Age and keeping motivated

[Soreshins]

Not sure if this is right forum for this but....

I've recently turned 38. I've been training in MA since I was 15. It was a long and varied process through which I achieved black belts in korean and chinese martial arts. However, I was never really satisfied that what I was learning was any good for self defence or even full contact ring fighting.

The only reason I mention that is that this in itself was a motivation to keep on learning and trying new things. Because i actually knew that what i was learning wasn't that great it made me search for new and different training methods etc etc.

Anyways, around 4 or 5 years ago I decided to scrap all that and get into Muay Thai and Bjj/no-gi grappling. This involved a 1.5 hour drive each way usually 3 times a week. I loved it. But over time, the financial and time pressures caught up and I struggled more and more to make it to classes.

In the meantime I went to Thailand to train 4 times. Most times were for 3-4 weeks but for one period I actually took unpaid leave and went over for 6 months and had 2 fights. That was about a year and a bit ago.

Anyway, the point of all that rambling is really to paint the picture that I've now reached a stage where i'm struggling to get motivated. I've always had either something new or a new challenge (e.g go and have a fight in thailand) to motivate me. Now, i'm just scratching my head and thinking "why the f**k are u doing this?"

I'm know never going to be a Lumpinee/K-1/UFC/ADCC champ.

Don't get me wrong. I love training. And I really want to keep training as long as I possibly can. But my mind is playing games with me and I want to beat it.

So how do you older guys keep motivated?

[DetoxGuru.com]

I am 37 in March, I dont train mma but have been doing alot of gym/swimming etc (about 15hours a week ) for months and months now I stay motivated because exercise , along with a large amount of bizarre supplements are gonna help me to stay young for as long as I want, plus the fact that my g/f is alot younger than me I need to stay in shape or she'll be off with a young buck.

I dont think I would be able to stay motivated if I had to drive a long way to training , theres nothing more de-motivating than having a long drive somewhere.

Maybe a break from combat training and pick up something else mountain biking/swimming etc , that would be better than giving up fitness related activities altogether.

[Manny]

I am 38 this year and find it hard finding time when kids and work come in to play.But what i do find is that if i stop training i cant rest and find it hard to fill the void after years of training it has become a lifestyle so i want to carry on have a few more fights to keep focused and enjoy the training even though i think What the F##K for at times because at the end of the day your a long time DEAD.

[DetoxGuru.com]

i just got back from the gym biked there and biked back 7 miles each way , on way back wind blowing a gale the whole way , i thought fuck i wish i had driven :)

[Shaolin Exile]

My motivation was partly about personal goals, partly about laying some demons to rest andf partly knowing that many people my age and perhaps even younger couldn't stand the pace.


FWIW, I returned to martial arts after a long break aged 42 and trained MMA from age 46 to age 51. My reasons for stoppign were quite varied but aggrevating an old injury wasd th last straw that broke the camel's back

[DetoxGuru.com]

^^ do you still train at the gym etc???

[Shaolin Exile]

Just running twice a week with an occasional midweek run. I'm trying to find some time to do a daily circuit but as I have to go out at 7.30 every morning and don't get in until 7pm or even 8pm on a weekday, plus take my grandson to football on Sunday mornings there's not much time as I usually fall asleep by about 10pm every night.

[DetoxGuru.com]

sounds like your working too hard mate , as you get older you should be working less not more :)

[Shaolin Exile]

It's as much about having to share the care of my 6 year old grandson as work, but you're probably right.

[Mike Bishop]

Lot of old guys on here ! I'm 38 this year and although I accept I'm not going to set the world on fire, I still love training and competing. I only compete at BJJ/sub-wrestling these days but get a kick out of it. I do BJJ 3 x a week, Thai 1 x week and strength/conditioning 2 x a week during my lunchbreak.

I'm never going to be world champion but I still have goals and want to pass this passion and enthusiam for martial arts onto my kids. I don't whether it's vanity or pride but I often look at mates the same age who are in terrible shape and think to myself I am never going to look like that. Most importantly though I still really enjoy it.

Rick Young has always been an inspiration and I train with a 61 year old ex Olympic judoka who still has the passion for it. I just want to keep learning.

[DetoxGuru.com]

It's as much about having to share the care of my 6 year old grandson as work, but you're probably right.

kudos for that , must be hard work .

[sdevine]

good post mike bishop

am 35 this year.

my goal is not to be fat, to keep training, keep getting better. i get 4 good sessions in a week.
i also would like to be fit enough to teach my boy

[pie eater]

I was 44 yesterday and now training harder than ever in my life.
Going to have my first fight later this year.
Cant wait to be in shape, its a very slow process at present, but I just keep plugging away concentrating on that visualization of being at Welterweight at 44 after the last 10 years spent at 135 kilos !!!!

Just going into the Garden to do a Turkish Get Ups and MHR Interval session !!!

[Lou]

Oooh cool , mma?

There's hope for me then,a mere 31 1/2 year old? :D

[DanCrase]

I turned 27 last month, and I used to often feel old with a lot of things I did; not because of my age; but the miles on my clock. I've lived on my own and worked full time since I was 16, I'd often sleep no more than 4 hours a night because I'd be working and training.

Then, last year I started working just the hours I needed to survive; and spent the rest of my time training and relaxing. Now, despite being 27; I feel younger and more energetic than ever.

Plus, stop with all this shit about "I'll never be....champion" because that's the fucking WORST thing for destroying motivation. Maybe it's unlikely; but it's not impossible.

Skip Hall fought till he was 63, didn't even make his debut till he was in his 50's.

[tom blackledge]

Plus, stop with all this shit about "I'll never be....champion" because that's the fucking WORST thing for destroying motivation. Maybe it's unlikely; but it's not impossible.


good post and bang on.
and pie eater keep up the training mate what are you weighing now?

[pie eater]

good post and bang on.
and pie eater keep up the training mate what are you weighing now?

Around 100 mate, dropped to 95 but a driving job for the last year (quit on friday as it got in the way of training/health etc) has helped me to gain back some of my hard lost pounds.

[Truthseeker]

Staying motivated = staying pissed off with something.

It's really quite simple.

Look at babies. Always pissed off - yet have so much energy.

The problem is as people get older - civilalized / modern life / socialisation starts beating us into submission - and rationalising everything. By the time most guys reach 40's - rules / regulations / obligations of familiy / work / - they feel they have to justify the trianing and have reasons for / against doing it. What for?

Just think of something that pisses you off. Then your'll want to train rather than thinking about why.