Golden Oldies

[Helix]

Hi all,

Just wondering if you could answer a quick question for me?

It might come across as sounding a bit stupid but can Thai boxing still be done as you get older? What I mean is, as you get older you can't rely as much on the strength and power of your youth so does this mean that a martial art which relies heavily on power like Muay Thai is difficult to do as you grow older?

Is there anyone on the forum who is 40+ years old who still actively trains in Muay Thai? is it difficult/impossible to generate the power you could when you were 20?

Hope this isn't too much of a redundant question!

Thanks for all the help

-Helix-

[SoKKlab]

Hi Helix,
Firstly, I'm not 40 or over, not for a while yet, but I feel that I have to point out that, adults who are 40, 50 etc don't suddenly become weak and useless.

Branco C. was 43 when he came back to win the MT Heavyweight Championship, because he wanted to. Many Wrestlers have careers well into their Fifties.

Most men retain the majority of their strength well into later life.
My Dad can still drop me to my knees with one hand grip, so don't try and mug him for his pension...

Muay Thai training Develops strength and power, but this comes from being Relaxed and Fluid.

Yes there are 'Strength' Elements to Muay Thai but the longer I have trained in Muay Thai, the less I rely on Strength and more on Body Movement, Deflection and being sneaky, swift and experienced. I'm stronger and more powerful now, than I was when I was 20.

Also, make a differentiation between the two aspects of Muay Thai.

Those being the Ring Rules Muay Thai which is a Fighting sport and requires elevated levels of fitness to the extreme and Muay Boran which is the Martial Art side, which although, as with any Martial Art requires good fitness, has a different aim in mind regarding the application of its techniques.

Whereas training for Ring Rules Muay Thai is about an exchange of blows for 5x3 minute rounds.

The aim of Muay Boran is to smash someone to pieces ASAP and not neccessarily have an elongated fight with them. (If you are lucky enough to goto a camp or class that teaches Real Muay Thai including all the Muay Boran techniques).

Unfortunately most Muay Thai that is taught falls firmly into the Sport aspect of the Art, therefore when people get past a certain age, they stop doing the Art because they feel less inclined to compete, because it doesn't interest them any longer.

Organisations like the IMTF have come to realise that the majority of people doing Muay Thai are doing it for Self Defence and Fitness and not to compete and are trying very hard to retain people after they get past a certain age.

Obviously a good base level of fitness is important, but people can be very fit well into old age. 80 year olds can and regularly do run Marathons, something that I've never done.

So in answer to your question, I would say that it's all about Will and Intent.

If somebody is Seventy and wanted to practice Muay Thai they could, but they would train and practice differently to how a 20 year old would, but they'd still be the fittest Seventy year old that you'd ever meet and you wouldn't want to get a Leg kick off them.

[Helix]

Thanks for the reply! That's pretty much everything I was looking to hear really!

Any more comments are welcome but I think that covers everything, though it gives me an idea for another topic... more for the general section though...

Thanks again SoKKlab :)

-Helix-

[sercuerdasfight]

yes the banging wears your body out so your training needs to change with age. the thing is most men will have a hard time ring fighting as the get older. that being said the hard banging done at a young age will give priceless experience which we all know is why old men are dangerous.