balance your priorities, but you know you need to put in the time to get the iterations in, in order to give yourself the best shot at competing.
Then there is also the diet aspect of preparing for a fight. If you don’t already eat a fairly clean or structured diet then you are likely going to be on a strict diet for a period of 4-8 weeks leading up to the fight. This for many can affect their mood negatively, as who likes to be on a strict caloric intake.
Mentally you need to keep it together leading up to a fight so that on fight day your mind is clear and focused and you are able to execute your plan (against someone who has likely been doing the same thing this whole time).
You are entering into a skill competition, yes, but also a test of whose cardio is best, whose technique is best, and whose mind is the best on that given day.
If you win you will leave feeling great, perhaps preparing for the next one. Lose, and you may be asking yourself “is this worth it?”, or “what can I do better next time?” Regardless of the outcome a large amount of mental energy was expended leading up to and during the fight.
Training to fight regularly, professionally, or casually often means you have built a lifestyle around it. At a minimum you love training and developing your skills, and have decided to compete for status, glory, pride, and, yes, even money. You can approach this as a casual lifestyle or a professional one. There is structure to the training and execution of the fight, and it is essentially jumping from one goal to another (one fight, one competition), and then on to the next. It may, of course, all be for the simple joy of it, in which case it’s wonderful, because you have found your passion and are able to do something that uses mind, body, and spirit. But the fact that it is a journey, with its ups and downs like any other, which in this case means injury, pain, and sacrifice, is also something to consider before you set out. You may be training to be the best or simply to be the best version of yourself. Either goal is noble, but gone are the days that being the best warrior or fighter meant you get to lead the armies, get the land, or simply live another day. Now, fighting for sport or work is a luxury not a necessity.
Funny how time changes things.
Written by Jonathan Fader