Should I have skipped training today?

My original plan was to train once a day, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday taking Thursday and Sundays off for rest days.  I figured that would let me go into each class with good energy even after the warm up run and it would give my body a break every 3 days on average.

But I felt really good at yesterday's training, in fact I stayed after class a bit longer to do some light weights to build my shoulders and a bunch of chin ups for my back and biceps.  I knew I was a bit tired today but figured I would just push through the week and train today and tomorrow, maybe resting Saturday which is often circuit training day, which I think is important but I enjoy pad work and sparring a lot more.

Anyway, I decided to train and started with a 2 mile run, which is close to the 2.3 miles I normally run, but instead of doing the block, I decided to try out an S-Shaped Snake pattern instead to avoid the hot sun.  I was great during the run, jogged the whole distance without walking.  But as soon as it was time for pad work...I knew I was beat.  After the run, we all got into the ring to do 5 minutes of knees.  It very well could have been the knees that zapped my energy, but either way, I was terrible on the pads today.  But I did learn something really valuable that I otherwise wouldn't have.  I knew I was out of energy, so instead of just half-assing the workout, I imagined I was in a fight and figured out what my priorities would be.  Even though my punches and kicks were weak, my number one priority was to keep my hands up and to check kicks.  My second priority was to keep good form and bring my hands straight back after each punch.

On the third and final round of pads, I decided to leave it all in the ring.  I summoned what little strength I had in me and tried to KO the pads.  I figured if it was a real fight and I ran out of cardio, I would just swing for the fences and go for the knockout.  So for the last few minutes of padwork, I somewhat sloppily threw huge elbows and knock out punches.  My kicks didn't have much juice to them, but my knees could do some damage.  I was training completely on heart at this point.  You always hear UFC commentators say how much heart a fighter has, but I never really knew you could train it until today.  Maybe it was a good idea for me to come to class, even if it was for just that lesson on how to leave it all in the ring. 

I was exhausted after the three rounds of padwork and ended up resting during the three rounds on the bags.  Then I heard my five favorite words, "Put on your shin guards."

I learned another valuable lesson today, even during breaks, defend yourself at all times.  I was sparring a tall skinny Italian guy today and almost hurt my back.  We were going at it the entire round, neither of us were hitting each other too hard, but we were definitely putting the pressure on each other and landing some shots.  Maybe I was being a dick, maybe his ego got bruised from being hit, or maybe it was just the heat of the moment, but I stopped a kick half way after hearing the trainer yell Break! then found myself getting slammed, ultra hard on my back.  The entire gym turned their head to look as it was loud.  Luckily, from wrestling I know how to fall properly, but even then, I felt it on my lower back because I wasn't expecting it. I clearly heard Chun, the head trainer yell break, maybe he didn't.  But here's the thing, he's actually a nice guy.  

I used to think people that were dicks in sparring were bad people.  But now I'm starting to think, maybe that's just the way people respond to being hit.  I get outclassed all the time but when I do, I never get frustrated or angry, it just makes me want to improve.  Often I'll ask the person outclassing me to help me get better, just like I did with Mirkko the other day when he whopped my ass in boxing sparring.  But maybe some people's egos are built different.  Either way, I've decided that the only thing I can personally do is keep my guard up at all times even when I think we're going to go easy, and for those few seconds after a round finishes.  

Here's a picture of Mirkko holding mitts for me and showing me how to be better with my hands.  Anyway, I just got back from the most epic first fight I've ever seen and I'm excited to start editing it right away.  

So what do you think, going to training today and learning those lessons and getting to spar was worth it, but maybe it would have been a good idea to have rested up today and trained hard tomorrow instead?  What are you thoughts?

-Johnny @ My Fight Camp