How Old is Too Old to Fight?

With the recent news of NFL great Herschel Walker making the jump to mixed martial arts (MMA), I got to thinking... How old is too old to fight? First off, let me say that I applaud Herschel Walker for doing what he wants to do. Walker is 47 years old and has been a long-time student of the martial arts and even holds a 5th degree in Taekwondo.

It seems as if Walker's motives are not financially related, and it does not seem to be a publicity stunt either. He just wants to experience another chapter in his life outside of football. Who knows, maybe Brett Favre will someday find something to do other than football (Yeah, right!!!) Other professional athletes that have turned to MMA **Cough** Jose Canseco **Cough** have resorted to fighting simply to earn a paycheck or to get some publicity and in most cases they ended up embarrassing themselves. I truly hope Walker does well or at least does not get embarrassed. The guy may be almost half a century old, but look at Randy Couture. The guy is 46 and is in the best shape of his life. Not only that, but has been UFC champion defeating men half his age on a regular basis.

Herschel Walker has been a star at the highest level of football, was an olympian as a bobsledder, and is now embarking on a MMA career. The guy is a renaissance man, and is super cool just for the fact that he is the closest thing we've had to recreating the movie "Cool Runnings." Almost all of the press I am reading is suggesting that Herschel is too old, out of his league, and will only succeed in making a fool of himself. I think it's a shame that these journalists are hating on Herschel for following through with something he is passionate about. We should all be so lucky to be disciplined and talented enough to be able to pursue a career in MMA.

What if he fails miserably? A fifth degree black belt in Taekwondo is great, but that training alone will not be nearly enough to keep you standing in the caged ring. I am a fourth degree black belt in taekwondo myself, and I know I have no business getting into MMA. One punch to the grill and I would probably die on the spot. That's why Herschel is undergoing a 12 week intensive training camp with some of the best in the biz. He has been training in MMA for a long time, and this training camp is sure to help, but we can't be sure of what is to come until his first fight is in the books. If he's pit against true MMA fighters, I predict his MMA career won't last long. If that's the case, I still think Walker is a winner for trying. Isn't that what martial arts is all about? It's about testing your own limits, pushing yourself to become stronger both physically and mentally. In the honor of the martial arts spirit, let's all root for Herschel!