The former NFL running back is most notable for playing in American football teams including the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and the New York Giants. Not only has Walker played in top NFL teams, but he was always a very complete athlete. He has a sixth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and he nearly made the Olympic team in the sprint relay. He competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in two-man bobsled, finishing seventh. Walker ran the 100 meters in 10.22, the 100 yards in 9.3. He also won back-to-back American Superstars competitions in 1987 and 1988. During an interview at ‘The Jim Rome Show,’he stated that he still performed 2,500 sit-ups and 1,500 push ups every morning. He has been going through this same routine every morning since high school.
In November 2007, the NFL legend announced on HDNet’s ‘Inside MMA’ that he would appear on a mixed martial arts (MMA) reality show with Jose Canseco and other former professional athletes. However, the show never made it past the pre-production stages. Now, Walker will have the chance to participate in a live MMA event as he recently signed with Strikeforce– the U.S.-based MMA and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. Although there is no official date for his debut, sources tell us that he will immediately enter an 8 to 12 week training camp with the American Kickboxing Academy in California and will most likely be ready by 2010.
From Mike Afromowitz, the Director of Communications for Strikeforce:
“This isn’t a publicity stunt or a gimmick. Herschel Walker has tremendous athleticism, and he has always shown that off the gridiron. He’s accomplished a lot in his life and in the world of sports. His accomplishments speak for themselves, and we hope that his athleticism can transition into a successful MMA career.”
