How The Undertaker Retired As A Fit, Strong Competitor After 30 Years And What We Can Learn From It

Mark William Calaway, the 55-year-old wrestler known for laying his opponents "to rest" as his on-ring persona The Undertaker, announced his retirement last Sunday. In a somber statement during World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) Survivor Series, he says that his time has finally come to find peace outside of the theatrical sport he has been in for 30 years.

It's important to note just how long he has been suiting up and smacking down his rivals as the most striking aspect of his career is its longevity. More than the popularity and profitability of his character, and beyond the seven world championships he has won, the 'Taker has seen a wide range of contemporaries over three decades—and he has won over generations of fans.

Perhaps what is even most impressive is how he has managed to keep up with his opponents from a physical standpoint. He has remained fit and ready for action over the years, a testament to dedication and discipline that everyone can learn from.

But how exactly can you apply it to your life? To put it simply, it's all about customization.

1. Find your fuel

For one, it's about about looking for a motivation. Any sport has a baseline for fitness, especially professional wrestling where bodies get thrown every day in every which way. But for Calaway, he found the desire to work on himself through his competition. When big guys like Dave Batista began entering the picture, he started raising his game and building more muscle and gaining strength.

If you are looking to do the same, try checking out customized strength programs through pesonal trainers such as HitchFit. These diet and training programs help you learn how to eat and train properly to build lean muscle tissue and build overall strength. After doing the basics of weight training, why don't you step up to the Build Muscle Plan so you can test your limits.

2. You are what you eat

In the mid to late 2000s, Calaway was still married to Sara, a former professional wrestler herself who was his wrestling valet from 2001 to 2002. Calaway openly shared back then that Sara helped clean up his diet, which allowed him to shift back to his Deadman persona. (He was still in his American Bad Ass phase at that point.)

When he started squaring off with Batista, Calaway dialed in his calories and macronutrient targets and focused his training around building lean muscle. Apart from customizing your drills and exercises, you should have a meal plan that you will be comfortable with maintaining regularly. Many trainers could help you out with this, but you can also work with food delivery services such as Freshology.

3. Adapt as you age

It's not just about staying the course for a long time, it's about being smarter as you get older. In the last decade of his career, Calaway made adjustments to his training regimen that allowed him to be in better shape without wearing himself out. His workouts used to resemble that of a bodybuilder, but he then shifted his training more on conditioning.

While he isn't as ripped as he used to be, he could still perform his moves on the ring. A video of him doing a 40-inch box jump even went viral a few years back. What we could all take away from this is that training has an end goal in mind, and that goal shouldn't just be superficial. It's not just about looking good but about feeling strong, and getting to do the things you need to do from day-to-day. When we approach fitness this way, it becomes a foundation that is impactful and, as with the 'Taker's career, long-lasting.