5 Best Habits to Learn from Muay Thai Fighters

THE TOP HABITS OF PROFESSIONAL THAI BOXERS

By James Bee

Good habits are what separate the pro athletes from the amateurs, it’s that simple. They help fighters to train harder, longer, recover faster, feel good, and perform better.

If you have bad habits you will never reach your greatest potential.Not even close. Bad habits such as missing sleep and eating junk food will hold you back in the long run.

How do I know this? Because I work with professional Muay Thai fighters on a daily basis, and trust me, bad habits and greatness just can’t co-exist.

In this post, I’ll teach you 5 of the best habits that separate the champs from the chumps.

Habit #1: Rest

If you want to be any kind of successful athlete, you need focus on rest and recovery plan as much as you’re training.

Professional fighters usually train AM and PM 6 days per week. With that amount of training, missing sleep is going to affect your weight, performance and health. Athletes should shoot to get 7-8 hours’ sleep each night and focus on nailing down their post workout recovery plan.

Habit #2: Dedication  

Professional athletes don’t flake. They don’t make excuses why they can’t make weight; they show up for training even when they don’t feel like it.

Professional Muay Thai fighters are generally comfortable with being uncomfortable and that’s a clear sign of commitment to the bigger picture. People expect amateurs to play up every now and again or go awol after a big win, but not the pros. They are the ones usually back at the gym Monday working on their mistakes while fresh in the mind.

Habit #3: Sacrifice

Being a professional athlete takes sacrifice.

A lot of people don’t realize that pros usually have a team of people are depending on them. When you can’t make weight because you’ve been going to all you can eat pizza nights, you’re not just letting yourself down; it’s an embarrassment to your entire team.

When you’re a pro fighter, you don’t get to be like everyone else. Things like social life and partying; is all off when you’re training for fights.

It’s like this: While your friends are out getting drunk and having fun, you’ll be at home. Then when they wake up in their warm beds from a nice sleep in, your just finishing morning training. This is the sacrifices it takes.

Habit #4: Organisation

If your always running late or leaving things to the last minute, you’ll never make it as a professional fighter.

You know about the 6 P’s, right? 

Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

If you expect people to give a shit about your fight career, the least you can do is be organized. Track your weight, keep a diet journal, keep in good health and be fight ready when you need to be.

Habit #5: Diet

Fighters who are serious about their sport have good nutrition habits. They follow a diet plan, they don’t just guess their way through it.

For the professionals it’s not just about dieting when you need to cut weight. It’s about leading the lifestyle of a fighter each day. It’s about knowing the right foods to buy, and feeding your body with as much nutrients as possible in every meal.