Day Nine at the Gym: Kickboxing, MMA, and Finding My Focus

Early Morning Routine

I woke up early as usual. My body is used to this rhythm now, even when I barely sleep. I only managed around four hours of rest last night and one short nap during the day. Both of my knees were still sore and cut from yesterday’s training, but surprisingly, my muscles didn’t feel as stiff. That’s progress, I’m adapting, slowly but surely.

Work was demanding, as always. Even though I didn’t have many teaching sessions today, I spent hours preparing lessons and materials for both the current and upcoming week. My students are in the middle of their midterm exams and national test revisions. It’s a lot to manage, but I like being prepared ahead of time. It keeps me grounded, even when I’m exhausted.

After a staff meeting with my supervisor and colleagues, I finally got home. I had more preparation work waiting for me, plus updates for my blog; this new part of my life that I’m building, one story at a time. By evening, I was drained, but there was no way I’d skip training. Martial arts has become the best part of my day.

The Kickboxing Session

It was my first kickboxing session here in Riyadh. I was excited but also running late because of heavy traffic. I reached the gym around 7:15 p.m. The class had already started, but when I asked the coach if I could still join, he welcomed me in.

I did a quick warm-up, wrapped my hands, put on my gloves, and strapped on both shin guards. The room was packed, around twenty people in total, mostly teenagers, full of energy and noise. My training partner was young and new, just like me when I started kickboxing.

We began with combinations:

Jab, cross, hook, low leg kick, switch stance, knee strike to the stomach, and finish with an elbow.

Then the combos grew longer and more complex. We added pushes, right crosses, and low kicks, alternating between left and right. The pace was fast, and the sweat came quickly.

The only problem was that my partner didn’t wear leg protection. Each kick from him hit hard, especially against my left thigh. It hurt, but I pushed through. We drilled multiple sequences, ten kicks on one side, ten on the other, then body shots and high kicks to the face level. It was intense, rhythmic, and surprisingly fun. I liked it. My body responded well, and my balance is improving every session.

The Unexpected MMA Session

According to the schedule, the next class at 8:15 was supposed to be wrestling. But when we began, I realized it was actually MMA. I was tired but decided to stay. It turned out to be one of the hardest sessions I’ve done so far.

We started with rolls, stretching, and conditioning, thirty minutes of nonstop movement. We practiced single-leg takedowns, carrying our partners, and switching positions. Then we moved into clinch work; holding the opponent’s head down and striking with the knee to the face. Over and over. It was brutal, but technical. After that, we drilled double-leg takedowns and ground escapes. My body burned, my breathing got heavier, but I didn’t quit.

Later, the coach divided us into two groups, those with experience sparred in the cage, and those without practiced strikes on the bags. I was in the second group. We worked combinations:

Double kicks, punches, high kicks, and push kicks to the thigh and face. My arms and legs felt heavy, but I kept going.

Then came partner drills. My other partner was Abdullah, a strong 19-year-old weighing around 92 kilograms. He’s been training for a year and already has medals to his name. We finished with groundwork, learning to escape side holds and choke positions. By the time we wrapped up, it was 10:30 p.m. — over two hours of non-stop effort. My entire body was screaming, but I was proud.

Conversations and Motivation

After training, I spent some time talking with Abdullah. He told me about his experience competing in Saudi amateur events and how he started from nothing. He followed the official federation pages for all six recognized martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, wrestling, and MMA, and signed himself up when opportunities appeared.

He explained that Saudi Arabia currently focuses heavily on wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, but foreigners can compete too, especially in MMA. He said every ten Saudi athletes can include one foreigner on their team. Hearing that gave me direction. Now I know where to look, how to sign up, and what to aim for.

His story inspired me. He started unnoticed, trained on his own, and now gets calls and sponsorships. He even won second place after just two months of preparation. It reminded me that effort pays off, even if it’s slow, even if no one notices at first.

Reflections

Tonight was hard. My legs hurt, my wrist still aches, and I’m covered in small cuts. But I’m learning that the body adapts when the mind stays focused. Kickboxing challenged my coordination, and MMA tested my endurance.

Now I understand that each session, no matter how painful, is building not just strength, but awareness. I’m learning to move smarter, hit cleaner, and recover faster.

I left the gym around 10:55 p.m., went home, showered, ate what I could, and prepared to sleep. My body was finished, but my spirit was alive. Another day, another challenge faced.

Day Nine Lesson

Growth doesn’t always come from comfort. Sometimes it comes from chaos, from late nights, missed sleep, bruised legs, and unexpected turns. What matters is staying in the fight.

Day Nine complete. The road continues.

👉 What drives you to keep pushing when everything hurts?