Thinking about fighting again... What do you think GLP?

Nobody? Honestly rather surprised. Figured the drunk ass express would be more than happy to express their limited opinion on the matter...

Yeah, bumping my own thread. Gimme your thoughts.

Only you can decide what's right for you. Is it some inner need to challenge yourself or is it something else?

What are the pros of doing it?
What are the cons?

Once you list those, it's up to you to determine which list is a stronger argument.

health is far more important

pass

Work out at home, get a punching bag a kick bag and forget commenting suicide, just from the problems you named not me.

It does help if you find the right work out for your problems, they then get better. No sense fighting if you know there the best chance, that they other guys or gals could beat you six ways to Sunday.

17 years is a long time. I am guessing you are in your late thirties or possibly forties.

What kind of fighting? Boxing? MMA? Big difference between the two. MMA is always evolving. I started going to an MMA gym a few months ago after years of boxing. Big changes have taken place in the 5-6 years since I trained (especially in grappling).

When you say amateur boxing, do you mean Golden Gloves? USA? School/college? If you are thinking of turning pro - what are your goals? Do you think you can become champion? It isn't unheard of, but there are only a handful of fighters I can think of that did much after 40.

Are you wanting to fight for money? If you had a name at one point, you could get fights based upon that. They would be fights where you'd be the underdog to an extreme, but they pay whether you win or lose. I actually knew a guy that was a semi decent boxer, but all of the fights he took were ones he'd probably lose. Nevertheless, it paid his bills, but what's he going to do after that? Boxing doesn't exactly come with a 401K.

If you are wanting to fight for the pureness of fighting and to test yourself, I get it. That's where I am at. I enjoy boxing, Muay Thai, and to a much lesser degree Jiu Jitsu. But, I have no designs on fighting pro. I have a career and other interests as well.

Anyway, these are some things to ask yourself. You'll be in the ring/cage, not me. You have to decide.

It is simply the need to feel something again. I don't feel much that can be considered good these days. I have great things and great people in my life still but I still want something more. Bigger. More significant if nothing better.

I have done the pro/con list. It ends up only confusing me more. The pro side is much shorter these days but it is all the stuff that actually matters. The con side is just a bunch of fearful bullshit. Legs hurt. Knees hurt. Back hurts. Blah blah blah.

I want to feel alive again. 10 seconds of life feel like they would be worth the pain.

Obviously you see where my mind is going but the post below yours provides the biggest reason for not going back. I will likely shorten my life by doing this.

So yeah. I want to live again. Finally.

Where are you at OP?

I may be in the same boat as you.

What I DO KNOW ... is that it's alot harder to get back to where you once were when you take that long of top-level time off.

It's fuckin easy when you're in your 20s.

A little harder after 30.

And alot harder after those 40s..

Your thyroid and metabolism aren't the same and your arteries aren't either.

I'm a self-imposed guinea pig on all this.

Good luck if you attempt it, but it will seriously be hard to go the distance with top talent. Better go for the early knock-out!

No MMA. I did that stuff for a bit but I wasn't as good on the ground as I was standing up. I would get hurt these days. To answer your question, I am late thirties.

If I were to go back, I would go either boxing or tourney circuit in American Freestyle. I am not looking for titles. Just to fight. Maybe to win.

My name would only play in the tourny circuit for TKD and AFS. With boxing, I was average. Maybe a bit better.

You are right. It is the pureness of fighting. I don't want to go pro. I do however want to play the game. I am tired of stagnating. I am strong. I am fast. I am out of shape but I feel like I have potential that exceeds a great many people I see playing the game at my age these days. I just want to feel again.

Thanks for your good questions. You have given me some stuff to think about.

DFW for the moment. Might be moving to Cincinnati area in the near future. Depends on work. I know it is harder. Shit, walking to the truck is harder every day. Much less training to kill the shithead who decided to get in the ring with me. I am willing to do it though. I am sick of wasting away. I need to fucking respect myself again. Whether it is this or something else, I need something bigger than simply existing for the sake of...

Thanks to those of you that gave me something to think about. I am going to sleep on it and see what my first thought is in the morning. If I wake up wanting to play the game, it is on. If not, I will find a new hobby that will fill the void.

I am open to other opinions or options if anyone is up for giving their thoughts on the matter. I want to make the right decision as best I am able.

[link to youtu.be (secure)]

Your warrior spirit is demanding a return to the ring/octogon - go Pro or stay at home...anyone thinking of fighting on the amateur circuits at age 35+ is risking too much for too little.


If you just want to attain that "winning feeling" again - earn a black belt in Karateka (or some other hard style) and fight competitively in a safe/controlled/potentially non-lethal environment. This way you can also feel the intense satisfaction that comes with passing on your skills to a new generation- as well as the rush of Victory.


However, as you admit to being out of shape- I strongly recommend getting super fit (again) and check your recovery times compared to ten years ago...cardio will make or break any comeback ambitions that you may aspire toward, in or out of the ring. Best of luck!

So youre probably in your mid 40s or 50s with a lot of aches and pains and havent fought in 17 years? Yeah I wouldnt recommend coming back just to get your ass kicked.

That's simple. Do something that you can be proud of. Find something to contribute to that helps a lot of people. Volunteer for worthwhile things, or learn to make furniture or something. Woodworking is rewarding, gets the mind focused on things other than the negatives you've stated, and you can be proud of the finished results. You don't have to fight to regain your self-respect.

If you were that good, why not take on a protege to teach? Find accomplishment in knowing that you helped someone achieve their goals.

I 100% applaud you for trying and going for it. If it was EASY, everyone would/could do it themselves.

That is why I want to try. I can still run 18:30 for a flat 5k but I can't sprint like I used to. And the hand-speed is slower now. My legs are stronger though.

Years of apathy and aging-acceptance put you behind the eight-ball and make everything seem uphill with avalanches in your path.

You just can't give up, though.

For that is certain DEATH..

Op, there are other ways to feel "alive".

Feed your ego another way....you are past your prime...pushing yourself in a young mans game will not end well.
Think about when you turn 50, how are your hands going to function. You wont even be able to jerk off due to the arthritus and other joint issues.
...do you really think your face and skin can toughen up the way its needed in the time you have left in the game?

if theres any sort of contact at all, your face will be sliced up because it wont be conditioned...and thats JUST one part of the game....

Feed your ego another way...or suffer...its your call!

Put that quote on your wall somewhere to remind you every single day.

I'm gonna do this also.

OP, don't do it.
It is not worth the health risk.

If you want to be involved again, why not start teaching others how to fight?

You should go on the speaking circuit. I wanna burn the world down after reading that.

Thanks everyone. Time for bed. For real this time. I appreciate everyone chiming in. I will let you know how it goes.

Well???

:youreafag:

I would just concentrate on getting in shape. Why risk an eye injury or worse?

If I were your age I'd be going after IT computer certifications.