Day 88: Building Resilience Through Fatigue and Effort

Morning and Work Routine

Day 88 was a Tuesday, and the day started in a rushed and heavy way. I woke up feeling quite tired and later than planned, which immediately put a lot of pressure on the morning. I rushed through my morning rituals as best as I could; it felt like I was on a tight schedule. I went to school quickly, barely having time to eat a proper breakfast. The breakfast I managed to grab was minimal, consisting mostly of fruit, and I ensured to consume Omega 3 in addition to D3K2 for health benefits. The morning felt slow both physically and mentally; it was a struggle to focus as I forgot to do my breathing exercises, which has become a common occurrence lately, more often than I would like to admit.

Teaching was as usual, with a few supervision duties scattered during breaks and exams throughout the day. There was nothing out of the ordinary happening, but the tiredness clung to me persistently throughout my interactions with students. As soon as I finished work, I made my way straight home, eager to shake off the fatigue. I relished a very good and filling meal, something hearty that energized me, and then took a much-needed nap to recharge my body and mind. That nap felt absolutely necessary, almost like a small recovery from the drowsiness of the day. Upon waking, I felt slightly better, more awake, and ready to tackle the training ahead. To support my recovery and performance, I took vitamin C, zinc, collagen, and L citrulline, believing they would provide the boost I needed.

Wrestling and MMA Training Session

In the evening, it was time for wrestling and MMA, something I eagerly looked forward to despite the tiredness I had felt earlier. I arrived early at the gym, feeling the anticipation build, and we started with the usual warm-up routine. The session began with rolls, jumps, stretching, and all sorts of movements to prepare the body adequately for the intense training ahead. The session was initially led by a fellow trainee, which was great for adding variety, and then it was taken over by our coach, ensuring we had qualified instruction. We went through a lot of knee slides, knee attacks, push-ups, different types of kicks, and even some shadow wrestling. The number of trainees was significant, and the intensity of the session ramped up quickly. Fatigue built up almost immediately, but everyone kept going, driven by a collective spirit of perseverance.

We finished the first part of the training with more stretching, which helped alleviate some of the tension in our muscles. After that, we had a few minutes to rest before transitioning into a reaction drill. This drill entailed quickly touching your partner while deftly avoiding their attempts to touch you in return, and switching roles whenever we heard a clap. This drill required focus, speed, and heightened awareness, especially for those of us who were already feeling fatigued from the earlier exertion.

Sparring and Learning Through Limitations

Because there were many trainees that evening, the coach asked us to move toward the wall. Those with full sparring gear could engage in sparring, while the rest were directed to perform seated squats as a form of training. Only a few of us stayed for sparring that night. I found myself partnering with a younger trainee who had been training for about five months. We kept our sparring light, especially because my left knee is still in bad shape, and I could not even walk properly most days. He was surprisingly understanding and very respectful of my limitations, which made the whole experience much more enjoyable than it might have been otherwise.

Whenever I managed to take him down during our sparring matches, I quickly realized that ground work was quite difficult. I was wearing boxing gloves instead of the traditional MMA gloves, which made any form of submissions almost impossible to execute. Still, I did what I could within my capabilities and focused on maintaining control rather than aiming for finishes in our exchanges. We sparred for about twenty minutes total, divided into five-minute rounds with one-minute breaks in between. The last round felt extremely long and demanding, pushing me to my limits, but I managed to push through, fueled by a combination of adrenaline and determination.

After we finished, I took the opportunity to show him a few techniques I had learned from my Jiu Jitsu classes. I explained to him the importance of side control, proper positioning, and transitioning smoothly from behind, emphasizing how these skills can significantly impact our performance. We managed to finish earlier than usual that night, around 10 P.M. instead of the usual ten thirty, which was nice. Some students had already left the gym, while others stayed behind to watch and soak in the environment.

Conversation and Motivation

After training, I spoke with Hamad, another trainee, who happens to be quite an inspiring figure in our community. He told me about an upcoming tournament in Jordan that he had been invited to participate in, sharing his excitement. He mentioned that he has been training for ten years and still sees tremendous potential within himself. When he discovered that I have only been training for three months, he encouraged me strongly to consider participating in a tournament, even if I feel unready. He passionately explained that competition is one of the best ways to evaluate your true level and to push boundaries. His words resonated with me deeply, especially when he added that even though I am not very young in my age, I am certainly not old either, and there is still ample time for me to grow and develop in this sport.

End of the Day and Recovery

After leaving the gym, I made sure to properly tend to my body; I had my creatine and protein shake, both essential elements for my recovery process. All I wanted at that moment was to get home, recover, and rest adequately. Once I arrived home, I took a cold shower, even though it was freezing; I endured the chilly water, knowing that it would help with recovery. After the shower, I took my magnesium supplement to help with muscle relaxation and went straight to sleep, feeling exhausted but accomplished.

Day 88 Lesson

Today reminded me that progress is not only built in hard rounds and lengthy sessions, but also in adapting to limitations and listening carefully to the needs of my body. Training through fatigue and injury requires a level of patience, heightened awareness, and humility, not just sheer effort and determination. It is a continuous journey that challenges both the body and the mind.

Day 88 complete. Learning continues, recovery remains essential, and the grind goes on.

👉 How do you balance pushing yourself in training while respecting your body limits? This is a question that many athletes often grapple with, and I’m curious to hear your thoughts!