Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims around the world and is a time of discipline and charity. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. This year, Ramadan started on 12th April and will end on the 11th or 12th of May. Those who do not observe Ramadan may wonder if or how fasting affects training, but Sahara and Farid Mohammed of Impact Fitness Academy share their knowledge and experience of wrestling during Ramadan to help dispel any misconceptions.
‘There’s so much more to Ramadan than fasting. As a matter of fact, fasting helps to bring about a greater connectedness with self and focus more on the spiritual and not the physical,’ says Sahara. ‘The thought of not eating might be uncomfortable for some, but we look forward to the month of Ramadan because we see it as a blessing to be able to fast’.
Farid ‘I think a lot of people feel that because we are fasting during Ramadan, we take things a little easier, when we actually carry on as normal. Ramadan is a time of deep self-reflection and charity. When we feel the pangs of hunger, we remember the people all over the world who don’t have food and who have to carry on with their day-to-day lives’.
While there can be exceptional circumstances that may cause an athlete to consider postponing their fast, such as the London 2012 Olympics or the 2014 World Cup, some athletes report that their physical output is better doing Ramadan.
‘For me personally, the best I have ever trained and competed was during Ramadan in terms of my running speed, conditioning, hitting PBs in weights’, says Farid. For some reason it gives me a mental edge and makes me dig deeper. It doesn’t always start out like this to be fair. The first seven days are usually the hardest but after this, I’m full of energy’.
Farid argues that wrestling is an ideal sport to participate in during Ramadan as it is a tough, full body workout that helps to build mental resilience and discipline, but cautions wrestlers to find their limits as they navigate training and competing during Ramadan.
‘Children, as well as pregnant women, the elderly and people who are travelling, are not required to fast. Although they do not fast, the importance of discipline is reinforced to the children during the holy month. We try to remind them that this time should make you reflect on your character and your behaviour’, says Farid. ‘The students in our club never fail to amaze me with their focus and determination during Ramadan. We also train about an hour before the fast opens so maybe that is a motivation!’
(Have a generous Ramadan)