Fight Camp Reflections: More Than Just Training.
- Coach Cait
- Aug 26
- 4 min read
Six weeks. That’s what fight camp looks like on paper. Six weeks of focused training, weight management, and preparation before stepping into the ring. But what no one really tells you is that fight camp is not just physical. It’s mental. It’s emotional. It’s spiritual. It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever put yourself through, and at the same time, one of the most rewarding.
The Work Behind the Work
Training days blur into one another. Long sessions, countless rounds, endless drills. You’re constantly checking the scale, watching what you eat, second-guessing if you’re doing enough. There are nights you come home sore and frustrated, and mornings where you wake up wondering if you can actually keep going.
Some days I cried in training, not because I wasn’t grateful, but because the pressure I put on myself boiled over. That’s the part nobody warns you about. It’s not weakness; it’s part of the process. And every time I came back after those moments, I was stronger for it.
Training the Mind
What surprised me most was how much of fight camp happens in the mind.
I listened to Muay Thai round music on repeat until it was etched into me. I practiced the Wai Kru Ram Muay like a ritual, something that grounded me in the tradition of those who came before. I journaled simple, honest check-ins. Nothing fancy, just thoughts on paper. But writing them down some how, made it all more real.
And then there was imagery. Visualization became my secret weapon. I pictured myself walking to the ring, hearing the crowd, feeling the nerves rise. I pictured the first exchange, the rhythm of the fight, even the moments I’d doubt myself. Over and over, I saw myself move through it, and by the time fight night came, it felt like I had already been there.
The truth is, your opponent is only part of the challenge. The bigger battle is with your own thoughts, with yourself. And training your mind to stay steady is just as important as every kick, punch, and round of conditioning.
Building Your Bench
The other side of fight camp that nobody talks about is how much your life outside the gym matters.
You need a strong bench. And by that, I don’t just mean coaches or teammates. I mean your people. Family, friends, partners—the ones who really get it. The ones who remind you to eat when you’re too focused on cutting weight. The ones who understand why you’re quieter, why you skip nights out, why you’re pouring everything into this one moment.
Support isn’t just “good luck” messages. It’s sacrifice, patience, encouragement, and honesty. And it extends beyond people too. Your finances, your home life, your ability to actually rest. Without that bench beneath you, fight camp feels heavy. With it, you realize you’re not walking into the ring alone, even if you’re the only one stepping through the ropes.
Fight Night
The day of the fight carries its own weight. The nerves of weigh-in, the tension of seeing your opponent for the first time. That’s when everything becomes real.
For me, what settled me most wasn’t pretending I wasn’t nervous, it was leaning on my community and coming back to my journaling. Putting a few scrappy words on paper kept me grounded. It gave me perspective. It reminded me that the fight is just one part of a much bigger journey.
And then, it happens. The walkout, the music, the first round. You give everything you’ve got in those minutes, and then suddenly, it’s over.
After the Bell
No one talks enough about the feelings afterwards. For some people, it’s pure relief. For others, nothing at all. For me, I felt like I almost lost my spark. After weeks of pushing harder and harder, living with one singular goal, the quiet that follows can feel heavy. But I’ve come to see that as part of the journey too. That spark doesn’t vanish, it shifts. It becomes fuel for the next chapter, for the next challenge, for the way you show up outside the ring.
Carrying It Forward
This experience changed me, not just as a fighter but as a coach. Fight camp taught me how much the mind matters, how vital it is to build a real bench, and how important it is to walk through every emotion, not ignore them.
These lessons are what I carry into my teaching. Because the truth is, nobody should have to walk this path alone.
So if you’re thinking about fighting, I hope this reflection helps you see what it’s really like. Not to scare you, but to be honest, to show you that the struggle and the breakthroughs are both part of the story. It’s not about being fearless. It’s about stepping into the ring despite the nerves, the doubts, and the weight of it all.
Because when you do, you’ll find strength you never knew you had.
That is the real win.
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