3 Pro Tips to Follow as an Amateur Fighter by Angela Chang
You told Coach to put you in. Coach put you in. Coach confirms you are in. You’ll be fighting. It’s finally happening!
If you’re new to fighting, the territory that comes with it is still unfamiliar… and perhaps a bit overwhelming. Naturally, you’ll want to do everything “right.” I know I did when I started fighting.
Unfortunately, the good intentions to be a disciplined student can lead a lot of inexperienced fighters (including my former self) to make mistakes that contain zero benefits and a lot of suffering. Some of these can cost you the fight and your well-being. Believe me, someone with a decade of Muay Thai experience and 50 fights, when I say that you don’t need to put yourself through that. Here’s what you should be doing instead.
1-Only Seek Advice from a Trusted Few
You ask Coach things like, “How much should I run? What should I eat? What should I do on my day off from training?” Coach will give you a set of answers.
Afterward, you ask an experienced fighter the same questions. Then you ask other beginner fighters. Then strangers on the Internet.
The more people you ask, the more answers you get. Imagine trying to throw a hook five different ways at the same time! Keep in mind:
- Just because something worked for them doesn’t mean it will work for you.
- The more advice you try to follow, the more you’ll stress yourself out, and the less effective each piece of advice will be.
Focus on training hard, and take quality advice from the trusted few rather than from the masses.
2-Embrace the Power of Recovery
Inexperienced fighters sometimes try to do too much. It’s hard to realize at first, but recovery is also a part of training. Taking proper physical and mental rest will help you recharge for the upcoming week. Lack of recovery will lead to symptoms of overtraining, which can actually worsen your performance. So, no, don’t do that five-mile “recovery run”.
Instead, try watching a funny movie, spending time with people who don’t cost a lot of emotional energy to be around, or enjoying some alone time. My favorite thing to do is go for a short walk to clear my head. I also do my best to block out what may hinder my recovery - even if it means staying off social media for the day!
3-Remember Your Reason for Fighting
Amidst the physical and mental boundaries being pushed during camp, training may feel more like a duty. While you’re not in the wrong to be diligent, it is also true that you asked for this. You’re part of a privileged population that was able to request the taste of fight life rather than be forced into it. You didn’t have to do it, yet you wanted to. You’re doing it out of love for the sport. You’re doing it to challenge yourself. So you might as well remind yourself to have fun during the entire process, including the fight.
