I’m 35 and have been training for about 3 years. I’m entering my first grappling competition in August (NAGA) and am thinking about doing my first MMA fight sometime next year. For those of you who have started late in the sport - what are the biggest obstacles you have faced? Do you think you can legitimately compete at this age?
[quote]MMAguy wrote:
I’m 35 and have been training for about 3 years. I’m entering my first grappling competition in August (NAGA) and am thinking about doing my first MMA fight sometime next year. For those of you who have started late in the sport - what are the biggest obstacles you have faced? Do you think you can legitimately compete at this age?[/quote]
My .02 cents.
- conditioning
- Recovery
- Time spent training -alot of guys are young and have less responsiblity and such allowing them to train 3-5hrs a day for the fight.( no disrespect for the young guys)
4.what weight are you? - Know how to cut weight ?
My conditioning is good but recovery takes a while longer .
I have to keep my diet real clean -all the time or I feel it in later in the workout. I would start to follow Randy Couture’s diet strategy.
Also hows the stand-up?
I’m 38 and just started training last November. This weekend I’ll be competing in my third grappling competition. I have a slight urge to do at least one amateur MMA fight, but I don’t know if I’ll ever actually do it. But, I’m completely addicted to BJJ, so I plan on competing as often as possible for as long as possible.
As for obstacles, the biggest for me has been dealing with joint pain. I definitely have to spend a lot more time and effort on recovery than the young guys do. Also, I tend to be less athletic than most of the young guys I roll with, so I need to have better technique to win.
pretty sure randy couture started at like 33 or something, it is totally possible and depends on the person
if you want to compete then do it
[quote]DSmith111 wrote:
I’m 38 and just started training last November. This weekend I’ll be competing in my third grappling competition. I have a slight urge to do at least one amateur MMA fight, but I don’t know if I’ll ever actually do it. But, I’m completely addicted to BJJ, so I plan on competing as often as possible for as long as possible.
As for obstacles, the biggest for me has been dealing with joint pain. I definitely have to spend a lot more time and effort on recovery than the young guys do. Also, I tend to be less athletic than most of the young guys I roll with, so I need to have better technique to win.
[/quote]
Do you compete in both open and masters categories?
Masters and Mens, in my weight class. I haven’t done any open weight competition if that’s what you’re referring to.
I usually sign up for Masters and Mens Gi and No-Gi, but only end up competing in one or two of the four, depending on results and time.
I was supposed to compete today, but had to cancel because of scheduling conflicts. My next competition will be on July 19th.
[quote]MMAguy wrote:
I’m 35 and have been training for about 3 years. I’m entering my first grappling competition in August (NAGA) and am thinking about doing my first MMA fight sometime next year. For those of you who have started late in the sport - what are the biggest obstacles you have faced? Do you think you can legitimately compete at this age?[/quote]
I almost want to say you’re too fucking old just to give you a little extra motivation hehe. I’m 40 and often question if I should be spending this much time training but I do fucking love it and have not been doing it a terribly long time. My hope is that my son will gain more and more interest so I can enroll him when I feel like the time is right - it’s a strong secondary motivation for me.
Do I think you can legitimately compete at this age - hell yes. However, I advise that you enjoy the ride rather than the results of your fights. Your doing something you have a passion for - fuck whatever anybody else thinks.
edit PS take lots and lots of Flameout!
At the academy where I train BJJ there are two ‘older’ people. One guy started in his late 40’s, out of shape with various health problems, he worked hard and went on to take gold at weight and open division of the men’s blue belt masters at the Europeans this year.
The other is a 40-something year old woman, she weighs about 50kg and she gives some of the guys a hard time on the mat. Both of them inspire me so much with their determination and resiliency, proving to me that you’re never too old, too small, too weak etc.
I think if you try to match strength with strength, cardio with cardio with younger guys you may end up frustrated. In that case I think it’s important to be slicker and find ways to steer the game to your advantage, tricking them into distributing their weight or moving the way you want them to instead of using force. Different positions work for different bodies and it’s a matter of finding what works for you.
Start after 35? I started at 25, and fought off and on since(last fight was July 06, I was 29), but due to current job(parent command won’t allow MMA competition) my next fight won’t be until 38 or older(after military retirement).
I’m 41 and i compete in both boxing and mma. also, my trainer is 40 and competes mma, and we have several guys at our training center who compete in boxing and/or mma who are in their late 30s.
for me, the only change is that i have to train smarter…after a lifetime of exercising my body has a certain amount of accumulated stress, and i’ve had to learn that there are some things (e.g. bench presses) that i just can’t do while training for fighting. other than that, i’m in the best condition of my life, and plan to keep fighting for a long time.
[quote]FISCHER613 wrote:
- Time spent training -alot of guys are young and have less responsiblity and such allowing them to train 3-5hrs a day for the fight.( no disrespect for the young guys)
[/quote]
None taken old timer 
MMAguy, are you talking about ‘Battle at the Beach’ Aug 2? I plan on going and I’m 40. I plan on competing in the ‘Masters’ division but I may also enter the Absolute for fun.
[quote]DSmith111 wrote:
I’m 38 and just started training last November. This weekend I’ll be competing in my third grappling competition. I have a slight urge to do at least one amateur MMA fight, but I don’t know if I’ll ever actually do it. But, I’m completely addicted to BJJ, so I plan on competing as often as possible for as long as possible.
As for obstacles, the biggest for me has been dealing with joint pain. I definitely have to spend a lot more time and effort on recovery than the young guys do. Also, I tend to be less athletic than most of the young guys I roll with, so I need to have better technique to win.
[/quote]
9 months and already competing in your third tournament. That’s impressive. What does your training look like (i.e., how often, how long, weights v. BJJ).
I’m 37 and considering getting into it. I have two sons who have been training for several months, and the other dads have about convinced me.
It’s not really impressive. They have competition levels for us old beginners. That’s what I love about the sport. You can keep the competitive juices flowing for as long as you want.
I train BJJ 3 days per week. One thing that helps is that my school is really close to my work, so I can sneak out for the Monday and Wednesday day classes during my lunch break.
As for weight training, I also do 3 days. I’m a morning person so I�??m usually out of the gym by 7:30am.
[quote]Patriarch wrote:
DSmith111 wrote:
I’m 38 and just started training last November. This weekend I’ll be competing in my third grappling competition. I have a slight urge to do at least one amateur MMA fight, but I don’t know if I’ll ever actually do it. But, I’m completely addicted to BJJ, so I plan on competing as often as possible for as long as possible.
As for obstacles, the biggest for me has been dealing with joint pain. I definitely have to spend a lot more time and effort on recovery than the young guys do. Also, I tend to be less athletic than most of the young guys I roll with, so I need to have better technique to win.
9 months and already competing in your third tournament. That’s impressive. What does your training look like (i.e., how often, how long, weights v. BJJ).
I’m 37 and considering getting into it. I have two sons who have been training for several months, and the other dads have about convinced me.
[/quote]
How old are your sons if you don’t mind me asking? My son turns 5 in August but he could easily pass for 6.
I didn’t really start late, but I have a guy who I’m training right now. He just started a year ago and he’s 39. He will be fighting his first ametuer fight in October. He will crush any 20 year old with experience. The fact is
How hard you train
How fast you learn
Who your instructors are
Past/future injuries
Heart
Desire
etc.
You want to be good and have fight? You will then. Just make up time by putting your foot in all the way and search for what you need to get you there.
Get your Conditioning down to fit your body and make you at peak performance. Find a “Great” MMA school. Eat right and study the sport. It’s not to late. Worst case scenario you took the time to get yourself fit and gain more respect for the sport. Good luck. You need any advice/help i can give you what I have learned. Take (I do) advice when you can and give it back. That’s what helps you along the way and others.
Obstacles will only be yourself. Stick with it. You have plenty of time to compete. Be the best ever? Who knows, but time isn’t on your side. Be great and compete…for sure!!!
My sons are 6 and 12. The coach they’re training with currently has kids from about 5 to 14. My 6 year old loves it. He’s always been strong for his size/age (great genetics, I guess), so he’s doing great. There is another 6 year old in the class who has been training for about a year, and they’re a great match up and fun to watch.
The 12 year old is having fun as well. Most of the other boys his age, including the coach’s son, have been training for several years, so he’s learning technique as fast as he can to stay alive. Some of the boys competed in the Dallas NAGA competition last month and won the thing.
If your son’s interested, encourage him. It has been great for my boys.
Great post, Millhouse.
[quote]Patriarch wrote:
Great post, Millhouse.[/quote]
Thanks, appreciate it. Nothing I enjoy more than learning and teaching. If we are not doing both, than what’s the point?
[quote]Patriarch wrote:
How old are your sons if you don’t mind me asking? My son turns 5 in August but he could easily pass for 6.
My sons are 6 and 12. The coach they’re training with currently has kids from about 5 to 14. My 6 year old loves it. He’s always been strong for his size/age (great genetics, I guess), so he’s doing great. There is another 6 year old in the class who has been training for about a year, and they’re a great match up and fun to watch.
The 12 year old is having fun as well. Most of the other boys his age, including the coach’s son, have been training for several years, so he’s learning technique as fast as he can to stay alive. Some of the boys competed in the Dallas NAGA competition last month and won the thing.
If your son’s interested, encourage him. It has been great for my boys. [/quote]
Thanks! I think I’ll let him roll for the free week and gage his interest from there.
Peace