Day Sixteen: Small Steps, Stronger Mind

A Productive Start

Sunday; Day 16 of my martial arts journey. Today, I felt a renewed sense of motivation and energy that I hadn't experienced in a while. Last night, I slept longer than usual, around 5 and a half hours. That might not sound like much, but compared to my usual 3 to 4 hours, it felt like a small victory that I truly appreciated. I woke up early, feeling refreshed, went to work, and used my morning wisely, approaching tasks with a clearer mind and more focus. It’s one of the few days when I don’t have a packed teaching schedule, so I took full advantage of it, planning my day meticulously and ensuring I made every moment count.

I worked on lesson plans and then, with determination, shifted my focus to something I’ve been building for weeks; my blog. Today was a big step: I officially launched my website, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It’s live, and the feeling of accomplishment is indescribable.

I worked intensely on the homepage, the About Me section, and even did a bit of SEO tweaking to ensure my content reaches a wider audience. I’m not an expert, but I tried diligently to make it look clean and appealing, adding a few images, adjusting formatting, and improving flow where I could. It’s far from perfect, though. The contact form still needs work, visuals need improvement, and I plan to eventually translate everything into Arabic , so I can connect with more readers and share my journey with a broader audience.

Still, I’m proud. I’m learning through trial and error, experimenting, improving piece by piece. Each day is an opportunity for growth. I’m not waiting for perfection anymore, progress beats perfection. At 31, I can’t afford to waste time chasing ideal conditions. I just have to keep moving forward, embracing the learning curve.

This blog isn’t just a hobby; it has become my way of journaling my martial arts journey and hopefully, inspiring others while gaining exposure along the way. I want my experiences to resonate with fellow practitioners and those who are contemplating embarking on a similar path.

Adjusting the Plan

After finishing work, I treated myself to a good meal and took a short rest to recharge my batteries. Then I went to complete a medical test required for my Saudi ID. I’ve been here for a couple of months now, and without an ID, everything becomes complicated, from opening a bank account to ordering equipment online. Getting that ID means I’ll finally be able to buy proper gloves, a Jiu-Jitsu Gi, and other gear I need to train seriously, enhancing my overall experience in martial arts.

The medical test took longer than expected, and by the time I was done, I had already missed the 7 p.m. boxing class. That was disappointing, especially since I was looking forward to it after missing it the day before. The anticipation had been building up, and I was eager to push myself further.

But skipping training wasn’t an option for me. So I made a quick decision: attend the MMA class from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. It was a decision driven by my desire to grow and not let obstacles discourage me.

I’m not a fan of late-night sessions, finishing after 10 means getting home late, showering, eating, and barely sleeping before work the next morning. But that’s the grind. You don’t always get to train under ideal circumstances, and being adaptable is crucial in martial arts. Sometimes, showing up tired is better than not showing up at all; it shows your commitment to the craft and your personal growth.

The MMA Session

When I arrived at the gym, the place was packed, more than 30 people in attendance. The energy in the air was palpable, and I could see the dedication reflected in everyone’s faces. I later learned that they had started at 8 p.m., combining wrestling and MMA, but today they skipped wrestling and went straight into MMA drills. So, technically, I arrived an hour late, which was not ideal, but I was determined to make the most of the time I had left.

Everyone was already sweating hard, doing high kicks, knees, sprawls, and fast movement drills, the intensity pushing everyone to their limits. I jumped in right away, feeling the adrenaline kick in. The warmup was tough but energizing, igniting the fire within me. We practiced reaction-based movement — trying to touch and dodge our partners quickly while switching often to train awareness and timing. It was exhilarating and exhausting at the same time, but I loved the feeling of pushing my body to its limits.

Then came the clinch work: grabbing the neck, pulling down, and practicing leg sweeps. It was physically engaging, testing both grip strength and coordination. Each movement required precision and control, and I could feel my heart racing with each drill. After that, the coach divided us into two groups; those with full gear (mouthguard, shin guard, gloves, bandages, and headgear) would do sparring, and the rest would do wall sits, allowing us to fine-tune different skills.

I had everything except a headgear. The coach offered that I could borrow one from the gym, but by the time I looked for one, they were all taken, adding a slight challenge to my plans. So I ended up doing bag work while waiting for someone to finish or rest, keeping my body moving and my mind focused.

Eventually, I got my chance; one fighter got injured (nothing serious, but enough to take him out), and I borrowed his headgear, feeling a sense of urgency to make the most of this opportunity. My sparring partner was taller, younger, and more experienced. I was using boxing gloves, not MMA ones, so the grip and control weren’t ideal. But I did my best to adapt to the situation, drawing on all the lessons I had learned in my training.

During the match, I managed to take him down and tried to go for a submission choke, but he resisted well, showcasing his skills. He didn’t quit, and I respected that. I felt the fatigue creeping in after all the bag work, but I gave it my best shot. The struggle was real, and when the time ran out, it ended in a tie. Still, I felt both humbled and motivated; it wasn’t a victory, but it was growth, both physical and mental.

The class ended with observation; I watched others spar, some pushing against the wall, others rolling on the mats. I realized I still need to improve my ground game and submission transitions to take my skills to the next level, and I couldn’t wait to incorporate that into future training sessions.

Reflection

I left the gym around 10:30 p.m. Feeling tired but content. I didn’t get the amount of sparring I wanted, but I learned valuable lessons; both technical and practical. Reflecting on the day, I now know that:

• MMA sparring sessions happen every Sunday and Thursday, and they are not to be missed.

• Filming others during training is not allowed. (One student was even asked to leave for recording without permission, serving as a reminder of the importance of respecting rules.)

Even though today didn’t go perfectly, I’m walking away with progress; information, awareness, and experience. A little progress is better than no progress at all. It’s these seemingly small wins that accumulate over time and lead to significant growth.

Day Sixteen Lesson

Every training day doesn’t need to be perfect. What matters is showing up; adjusting, learning, and doing your best with what you have. This mindset has become my anchor in navigating both my training and teaching life.

I’m one step closer to balancing work, life, and training. The website is live, the ID process has started, and I’m still in the fight, in and outside the gym. Each day is a chapter in this journey, and I'm excited to see where it leads me.

Day Sixteen complete. The grind continues. Small steps, stronger mind.

👉 What’s something you’ve been putting off because you’re waiting for the “perfect time”? Maybe the right time is now. Let’s take action together and see how far we can go!