I still want to compete and this is the main driving force. I was planning on 185lb division, but Achilles couldn’t handle training at 210lbs so now training for 170lb division with a light cut or 155lbs with a heavier cut. My coaches prefer a heavy cut, which sacrifices some endurance. I don’t want to fight 155lb though.
i agree with edge. personally i wouldnt risk it. my cousin does amateur mma, he also works corp finance. a ucr bro. same guy who got caught with me in vegas with 2 rando chicks in a public mens bathroom. haha
We don’t get belt promotions. Everyone just stays at their current belt forever and wins all NAGA and IBJFF events to get lots of gold medals and make the brand look good.
You don’t get brain damage from being choked out, that one is almost completely false. You rarely fall face first into things. You can get knees or kicks to the face, but that’s very rare.
There appear to be conflicting studies, but this article seems to indicate that mma is slightly better, though neither is “good” for your brain. If you just don’t do real full on fights often though, I think you should be fine. Football is probably a lot worse. Sitting around and being a fat couch potato is probably a lot worse.
The fact of martial arts and MMA competition is that you spend hours and hours everyday protecting yourself in ways so that the enemy does not have access or pose a threat to your eyes or vital organs, among other things.
This very act and thinking about it causes a paradigm shift for most in life, in the way they see the world and the value placed on others around them.
Sometimes it’s not what happens in the ring, it’s the journey. Also, does the big wave surfer decline to go out on a big day because it is hazardous to one’s health? Absolutely not. You go out there because you love it and it is the pinnacle of abilities in your sport.
But, you’re doing what you love. How much passion, energy, and love has that produced as fruit of your efforts along this journey?
You know, the first time you caught a 20ft wave…
Or MMA the first time you broke someone’s orbital with your elbow…
These are the times that make you smile and cherish life.