The restrictions surrounding COVID have become something of a boomerang. We hurl them away with all our might and watch them recede into the distance, only to feel them whack us on the back of the head as we walk away.
So what.
If you’re training Muay Thai, then chances are your idea of what a fighter is is far removed from the untouchable superheroes in the cartoons you watched as a kid.
Real fighters get hit. They bleed. They get knocked down. Sometimes they even take a bad beating.
None of these things defines what the true fighter is.
What defines them is what they do in response to these setbacks. Do they fold and quit?
If you train Muay Thai, you already know the answer.
In this article, we’ll look at three ways to pick yourself up off the canvas in the wake of this COVID madness and get back to the grind.
Get Optimally Fueled
You wouldn’t put low-octane petrol in a Formula One race car. Instead, you’d get your hands on some high-octane premium road fuel if you expected to get the most out of it come race time.
Likewise, before you step back in the Muay Thai gym, you need to look at what you’re filling your body with.
Takeaways and boxes of Tim Tams may have gotten you through the depressing intensity of lockdown, but now it’s time to reevaluate your life’s direction.
If your goal is to get back to training, it’s important to have the right nutrition to get you there. Trust me, you won’t feel like hitting pads if you’re stuffed to the brim with a super-sized Big Mac meal.
If completely changing your diet in one fell swoop seems too much too soon, a good place to start towards better health is simply adding more water to your day.
Not only will this help you start to feel better but with the sweat sessions at training, you’ll certainly need the extra hydration.
There’s no great mystery to eating healthy. You don’t need to be a trained nutritionist to make better choices. Start by opening up your fridge and cupboards and look inside. Which food items in there come with just a hint of shame? Replace these with something that doesn’t.
Invest in Your Return
I don’t just mean buying a pair of new shorts here, although new training threads can certainly put a little pep in your step. I’m referring to investing in a private training session or two. If it’s financially viable for you to do so, a one-on-one training session could just be what you need to kickstart your Muay Thai journey again.
Not only will it give you some valuable one-on-one time with your coach but it will let you determine your own pace while you find your stride again.
Any good coach understands that everyone’s motivation, responsibilities, and abilities are different. They’ll help you navigate your individual challenges while rebuilding your confidence and momentum. They’ll also help you address any specific concerns that you have about returning to training, such as lack of hip flexibility or nagging ongoing injuries.
Check Your Engine
You may look in the mirror and not see much change in your body over the last two years of COVID lockdowns and varying restrictions, but that doesn’t mean it still functions at the same level.
It’s always a good idea to get a physical to check in and check up on your body before heading back to Muay Thai.
That way, you’ll be able to evaluate where you’re at in terms of cardiovascular health, lung function, flexibility, and overall health.
Having someone in the know ensure you’re healthy enough for hitting the heavy bag and sparring will give you peace of mind and confidence.
Put More Tools in Your Toolbox
If you want more great ideas on how to get your Muay Thai mojo back, check out my article on What I Learnt in the World’s Longest Lockdown.