NEW JOURNEY: The Rock, 52, begins MMA training, exciting fans and also causing concern among opponents

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has shared footage of himself training in mixed martial arts on social media.

In a series of clips posted to his 397 million Instagram followers, the 52-year-old can be seen kicking pads, practising takedowns and working on his ground-and-pound inside a ring.

The Rock recently enjoyed a successful return to professional wrestling, taking part in a tag-team match alongside Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40.

His age-defying performances inside the WWE ring led to fans calling for a more long-term return to the squared circle.

However, the return was always set to end after the showcase event at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, to allow him to get started with his current training regime.