnfx]

It's not the years, it's the milage. I love that quote. I'm 32 now, and that's not too old to fight. I have had several permanently dibilitating injuries that make it sketchy though. As you age, you will slow down, and not heal as quickly. For me it's my screwed elbow, my expensive dentistry repairs, my limited remaining ankle mobility, ect.... These types of things can make a young fighter have issues.

So I definately think it's the milage on the body more than the years in age.

Now, mind you that doesn't really affect training. You can train pretty safely well into your 50's. It's the full contact stuff that wears on a body.

Just my little opinion....

Great post, KZL!

HuSanYan, do you fight Amateur or Pro?

[HuSanYan]

HuSanYan, do you fight Amateur or Pro?

somewhere in between actually
ie. 'unlicensed' (UK scene), I train with pros nearly half my age which includes regular full contact sparring.
Here in the UK the ABA cut off age for fighting is 34 yrs old , so you've got to look elsewhere and you cant lie because they check your birth certificate

ps, I refer to Western boxing above, not Thai

[Ikken Hisatsu]

theres a guy at my gym who is over 40 and has recently had his first fight.

[Khun Kao]

I'm 34 and have fought 5 times this year, with a 6th fight coming up next month just before my 35th birthday.

I agree with what KZL posted, "It's not the years, it's the mileage!"

I started fighting when I was 23 years old. I had 8 fights in my first 2 years. Then I had TEN YEARS without a fight (numerous reasons). I returned to the ring this year and, as already stated, have had 5 more fights.

Its true. As you get older, your body slows down. You don't recover as quickly. When I was in my mid-20's and got dinged and banged up, I would just "man up" and train through it. The next day, I was typically fine.

Now? I get a little dinged up, I *literally* have to chill out for awhile. For instance, I sparred recently and got banged up real good. I've had to take the last week and a half off to recover!!!

I got a knot on my shin performing a fight exhibition almost a month ago, and the knot is still on my shin and I cannot kick with contact using that leg in practice.

I have gimpy ankles. I have to really warm up a lot and stretch and massage my ankles and wear TWO PAIRS of ankle supports to keep from twisting/spraining my ankles in training again.

I jammed a finger boxing over a week ago, I still cannot punch though I have been resting the hand ever since.

These little injuries are things that when I was younger, I would all but ignore and keep going. Now, these little things mean STOP!!!!

But you still have to come back to the point of how well you have taken care of yourself over the years. A perfect example would be Frank Bamford who fights for Master Green in Las Vegas, NV. Frank was my intended opponent back in September in NYC. Though the fight ended up falling through, Frank is FORTY YEARS OLD and KICKING ASS! If I'm correct, his record is 6-0, and he fights under full Thai rules (5 rounds, elbow and knee strikes to the head allowed).

As you get older, you just have to train smarter.....

[kimz]

I'm 16...and I'm starting next week wooohooooo!

Oh, and I don't think it matters how old you are...just as long as you can handle it

[silapathai]

age

yeah I don't speak form my own experience..but I used to train with my father when I first started Muay Thai..before Muay Thai we trained in karate together too when I was very young. My father is a godan in shito ryu but is 50 now and really couldn't handle muay thai on a realistic scale because of bumps on the shin and the simple fact his body can't recover as fast..over the last 2 years I have been giving serious thought to muay thai even being practical once I'm in my mid 40s... My Dad is a pretty tough character, but you can't outrun growing older. I'll probably still train people in muay thai when I'm a lot older and train a little bit but focus more seriously on karate or something of lighter contact when I'm older..just my .02.