Day Fifteen: Finding Rhythm in Setbacks

A Rough Start

Today marked the first day of Week Three, and honestly, it didn’t start the way I planned. I was supposed to wake up at 5 a.m. for my usual boxing session, but I ended up sleeping at 2 a.m. and woke up at 6 exactly when the session started. So, I missed it. I can’t lie, it felt like a setback, a reminder that I still need to improve my sleep pattern and discipline.

Instead of forcing myself to rush, I went back to sleep for a bit longer. When I finally woke up, I decided to make good use of the morning. I worked on my blog, caught up on lesson prep for teaching, and then focused on training at home. I did some running, jumping (without a rope since I still don’t have one), shadowboxing, stretching, and core work, basically everything I would’ve done in the morning boxing session, minus the bag work.

It wasn’t the same as being at the gym, of course. Training at home lacks that atmosphere of discipline and drive that the gym brings. Still, I reminded myself that showing up, even imperfectly, is what matters most. That’s what separates fighters from the rest: the ability to keep showing up, even when it’s hard.

Weighing My Options

I looked at my training options for the rest of the day. There was Jiu-Jitsu at 6, but I still don’t have my Gi, and I didn’t want to be the only one without one. It’s not a physically demanding session, but without the proper gear, it didn’t feel right to go.

Then there was Wrestling from 9 to 10 p.m. — again, not too demanding, but it’s late, and I didn’t want to start my work week exhausted. There was also Muay Thai from 8 to 10 p.m., which I love, but that also finishes late. Finally, there was boxing from 7:30 to 9, and that’s the one I decided to go for.

Traffic was bad, and even though I left early, I still arrived a bit late. So, I skipped running and went straight into jumping and shadowboxing. This time, something clicked, I finally found my rhythm with the rope jumping. I started counting, focusing, and keeping my head up instead of looking at the mirror or the floor. My highest count was 29 jumps, the most I’ve ever done without tripping. It might sound small, but for me, it was a win, progress I could feel and measure.

The Boxing Session

After jumping and shadowboxing, we took a five-minute water break and then geared up. I partnered with a guy I didn’t know, but he looked experienced. We worked the heavy bag together, I punched while he held, and then we switched.

The combos were jab-jab-cross-hook followed by left body shot, and I tried to stay consistent with rhythm and power. He gave me a few pointers, and at one point, he managed to catch me off guard with a few clean body shots. It made me realize something: I still have a habit of raising my guard too high when I get hit in the face, leaving my sides exposed.

It stung a bit, not physically, but mentally. I thought I had corrected that after my last sparring with Mohamed and the professional Tunisian boxer, Issa. That session made me feel sharp, like I was leveling up. But today was a humbling reminder: there’s always more to learn.

After bag work, we did core exercises, crunch variations and finished with a plank. It wasn’t an exhausting day, but it was a meaningful one. Before I left, my coach asked me to come again tomorrow. I hadn’t planned to, I wanted to alternate between technique days (like Jiu-Jitsu or wrestling) and power days (boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA). But maybe I’ll go anyway. I’m not tired, and part of me wants to see how far I can push.

Reflections and Challenges

Lately, everything feels like a juggling act, teaching, training, blogging, managing equipment, and keeping my energy balanced. My gloves are too light; they hurt my hands during heavy hits. I still need my Jiu-Jitsu Gi. The list of small obstacles keeps growing, but so does my determination.

Despite the chaos, I feel progress. The website is finally up, though not perfect yet. There’s still a lot to fix, but at least it’s something. Progress, even slow, is still progress. I’m hungry for more; for growth, for a chance to prove myself.

What I really want is a guarantee; a plan to compete, maybe in six to nine months. I want to train with purpose, not just for fitness or routine, but for something real; an amateur fight, a tournament, a test of everything I’ve built. I didn’t train when I was younger, and part of me feels like I’m making up for lost time. This is my shot to do what I should’ve done years ago.

I’m not sure how I’ll get there yet, but I know I will. If there’s a will, there’s a way. The goal is to silence the doubts in my head, to prove to myself that it’s never too late to chase what sets your soul on fire.

That’s why I keep working on my training, my writing, my mindset. This blog isn’t just documentation; it’s therapy, motivation, and a way to connect with others on the same path. It helps me stay accountable and reminds me that growth is meant to be shared.

Day Fifteen Lesson

Discipline isn’t about perfection; it’s about persistence. Missing one session doesn’t mean failure, what matters is what you do next. Every small effort counts, and every setback is a chance to learn, realign, and come back stronger.

Day Fifteen complete. The grind continues, hungrier, humbler, and one step closer to the fighter I want to become.

👉 What do you do when you slip off track, push harder, rest, or reflect? Sometimes the comeback teaches more than the routine ever could