MMA, Boxing, Jiu Jitsu & Muay Thai
The holidays are one of the hardest times of year to stay consistent with training. Between travel, family gatherings, work parties, and endless food, it’s easy for routines to fall apart. But you don’t need perfection to make progress. With a few adjustments, you can stay on track and even finish the year stronger than you started.
Shift Your Mindset: Consistency Over Perfection
Holidays aren’t the time to chase personal records or overhaul your game. They are the time to protect your habits. If your schedule only allows two or three sessions a week instead of five, that’s a win. One solid class is infinitely better than none.
Training during the holidays is about maintenance and momentum, not maximum output.
Plan Training Like an Appointment
If you don’t schedule your training, it will get crowded out. Look at your week ahead of time and decide:
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Which days you will train
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Which classes fit best with your holiday obligations
Treat those sessions like non-negotiable appointments. Once they’re on the calendar, everything else works around them.
Shorter Sessions Still Count
You don’t need a full two-hour grind to stay sharp.
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A 1 hour Jiu Jitsu class keeps timing and movement dialed in
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A boxing or Muay Thai class maintains conditioning and coordination
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MMA drilling preserves fundamentals and awareness
Even abbreviated sessions help keep your routine strong over the holiday season.
Use Training to Balance Holiday Stress
Holidays can be stressful! Emotionally, mentally, and physically. Training is one of the best ways to manage it.
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Boxing and Muay Thai are great outlets for stress and energy
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Jiu Jitsu forces focus and presence
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MMA combines conditioning, problem-solving, and discipline
Many people skip training because they’re stressed, when training is actually the solution.
Be Smart About Recovery and Nutrition
You don’t need to avoid holiday food entirely—just be intentional.
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Stay hydrated
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Prioritize protein
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Get as much sleep as possible
If you know a big meal or late night is coming, adjust your training intensity, not your attendance.
Train With Purpose
If time is limited, go in with a plan:
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Focus on fundamentals
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Work on one or two specific skills
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Drill clean technique instead of chasing exhaustion
Quality reps beat mindless volume every time.
Lean on Your Gym Community
Training partners help keep you accountable during busy seasons. Showing up together, even on tough days, makes consistency easier and training more enjoyable. The holidays are a great reminder that the gym is more than workouts, it’s a community.
Finish the Year Strong
Staying consistent during the holidays puts you ahead of the curve. While others are waiting for January to restart, you’ll already be in rhythm; conditioned, confident, and mentally sharp.
You don’t need to do everything. You just need to keep showing up.
Train smart. Stay consistent. Enjoy the holidays!