I recently came in touch with this adage, fatigue masks fitness. It’s a very simple yet important idea to remember when you get into the depths of performance training.

In training, there is a need to push the body through phases of fatigue and exertion. As a result, the body adapts and can become stronger. You need to accept temporarily weakness in order to gain strength and endurance.

Going through this phase is always physically demanding but is also a mental struggle. You aren’t moving as much weight in the weight room, you feel slower or sluggish, people you are “better than” might beat you in a roll. That’s a good sign your training is working. (This should be an intentional routine at a very intentional time in your training, not random) However, getting beat by someone like that can be mentally challenging. Ignore it. Let it roll off you. Remind yourself that you are supposed to get beat this close to competition because you are in a fatigue masks fitness phase. When you take your time to recover for a tournament or match, your performance will double up.

The fatigue that sets in from training shouldn’t be long term or permanent. If that’s the case there is something wrong with your training routine. This should work in phases or cycles where heavy volume, intensity, and rest is emphasized at different strategic moments.