Mistakes Most Fighters Make
You could probably write a whole book on this subject, but I want to focus on just one: not thinking ahead. Many fighters are fixated on their next fight, and it’s easy to understand why. There’s a financial incentive—fight, get paid; don’t fight, don’t get paid. On paper, it seems straightforward. But let’s take a closer look at the reality.
Combat sports, in any form, are dangerous. You could suffer a career-ending injury. While the odds may not be high, they’re still there. And let’s face it—you can’t fight forever. Every fighter’s career has a clear timeline. After a certain age, you’re too old to continue and need to call it quits.
Even worse, what if you suddenly realize you’re just not cut out to be a fighter?
Now, this post isn’t about having a “plan B” that makes you half-ass your “plan A.” You can’t half-ass fighting—the consequences are simply too painful. But failing to think ahead is a form of half-assing it, too. You know you won’t be able to fight forever, so how can you ignore that fact?
So, what will you do when you’re done fighting? Become a trainer? Sure, you could, but you won’t be able to hold pads forever. Try holding pads daily for a few days—it’s tough work. My question is simple: What other skills do you have? What other skills do you have that can make you money?
This ties into another problem of not thinking ahead:
Never educating yourself about money.
Always working for money works—until it doesn’t. I’ve seen this countless times in Thailand. People go to work, earn money, and spend it like there’s no tomorrow. Suddenly, they run out, and before they know it, they’re working into old age just to get by.
This goes for fighters as well. Many fighters go broke soon after retiring. Even with the increased purses in Thailand’s promotions, the end result will often be the same. Financial illiteracy is what destroys the quality of life. Especially when you’re making a lot of money. Not investing a portion of that money is something that needs to be avoided at all costs.
If you want to get smarter with money, I highly recommend reading The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. It offers practical insights into how to think about money in a more thoughtful, sustainable way.
Learn about money—it might sound boring, but it’s a crucial skill in this day and age.
In conclusion: In this world, the capable man reigns supreme. And, unfortunately, there aren’t many capable men.
The art of taking a break.
Recently, on the 26th of November, I had my third fight in 3 months. The fight was actually a mismatch, so it ended in 35 seconds. I got the call 8 days before to replace my training partner and agreed. Fights like this happen in Thailand from time to time. It is what it is. But after the fight, people were telling me I could train again the next day since the fight didn’t last that long.
People were rather confused when I told them that I was going to take at least 3 days off (I ended up taking 5 days off).
So why did I rest that long? Because I understand the art of taking a break. It’s all about recognizing the different sources of (hidden) stress.
Easy fights and hidden stress.
A fight that only lasts 30 seconds is obviously not that stressful, so what is? I had 3 training camps in a row, and I didn’t take enough rest after the second one. This was purely due to circumstances. One of those circumstances was stress in my personal life. During a training camp, your goal is to stay ahead of stress, but outside stress definitely doesn’t make that easier. On top of that, I obviously had the training camp, work commitments and I tried to get this series back on track.
By the end of camp, I felt it, but based on experience, I knew I was going to be fine as long as I took a break after. But stress doesn’t always hit you in obvious ways. It creeps in, blending into the routine, until you’re running on empty. This basically goes for any fighter during camp. Most people think only the fight is a form of potential stress but forget about all the things that actually cause stress.
Some forms won’t even be noticed by the majority of people simply because they don’t understand the different forms of stress.
Stress can be physical, like exercise, or mental. Often, it goes unnoticed until you’re dangerously close to burnout.
My philosophy when it comes to taking a break.
So after the fight, I ended up taking 5 days off. In the beginning, it felt amazing. I didn’t do anything. An English Bulldog was considered a pro athlete in comparison to me during that period. And around day 3, the feeling I was waiting for came. I started to become restless. I wanted to do something.
That is a clear indicator that you’re getting back to normal energy levels. So I wrote a bit to see how I felt. Eventually, I decided to take 2 more days off to make sure I was 100% recovered. Being well rested is crucial in any endeavor you pursue. Which directly leads me to the next point.
Hustle culture is burnout culture.
In the last 8 years, I’ve seen hustle culture being promoted across social media. Taking breaks is for the weak; just lock yourself up and work while skipping sleep, go full monk mode, and God knows what else to keep yourself going. This message is obviously very cool, so a lot of people try to prove to some strangers on the internet how tough they are.
Do you know how it ends? They all burn out; they either keep doing it and quit or just quit. It’s a very unsustainable lifestyle.
Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of people burn out because none of us understood the art of taking a break or addressing stress sources.
Sometimes a source of stress could be your girlfriend or a horrible boss. That needs to be addressed. The situation either gets better or you leave, but running in circles in that situation won’t do you any good. You’ll either push yourself into the ICU or bury yourself six feet under. Neither is worth the hustle.
So don’t buy too much into all these tough guys on the internet. It’s a charade the majority of the time. The ones that are really like that mostly don’t have a good quality of life. Never taking a break isn’t healthy. Learn to work hard but also to wind down hard. It’ll add to your longevity.
As highlighted in ‘The Issue with Only Hard Work’, hard work without strategy, self-care, or adaptability is like running on a treadmill—you’re moving, but are you actually getting anywhere? Long-term success requires more than brute force; it demands wisdom, planning, and recovery.”
Signs You Need a Break (and How to Take One):
- Recognize The Signs: fatigue, irritability, lack of focus, or feeling “flat” even after rest are red flags.
- Listen to Your Body: Feeling restless after a couple of days off? That’s your signal you’re recovering and ready to reengage.
- Plan Your Downtime: Breaks don’t have to mean doing nothing. Rest can include light activities, reading, or journaling to process your thoughts. I schedule this for EVERY DAY.
- Evaluate Your Stressors: Identify the biggest source of stress and address it—whether it’s personal, work-related, or internal pressure.
Taking a break isn’t about being lazy; it’s about being smart. Rest, recover, and come back stronger. It’ll make a big difference down the line.
Nutrition Coaching
Over the years, I’ve helped fighters heal their metabolism, lose weight effectively, and fuel their bodies for peak performance. If you’re struggling with weight loss, underperforming due to poor nutrition, or dealing with a damaged metabolism, send me a message with the word “nutrition” on Instagram to get started.
In my 3-month coaching program, I’ll guide you through:
- Healing your metabolism.
- Losing weight sustainably without burnout.
- Cutting weight safely for a fight.
- And much more.
Spots are limited—I only take on 3 clients every 3 months to provide focused, personalized support. Don’t wait; claim your spot today!
Training and Fighting in Thailand
Dreaming of training or fighting in Thailand? One of the biggest mistakes fighters make is not understanding Thai culture before they arrive.
That’s why I created my comprehensive e-book, designed to prepare you fully for your trip. Learn the do’s and don’ts, navigate local customs, and make the most out of your experience.
Click here to grab your copy and step into the ring with confidence.
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Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram.
Until next time.
Alex
