Training and Fighting with Injuries
As I prepare for my upcoming boxing bout, the injuries I've dealt with and how I've handled them reminds me that injuries are inevitable. Training to fight is serious, arduous business, and sometimes the tests come long before you enter the ring, cage, mat, etc.
In early October 2015, after discussing with my boxing coach, Ray Nelson, we decided that I was ready to take my first boxing fight. The next event was going to be held at Uppercut Boxing Gym in Northeast Minneapolis on November 14, 2015. I was already in shape and training hard, and the November date gave me 5 weeks to really ramp up my training to be in top form come fight day.
The following is a list of injuries I either entered into fight camp with, or incurred during fight camp:
rib bruising from fight prep sparring with teammates (punches and knees to the rib at 100%)
knuckle/middle finger fracture/dislocation on jab hand
dropped weighted trap bar on toe during strength training
lost a week of 100% training due to cold/illness
chronic neck injury suffered in previous fight
So, what's my point?
The point is that this was by no means uncommon or new. Taking a fight all but guarantees that you're going to encounter some series of annoying injuries that are going to get in the way of your training. Accept it as part of the process, and do your best to work around whatever is getting in your way.
There are of course exceptions, but in general, if it's not a debilitating injury and it's something that will heal eventually, then accept this as body tempering and something that ultimately will make you stronger, maybe just stronger in life than in the ring, but stronger nonetheless.
