How Do You Deal With Injuries, Sickness & Burnout While Training?

If you’re training consistently and consecutively, these things will happen. Not might — will. This is especially true in Thailand, where volume, heat, and intensity are all higher than most people are used to.

The goal isn’t to avoid issues entirely — it’s to manage them properly.

Rest Is Not Optional

If you’re training twice a day, rest becomes part of training.

Simple but effective habits:

  • Sleep between sessions if possible

  • Eat enough food to actually fuel training

  • Prioritise night-time sleep

Many people break down not because training is “too hard,” but because recovery is ignored.

Injuries: Train Around Them, Not Through Them

Minor injuries are common.

If something hurts:

  • Acknowledge it early

  • Adjust training

For example:

  • Hurt shin → no kicking, but still knee, elbow, punch

  • Sore shoulder → reduce punching volume, focus on footwork

If you’re injured:

  • Tell your training partner

  • Don’t hide it

  • Don’t “test it”

Trying to push through often turns small issues into long layoffs.

Sickness: Do Not Train

This is non-negotiable.

  • Training while sick is generally forbidden

  • You risk spreading illness to others

  • For many Thai fighters, training is their livelihood

If you have:

  • Flu

  • Fever

  • Cold symptoms

Rest. Recover. Come back healthy.

Skin Issues: Absolute Red Line

This is the most serious category.

Do not train with:

  • Ringworm

  • Staph infections

  • Any unexplained skin lesions

Many gyms will inspect fighters before training — and for good reason.

If you notice anything:

  • Get it checked immediately

  • Don’t wait

  • Don’t “see if it goes away”

Left untreated, infections can spread quickly and become dangerous.

Burnout Is Real — Especially on Short Trips

Burnout often shows up as:

  • Poor sleep

  • Loss of power

  • Drop in cardio

  • Mental exhaustion

  • No motivation

This is extremely common if:

  • You’re only there for a month

  • You try to train as much as humanly possible

Sometimes the smartest move is to stop.

When to Take a Proper Break

If burnout hits:

  • Take 3–5 days, or even a full week

  • No hard training

Instead:

  • Walk

  • Stretch lightly

  • Sleep

  • Eat well

  • Get massages

This often brings your body back stronger than forcing more sessions.

Monitor the Load, Not Just the Calendar

More training is not always better.

Long-term progress comes from:

  • Managing volume

  • Listening to your body

  • Respecting recovery

The fighters who last — and improve — are the ones who know when to push and when to pause.

Final Advice

Pain, sickness, and fatigue are part of the process — but ignoring them is how trips get cut short.

Train smart. Rest properly. Speak up when something feels wrong.

Your body is the tool — protect it.