Muay Thai after 25?

[Sasami2000]

I've been told that Muay Thai is best intended for people in their late teens to mid twenties, but after that they've pretty much shot their knees and can't do it anymore. I've met a couple former MT people who are not even 30 and can't do it anymore because of their knees; I guess all full contact kicks to the legs and stuff finally weighed in.

So my question is: Is this pretty much true for everyone in MT?

[adacas]

it is true that thai food is hard on you but the truth is that is just a generalization. I used to know a couple of 30 somethings from school who still competed although I don't know how well. Hell it used to be that as soon as you hit 32 in most sports you were on track to retirement. Now look at people like Michael Jordan, Couture, George Foreman who are old enough to be some of the other competitors daddies and still compete. The age of retirement seems to get higher every generation if you ask me.

[eddyfb]

I started training last month and I just turned 35! This is my first martial art training of any kind. So far so good.
I would say 90% of the people in my classes have been 25 and under. But a few have been my age or maybe even a little older.
I gotta say that I am having a great time and I'm hooked!

[Damian Mavis]

If you started fighting at 10 like some of the fighters here in Thailand and by the time you were 25 you had 250 fights under your belt then ya I could see that happening. But if you're just some shmuck like me that started Muay Thai at 27 and started fighting at 29 then NO OF COURSE NOT, HOW FRICKIN RIDICULOUS! Knee problems? Maybe the people you are talking about have bad technique so hurt their knees that way? People in TKD do the same thing, they kick wrong year after year so develop knee problems down the road.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[Sasami2000]

If you started fighting at 10 like some of the fighters here in Thailand and by the time you were 25 you had 250 fights under your belt then ya I could see that happening. But if you're just some shmuck like me that started Muay Thai at 27 and started fighting at 29 then NO OF COURSE NOT, HOW FRICKIN RIDICULOUS! Knee problems? Maybe the people you are talking about have bad technique so hurt their knees that way? People in TKD do the same thing, they kick wrong year after year so develop knee problems down the road.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

Well I was mostly talking about people that started earlier....that their knees couldn't take it too long. It's something that I've heard from a lot of people...that you just can't last that long in MT. I've even met people that have confirmed the notion. I was simply asking what other MT trainers thought.

What ever happened to just having a conversation? I know kids and dumb schmucks are all too common on forums, but is it too hard to ask the flamers to attempt to have a civil converstation before they jump to hasty insults because they don't understand/like the topic?

[Damian Mavis]

You misread the tone of my post, I was being funny and humorous... or at least trying! haha I thought it was funny because if it was true then I'm an old man and should be walking with a cane thanks to the hardships of Muay Thai. If you train safe and only fight occasionally (or like alot of MT practitioners NEVER!) than you have nothing to worry about. I've done more damage to my body doing TKD than Muay Thai.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[Sasami2000]

Oh! My bad then! Sorry for the confusion

[S.Anucha]

Well I was mostly talking about people that started earlier....that their knees couldn't take it too long. It's something that I've heard from a lot of people...that you just can't last that long in MT. I've even met people that have confirmed the notion. I was simply asking what other MT trainers thought.

One of our teachers, the head man is 55 years old, he has no phyisical problems apart from a little flab hanging round his gut, he is in good condition and can still kick and knee with better technique than some of the students. Master Sken is also touching 50 and would make some 20 year olds look like beginners, Ernesto hoost is 41 and fights at professional and top level competition. I have met many, 100's literally, of retired Thaiboxers, all but a very few have no problems but the odd scar round the face.

Muay Thai isnt what destroys your body its fighting that does that. 25 years old is a mean age to start competition fighting. 25 to 30 is when you are at a kind of peak of strength, some say its below 25,like 20 - 25, some say that 25 to 30 is a great age to start fighting. Its all about how you feel and how your body feels.

Danger? of course, just as dangerous as playing football or mountain biking. Damaging for the knees? if you take any sport up in a competitive manner you are going to be pushing yourself to the limits so its normal to carry injuries, by the way as you get older your body heels the same speed as when you younger, it never changes. Your Vo2 level drops by a mere 1% every year after the age of 25 and this can be slowed down by keeping fit.

[Tom Yum]

You misread the tone of my post, I was being funny and humorous... or at least trying! haha I thought it was funny because if it was true then I'm an old man and should be walking with a cane thanks to the hardships of Muay Thai. If you train safe and only fight occasionally (or like alot of MT practitioners NEVER!) than you have nothing to worry about. I've done more damage to my body doing TKD than Muay Thai.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

Damian, at the ripe old age of 30 I'm sorry to say you're simply too old to be doing muay thai and any of the knockouts, TKOs or decision wins you've made at the 25 yr old middle age and older are discredited...jj

As long as you condition your body and listen to it, there shouldn't be any problems. Also if you spar at 100% intensity 7 days a week you will get injured. Some trainers recommend sparring at about 60% once or twice a week to keep timing, speed, defense, footwork etc. and bumping it up 2-3 weeks before an event.

Combat athletes in general are finding ways to compete into their 40s and beyond. George Forman came back in the 80s to win the IBF? heavy weight title - he was about 46 at the time, Ernesto Hoost is still fighting inhumanly strong giants at 41, Randy Couture 40 holds the UFC light heavyweight title. I don't think anyone ever told them they were too old and accurate saying so.

[MuayThaiFighter]

I've been told that Muay Thai is best intended for people in their late teens to mid twenties, but after that they've pretty much shot their knees and can't do it anymore. I've met a couple former MT people who are not even 30 and can't do it anymore because of their knees; I guess all full contact kicks to the legs and stuff finally weighed in.

So my question is: Is this pretty much true for everyone in MT?

That's bullshit,I'm 34 and I'm in Muay Thai.It's true I've taken quite a beating but I'm far from finished,I plan on continueing for at least another 5-6 yrs.then I'll go on to something less aggressive but still realistic like Judo or Aikido.

My instructor and coach fought in UFC about 2 to 3 yrs.ago and he's only 1 yr.younger then me but has been in martial arts way longer then me.When he was 31 he knocked his apponent out in UFC with knee kick. He fights Pankration which is what I train in but I fight mostly MuayThai.

[MuayThaiFighter]

it is true that thai food is hard on you but the truth is that is just a generalization. I used to know a couple of 30 somethings from school who still competed although I don't know how well. Hell it used to be that as soon as you hit 32 in most sports you were on track to retirement. Now look at people like Michael Jordan, Couture, George Foreman who are old enough to be some of the other competitors daddies and still compete. The age of retirement seems to get higher every generation if you ask me.

The reason for that is because athletes are taking better care of their bodies then they did years ago.In general we eat healthier and therefore last longer in our sports and martial arts so are able to retire at a higher age.

[SOUTHPAW]

The reason for that is because athletes are taking better care of their bodies then they did years ago.In general we eat healthier and therefore last longer in our sports and martial arts so are able to retire at a higher age.

Not only are we "eating better", there are a lot of scientifically formulated sports nutrition supplements available. There is also a lot more science behind the types of training that we do, as far as strength and conditioning are involved. I am 33 years old and I am as fit and fast as any guy 10 yrs. younger than me at my gym. I am happy to report that anyone can enjoy this type of "longevity" in this sport if they prepare appropriatly. Look at Bernard Hopkins, from western boxing, he just destroyed William Joppy (the former champ) and was a couple weeks shy of his 39th. birthday.

[osopardo]

...look at people like Michael Jordan, Couture, George Foreman....

Foreman?!? How old was he when he stopped fighting pro?

[osopardo]

...George Forman came back in the 80s to win the IBF? heavy weight title - he was about 46 at the time,...

Oops! That's what happens when you shoot off your mouth before reading thru the whole thread.

[retired]

I was fighting & training thai into my 30's & only stopped competing because the misses didn't want to see me fight with metalwork in my leg (bri before you awnser ).