There are a lot of individuals who start mixed martial arts at a much later age.
Is it too late in life to start exercising regularly? is a question everyone has asked themselves at some point. Certainly, when you start out at a young(er) age, the topic doesn’t really come up, but if you beginning in your late twenties, thirties, or even forties, you ask yourself if you should simply sit at home, read a nice book and watch TV programs or really throw yourself into some focused training?
No one is ever too old to start learning MMA techniques. You may start Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) at any age for a variety of benefits. Incorporating mixed martial arts into your life as an adult is a great way to improve your health, fitness, appearance, social life, and sense of well-being.
This is a valid concern in any field, but the unique and strenuous requirements of martial arts can lead to greater internal conflicts than in other fields. Among these disciplines is mixed-martial-arts (MMA) combat; in this piece, we’ll address the subject of whether or not a certain age is required to begin training in this discipline.
When It Comes to Sports, Age Matters
The majority of athletes got their start when they were very young. Kids do it because their parents push them to, but teens often initiate their own interdisciplinary exploration. Experts in all fields of science and medicine agree that regular physical exercise is essential, and they strongly recommend that youngsters begin participating in some kind of structured sports program as soon as possible.
Many of those kids won’t go pro, but that shouldn’t stop them from getting in shape.
But there are a lot of individuals who start practicing athletics at a much later age, despite having any previous athletic experience. We were unable to locate any hard statistics on this topic, but we can all think of at least one person in their thirties or forties who began exercising for enjoyment and health reasons by taking up jogging, working out, playing tennis, or basketball.
In addition, a quick Google search will turn up a plethora of message boards and forums where individuals discuss their own experiences getting into sports for the first time while wondering if they are too old.
Although most individuals fall as (solid) hobbyists, there are many famous cases of people who got into sports at extremely late ages yet went on to become pros. It wasn’t until 22 that Dikembe Mutombo, a future NBA All-Star, began playing basketball seriously.
Goalkeeper for the Spanish national football team Javi Varas didn’t sign his first performance agreement until he was 23 years old, although his tenure lasted until 2019.
The realm of martial arts, and mixed martial arts in particular, also provides enough illustration. The late, great Kimbo Slice, who went away suddenly in 2016, had an 8-2-1 record in professional mixed martial arts competition despite not beginning his career until he was 31 years old. Nate Quarry didn’t start doing any kind of sports until he was 24, and he didn’t make his MMA debut until the age of 29, while Brazilian MMA superstar Junior dos Santos didn’t start doing martial arts until he was 21.
Thus, you should not rush into the workforce in order to achieve professional success.
The age issue in sports is relevant not only to the beginning of athletic participation but also to its conclusion. The need of being physically active is undeniable, yet it becomes more challenging to compete at a professional level as one ages.
However, there are many instances of individuals who defy nature and social standards by continuing to play professional sports much beyond the age at which most people would consider it inappropriate. As an example, Egyptian Eez Eldin Baader, at the ripe old age of 75, still lace up his cleats for a third-division team.
Many mixed martial artists continued fighting professionally well into their forties and even their fifties; the famous Randy Couture won the UFC heavyweight belt in 2007 at the age of 45(!).
What Age Is Too Late to Start Mixed Martial Arts?
So, the short answer to your question is no, you are not too old to begin training in mixed martial arts. It’s never too late to start doing anything new, and mixed martial arts (MMA) is no exception. People may give you strange looks but remember: you’re only doing this for yourself.
