Years ago I used to hang with a bunch of hardcore MMA fighters. They’d party in the clubs till dawn, then still drag their asses in for hard training in the morning. Their ability to go without rest was impressive.
Only later did I realise they could only do this because they were young and fueled by a devil’s brew of steroids, stimulants and painkillers. Not surprisingly, all of them later developed significant health issues.
For those of us who aren’t 18 years old and don’t have black market chemists on speed dial, we have to do things a little differently.
First, if you’re suddenly super-tired for no good reason, then don’t train; you might be getting sick. Not only will pushing yourself now almost certainly make you sicker, but it’s also selfish as f**k; it’s OK to take risks with your own health, but not with other people’s health.
But let’s say there’s an obvious reason you’re a bit of a zombie today. Maybe your kid was crying all night, or that you had to stay up late to finish a project, or you just worked a night shift.
Can you still train?
It’s one of those “Yes, but…” scenarios.
You can train, but abandon expectations of doing well.
You’ll be moving and thinking in slow motion. You’ll be three steps behind and only remember the right move long after your opponent has moved on.
You’ll also be weaker and have less endurance. This is totally normal; sleep is the ultimate sports performance supplement, and you’re in a deficit.
And – most critically – remember that you’ll be less physically resilient when you’re tired. That means old injuries might start aching, and your body will be more susceptible to new injuries.
Don’t like how that crossface is making your neck feel? Tap out and reset.
Is your leg caught in a bad position and are you too tired and too stupid to solve this problem in real time? Tap out and reset.
Are you in a wild scramble for the top position with a young Tasmanian devil? It’s OK – you don’t need to go full Kade Rutolo today – just sit down and work on your guard retention.
Train so that you can come back and train again the next day.
Tap out early and tap out often.
It doesn’t matter how many times you tap out, what the belt rank the guy who tapped you out is, or whether you consider it a “legitimate” submission or not.
Consider your training session a success if you get just ONE technique to work, experience just ONE new position, or flag just ONE transition, grip break, or hip adjustment for future study.
Then get some damn sleep because there’s probably nothing you can do that’s better for your health and your training.
Stephan