MMA Retirement

[Jak-TapouT-]

Any of the older fighters , or people who have done this got any stories they can tell of how you overcame this? After doing something you love for so long then stopping, what did you do to fill that void? or get that fix of MMA?

Unfortunatly injury had plagued me for the last 4 years of playing sport. I've learnt to walk again twice, probably spent more time on crutches than i have off them lol. Snapped a tendon in my knee, recoverd, then tore the ligament on the other side. The thought of not competing again really was never at the forefront of my mind, but as it hurts more and more every training session, its something thats started to haunt me.

Im starting to doubt myself atheletically, the injury had tottaly destroyed my confidence in wrestling. I'm only 18 but with a body like a 50 year old pro wrestler. Injury it seems, wil prevent me dedicating my life to a sport i love - my only real dream, ever.

Question is, what has anyone done when forced to retire from sport? through age, injury, money etc. Did you find it easy to replace MMA with another hobby? How did you cope with watching it, and knowing you couldnt ever do it again?

Any and all info is welcomed, as im trying to make a pretty impossible desicion.

[Jim_Williams]

You're 18??

I thought you were like 30.

B

[Wiegieboard]

Any of the older fighters , or people who have done this got any stories they can tell of how you overcame this? After doing something you love for so long then stopping, what did you do to fill that void? or get that fix of MMA?

Unfortunatly injury had plagued me for the last 4 years of playing sport. I've learnt to walk again twice, probably spent more time on crutches than i have off them lol. Snapped a tendon in my knee, recoverd, then tore the ligament on the other side. The thought of not competing again really was never at the forefront of my mind, but as it hurts more and more every training session, its something thats started to haunt me.

Im starting to doubt myself atheletically, the injury had tottaly destroyed my confidence in wrestling. I'm only 18 but with a body like a 50 year old pro wrestler. Injury it seems, wil prevent me dedicating my life to a sport i love - my only real dream, ever.

Question is, what has anyone done when forced to retire from sport? through age, injury, money etc. Did you find it easy to replace MMA with another hobby? How did you cope with watching it, and knowing you couldnt ever do it again?

Any and all info is welcomed, as im trying to make a pretty impossible desicion.

I had to stop when my lungs packed in. Think that was back in about 2006? I only got back to sport last year when my body allowed me to powerlift a couple of times a week. I've built it up incredibly slowly and now I can do cardio, lifting and a little HIIT. I lost my mind when I wasn't able to exercise. Went ferral and moved to the wilds. I probably wouldn't recommend this for everyone though it helped me. I started reading more, spending a lot of time on the internet and educating myself about many things which intellectually were my weakpoint. I also took up warcraft for a while and now I play x box.
Slowly as my condition improved and old injuries healed, I got back into doing 1 day of light lifting a week, it then progressed to a proper session, then two, then 3 and I found that I could do cardio again to an extent so I worked hard on that for a few months without doing any lifting. Now I'm combining the two and working my way back up.
If you're athletically minded, I think that it's important to be able to do something and see progress there, no matter what it is. If it keeps you physically and mentally involved it's good.
I still dream of one day training combat sports again, but I know I'm not quite there yet.
Patience, mental and physical stimulation seemed to be key for me. I'm not old either man. I'm only 26.

[Jim_Williams]

Might make a Pauljono "don't be scared homie" pic in a bit.

[Jak-TapouT-]

You're 18??

I thought you were like 30.

B

get that alot, for some reason i mentally matured to about 35 when i hit puberty.



And to wiegie, i understand the principle of not giving up, building yourself back slowly etc. And fair play bro!! But is there a fine line between never giving up, and stupidly continueing?

In the same way that; does competing with injury make you stupid, or a hard bastard.

[Wiegieboard]

get that alot, for some reason i mentally matured to about 35 when i hit puberty.



And to wiegie, i understand the principle of not giving up, building yourself back slowly etc. And fair play bro!! But is there a fine line between never giving up, and stupidly continueing?

In the same way that; does competing with injury make you stupid, or a hard bastard.

I'd have to say that if you're injured, you definitely have to let it heal.
How did you get such serious injuries when you were training? What was it that you were doing when they happened?

[Jak-TapouT-]

The snapped tendon was a rugby injury, was a partial tear - hospital fucked up and didnt realise the extent of the injury. so cleared me to train again when i wasnt ready. Took a leg kick to the knee and it snapped completely!

Ligament was a wrestling injury. Went for an outside leg throw (dunno the judo name) with a underhook and overhook. The guy wizzard my under - and turned me back inside - so my leg was outstretched and full extension. Then he dropped for a double and my leg snapped in half the wrong way lol.

[ross90]

The guy put on his wizzard hat and robe...

:O

My knee was fucked, took like 5 or 6 months off and im training now, yeah i feel nervous like it could just go, but i dont do anything to aggravate it, as best i can.

Whenever i feel a twinge or whatever i just stop doing whatever it is thats hurting.

Maybe an op would do the trick, i was talking to a guy who destroyed his knee, and had it reconstructed. Ever since then he's been fine and trains the same as usual.

I fuckin hate knees.

[Jak-TapouT-]

Meant whizzered lol. but i dunno how to spell it.

[gingerninja1967]

At least u got time on your side. If your only 18 op or a long rest and you could hopefully get back. Good luck

[UK_MMA]

Have you seen a sports physio? As far as I'm aware, some of those injuries can heal properly without serious long term problems. Best of luck.

[Graz]

I feel your pain Jak.

I've had a shit time with injuries for a few years too which has included one consultant telling me to quit and only cycle and swim.

One thing I would say is that if the sport is your passion you will find a way to still be involved.

For me I train mainly on my own at home which keeps my fit as well as allowing me to train at a pace that my injuries allow.

At some point I will get back to a MMA gym and get some consistency.

I'm also nearly twice your age and my body is still doing a great job of healing itself so yours will have a good crack too.

Good luck!

[Eric Morecambe]

:O

I fuckin hate knees.

Agree with your comment.

[James Saville]

The snapped tendon was a rugby injury, was a partial tear - hospital fucked up and didnt realise the extent of the injury. so cleared me to train again when i wasnt ready. Took a leg kick to the knee and it snapped completely!

Ligament was a wrestling injury. Went for an outside leg throw (dunno the judo name) with a underhook and overhook. The guy wizzard my under - and turned me back inside - so my leg was outstretched and full extension. Then he dropped for a double and my leg snapped in half the wrong way lol.

Fuck man , brutal times!!!


Smoke weed everyday. eat high quality quinoa protein munchies. And go into a deep deep weed coma sleep . do this for a couple of months and you will be fine. Lucid dream learn , learn your mma of gsp and fedor and the greats. ALL IN YOUR SLEEP

[James Saville]

I had a bad ass roll anit gravity roll with giant Silva last night. Hes a gay head squeezer tho. fucking annoying!

[simonmobiledisco]

Drugs and techno

[Badnews]

Having had to jack in mma completely since february this year I'm still going through the 'retirement' process. I'm 36 and the problem that has seen me sit out is likely to keep me out of any serious training/competition for the forseeable future, I'll certainly never fight again.

The thing I hate most is my deteriorating fitness and expanding waistline! First I became apathetic and irritable, then I was twitchy at not being able to hit anyone or twist their limbs off for about 6 months. Since the summer my injury debilitated me so much that I have resigned myself to the long haul to get fit so limit myself very carefully.

My aim at the moment is to just be able to exercise again. Thats it. MMA or otherwise I don't care.

My point is really I'd have rather bowed out gracefully and reduced my apprearances at training over time till I was 'casual' by choice. Instead I've had retirement forced on me which isn't nice - I only managed 6 pro fights :(

Look after your injuries and don't try to ignore them, it may mean the odd break of a few weeks or even months, but it'll extend your fighting lifespan by a fair bit I reckon! At 18 you've plenty of time to get fixed up and make a comeback!

[Chris Shanks]

I have never been able to get involved in the sport as a fighter because I have terrible back, knee and ankle problems and I am usually ZOMG'd on pain killers but that doesn't stop my love for the sport. I suggest your as young as me. I am breaking into writing and have been doing it for a year. I know that Del from MMAHitPit is more than willing to give people a shot if they know what they are talking about.

I am not the best writer in the world but I am improving as I go on. You should try that. Other than that, you can judge and ref, commentate. Your young enough to try new things, so you could start a project that helps the sport like PR or fighter managment :)

[Ross]

Fuck man , brutal times!!!


Smoke weed everyday. eat high quality quinoa protein munchies. And go into a deep deep weed coma sleep . do this for a couple of months and you will be fine. Lucid dream learn , learn your mma of gsp and fedor and the greats. ALL IN YOUR SLEEP

Were you high when you wrote this.

[Jay Evans]

Fuck man , brutal times!!!


Smoke weed everyday. eat high quality quinoa protein munchies. And go into a deep deep weed coma sleep . do this for a couple of months and you will be fine. Lucid dream learn , learn your mma of gsp and fedor and the greats. ALL IN YOUR SLEEP

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DeutwC_pLZ0/SwVlizW0-KI/AAAAAAAADOU/adyiMdXayCg/s1600/mib.jpg

The things I have to do!

[Jak-TapouT-]

Got an apointment with a knee specialist tomorrow to discuss my options, i.e retirement, surgery, physio etc.

Hopefully its a easy solution :D