If you ask any world class MMA fighter what the toughest part of the fight was, they would say the training camp preparing them for the fight. Training camps are what make fighters better and in shape and it prepares them for there up coming bout. I had the privilege of experiencing just one of these full training camp days my self when i was taking Muay Thai Classes at local gym. The coach's invited me to train just for a day just to give me a glimpse of what fighters go through just to prepare them for a bout. This is there training regime.

I woke up at 6 in the morning because there first Thai class was at 6:30, I woke up and didn’t bother washing up because I knew I was going to be sweating in half an hour anyways. I arrived and there team of fighters were there also, waking up the same time I did. We stretched out and went for a jog around the business complex, I don’t exactly know how far we jogged for but it took us about a good 40 minutes and we were going at a pretty fast pace. For me I was already getting tired and realized that this was still the start of the day.

After the jog we went inside the gym for weight lifting, the fighters started doing dead lifts and bench presses with weight I couldn’t keep up with. They kept going, no break, there coach was egging them on with words of encouragement, and than started to turn up the heat, i was already exhausted and he started yelling at me like a drill sergeant to keep going and never stop. After what felt like an eternity we finished and were allowed a fifteen minute break. The fighters worked up a good sweat but I was exhausted, and we weren’t even at the half way point yet.

After strength training came some pad work. We moved in stations after 30 minutes and kept moving and moving. One would be at the heavy bag while one was working on kicks with the Thai coach, the other was pad hitting with the boxing coach. Everyone was working, and working hard. After a good two hours we were allowed another break, a lunch break. Kind of early for me but the coach's invited all of us out and we went to TGI Fridays.

The coach's and I each ordered what we wanted, a cheese burger with some fries, a steak and so on. However the fighters had to get "healthy" food, foods I hated with a passion. Foods like broccoli and asparagus, a lot of pasta for those trying to gain weight and a lot of salad for those trying to cut down. I felt bad eating my great cheese burger while the fighter across from me was eating broccoli which resembled a mini tree. When we were done we drove back to the gym to continue with training.

This time we were working on sparring, something that I very much enjoy doing. I was excited to have the opportunity to spar with professionals. It would be my first time and I was anxious to get in there and see how far I’ve come along. However my body was still tired from the previous hours training and I felt very slow to what i was used too. I couldn’t move and the fighter I was sparring was moving as fast as how he started the day. I was getting pegged left and right and struggled when he kick my ribs when i had my hands up blocking his punch’s. I was a walking punching bag, and I didn't like it at all, I started throwing my kicks with intentions to hurt and my partner noticed, he took me down and held me there until we were done.

After that the coach's came up to me and said I did a good job today and that I could go home. All they wanted was for me to taste what a training camp was like and see how I would cope. They told me to come back in a few hours for the regular classes. I know I left with more training to be done but I know those fighters have very tiring days. Most of them have night jobs and after this they would go and work. I couldn’t imagine working after what felt like the hardest work I’ve ever done. However these fighters MMA fighters do it everyday to prepare them for there fight.