# Should an old fart like me take up boxing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 22, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982 "2009-02-22T22:06:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/1 "2009-02-22T22:06:25Z")
I am 29. I want to start martial arts lessons and I believe boxing is exactly what suits my needs best. But am I too old for this thing? ---
**Author:** ![dactylic\_hexameter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@dactylic\_hexameter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dactylic_hexameter)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/2 "2009-02-22T22:09:36Z")
it depends how enamored of your brain cells you are… seriously - the plus side of some other MAs is that they don’t focus blows on the head. why do you think boxing best suits your needs? aka, what ARE your needs? ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/3 "2009-02-22T22:19:28Z")
Fitness, strength, self defense, in that order ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/4 "2009-02-22T22:26:23Z")
> [@Dog80](#): > > Fitness, strength, self defense, in that order Fitness and strength you can get at any gym. I’m no self defense expert but I understand that most street fights go to the ground very quickly. If [Krav Maga](http://www.kravmaga.com/) is good enough for the Israelis, it should be good enough for anyone. I think the main thing to look for is a school in any martial art that use full force contact sparring. You can’t train for a real fight by slapping each other. ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/5 "2009-02-22T22:30:21Z")
I wouldn’t. I’m 43 now and I boxed Silver Gloves when I was 15 and Golden Gloves when I turned 16, and I have several numb areas on my face, and a noticable humb where I got my nose broken. I love the sport of boxing, but I’d rather stay an observer than a participant. There are a huge number of martial arts that will work for your goals without getting the shit beat out of your skull on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![discodancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@discodancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/discodancer)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/6 "2009-02-23T01:37:43Z")
I don’t think you are too old to take up boxing as a hobby. Just be careful of getting hit in the head too much or you may end up looking like Mickey Rourke. ---
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/7 "2009-02-23T01:48:26Z")
29 is old? ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/8 "2009-02-23T02:09:12Z")
> [@Diamonds02](#): > > 29 is old? For a boxer?! Oh yeah. Most guys start training when they’re just kids; 10-12 years old. ---
**Author:** ![Sebastienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Sebastienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sebastienne)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/9 "2009-02-23T02:33:35Z")
If you want to box because you love the sport and want to give it a try yourself, 29 is in no way too old to have some great times involving getting hit in the face. It may be different for places that are more focused on pro competition, but (corny as it sounds) dedication and a sincere interest in a combat sport goes a long way towards getting you welcomed at many gyms, in my experience. However, if your primary interest is getting into shape and feeling more confident about your ability to handle a bad situation, boxing isn’t the most direct path to what you’re looking for: as much as it demands fitness and teaches a lot about punching, it’s a sport, not a training routine or self defence system. Are you currently working out in any way? ---
**Author:** ![Sebastienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Sebastienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sebastienne)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/10 "2009-02-23T02:44:22Z")
> [@Jettboy](#): > > For a boxer?! Oh yeah. Most guys start training when they’re just kids; 10-12 years old. Agreed, 29 is ancient for (almost) anyone planning to be a competitive athlete, especially in a sport as popular as boxing. But, at the same time, there are plenty of people who want to have some fun pounding the snot out of each other, and depending on one’s location, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a gym and trainer friendly to hobbyists. If one’s genuinely “into” a sport for its own sake, it’s quite rewarding to put in the effort regardless of what level of skill one ultimately achieves. Even when it comes to the kind of sports that involve punching. But I’m going to be taking up judo at 27 because I love grappling and can’t redo my past, so y’know. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/11 "2009-02-23T02:47:36Z")
Are you played by Sylvester Stallone? If so, yes. 😉 Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/12 "2009-02-23T02:59:28Z")
Boxing looks fun from a distance and the “art” part of it is certainly entertaining to watch. I liked physcial contact sports and wrestling in my youth, but any sport that involves getting hit in the head with power on a consistent basis is not (IMO) going to be good for long term physical health. Head trauma is a dangerous business and there are some people out there that can deliver blows that will injure your brain. It looks fun but I wouldn’t roll the dice on making it my sport of choice, especially as reflexes are slowing moving into your 30’s. . ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/13 "2009-02-23T04:09:18Z")
I would recommend against anyone _competing_ in boxing (mma is much safer), but I can’t think of any reason you shouldn’t train in it. Knock yourself out. Errr, don’t, but, uhh, you know :). ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/14 "2009-02-23T05:26:28Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Fitness and strength you can get at any gym. I’m no self defense expert but I understand that most street fights go to the ground very quickly. In a street fight, you NEVER want to go to the ground if you can avoid it (unless getting stomped by several upright uninvited participants is your idea of fun), and becoming skillful in the art of western boxing is a very good way to avoid it (ditto Thai boxing). Once on the ground, of course, those boxing skills aren’t much good - one reason that MMA has gained such a following of late. In the dojo where I practiced Karate, it was agreed that only the most dedicated martial artists stood a chance against an accomplished boxer: they just hit harder, are mentally tougher, and can absorb punishment better than other stylists, as a general rule. Of course, by the time they’re 35, this will apply: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D4vBxRU8lA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D4vBxRU8lA) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/15 "2009-02-23T05:41:11Z")
> [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](#): > > In a street fight, you NEVER want to go to the ground if you can avoid it (unless getting stomped by several upright uninvited participants is your idea of fun), and becoming skillful in the art of western boxing is a very good way to avoid it (ditto Thai boxing). Once on the ground, of course, those boxing skills aren’t much good - one reason that MMA has gained such a following of late. Unless you know jiu-jitsu, then you want it to. And boxing is not going to teach you how to stop it from going to the ground. > [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](#): > > In the dojo where I practiced Karate, it was agreed that only the most dedicated martial artists stood a chance against an accomplished boxer: they just hit harder, are mentally tougher, and can absorb punishment better than other stylists, as a general rule. Wow, I’m surprised your dojo-mates admitted it. That’s a lot more honest than karateka have been in my experience. Bruce Lee said that if you want to beat a guy who has been doing karate/kung-fu for 10 years, all you have to do is train in boxing and wrestling for 6 months. It’s just so much more practical. If your martial art doesn’t include sparring against resisting opponents, it’s generally not going to do you much good in a fight, apart from maybe giving you a bit of confidence and physical fitness. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/16 "2009-02-23T06:01:49Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Unless you know jiu-jitsu, then you want it to. And boxing is not going to teach you how to stop it from going to the ground. Knowing jiu-jitsu will help you immensely in a one-on-one confrontation, but isn’t much good against multiple adversaries. And if a skilled boxer gets a solid shot (or three) on the vast majority of jiu-jitsu stylists, they’ll be rendered just as senseless as most any air-punching karateka. So then it becomes a question of who can “get there” first - again, assuming that this is a one-on-one battle, which is not the kind of assumption you’ll want to bet your health on. > [@](#): > > Wow, I’m surprised your dojo-mates admitted it. That’s a lot more honest than karateka have been in my experience. Bruce Lee said that if you want to beat a guy who has been doing karate/kung-fu for 10 years, all you have to do is train in boxing and wrestling for 6 months. It’s just so much more practical. If your martial art doesn’t include sparring against resisting opponents, it’s generally not going to do you much good in a fight, apart from maybe giving you a bit of confidence and physical fitness. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/17 "2009-02-23T08:07:19Z")
Obligatory Youtube video: [Turkish boxer pwns 10 guys](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paCZAxchmjU) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/18 "2009-02-23T14:11:09Z")
[Mickey Rourke _before_ his boxing days.](http://bluemoviereviews.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/mickey-rourke.jpg) [Mickey Rourke _after_ his boxing days.](http://images.hollywoodgrind.com:9000/images/2007/11/mickey-rourke-dui.jpg) You _sure_ about this? ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/19 "2009-02-23T14:28:57Z")
Great question. I asked the same question at 50 and was really surprised by the chorus of NOs. So I think you can take up boxing if you are just talking about learning how to do it. I wouldn’t think you could expect to compete at a high level but I also don’t see any reason to believe you couldn’t become proficient, get some exercise and have some fun punching people in the head. I still spar some in karate class and the equipment there generally sucks. A good instructor in a good boxing gym should be able help anyone get proficient in a safe way. I just haven’t found that good gym yet. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982/20 "2009-02-23T14:36:56Z")
I restarted Taekwondo training at age 38. I’m now 60 and a 5th Degree Black Belt. You’re never too old. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-old-fart-like-me-take-up-boxing/486982.md?page=2)