Losing My First-Ever Muay Thai Fight Taught Me 5 Brutal Lessons

#2 Never underestimate your competition

Photo of the author (left) and his opponent (right)

“Kill, kill, KILL” screamed my mind as his left cross vibrated through my skull.

I retaliated with a thundering right shin kick into his rib guard.

As he took a timeout to adjust his guards, I paced — with a drumming heart and twitching muscles.

Taunting me, he played defensively — landing light low kicks and solid left hooks.

But drunk on adrenaline, I street-fought — swinging haymakers and high kicks in vain.

One warning for rash fighting. Two warnings.

As the bell sounded, I knew I had lost.

As he bear-hugged me, I felt disappointed and ashamed — but strangely elated.

Those 4 minutes in the ring taught me more than what 4 months would.

I want to distill those brutal insights into 5 valuable life lessons.

1. Don’t Fall Prey to The Dunning-Kruger Effect

With my long reach and powerful high kicks, I’d breeze past my sparring partners.