How professional athletes balance training with fasting during Ramadan

Recently, 23-year-old MMA fighter Dalia Abodeff, a World Bronze medallist, represented Egypt at the African Games as MMA debuted on the continental Olympic platform, advancing the vision of MMA becoming an Olympic sport. The finals, for which she bagged a gold medal, took place on March 12—the second day of the holy month of Ramadan.

As sports such as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), as well as other martial arts such as Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai continue to rise in popularity in the Middle East, there has been an influx of young Middle Eastern men and women pursuing full-time careers in combat sports.

Come the month of Ramadan, numerous Muslim athletes have to refrain from eating or drinking from dawn until sunset, prioritising self-reflection and prayer as integral components of their faith’s pillars. This fasting period coincides with their athletic endeavours, emphasising their commitment to both spiritual devotion and sporting excellence in order to compete on global platforms.

The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. The fast, from dawn to dusk, ranges from 12 to 17 hours depending on your location, with the duration of fasting being 13 hours in the UAE this year. Each fast is broken in the evening with a meal called iftar, and the pre-dawn meal before beginning the fast is called suhoor.

Most importantly, fasting during Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink; it also involves spiritual reflection, increased prayer, reading the Quran, and acts of charity, culminating in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a festival that marks the end of fasting.

From food intake to hydration levels, as well as altered training schedules and mindset, how do professional athletes and those gearing up for their pro debuts maintain high levels of fitness during such a time period? Khaleej Times spoke to professional MMA fighters, Jiu-Jitsu athletes, their coaches, as well as nutrition experts to understand how faith powers the performance levels of these sportspeople.

How does Ramadan affect athletes' training?

According to research paper The Impact of Ramadan Observance upon Athletic Performance (Shephard, 2012), observing Ramadan can significantly impact the training and performance of competitive athletes, especially when it falls during the hotter months with long daylight hours. Hence, nutritional and behavioural strategies need to mitigate these challenges for the Muslim athletes.

Modifying the intensity and duration of your workouts to match your energy levels during fasting then becomes key, says Skyler Meyers, fitness professional and signature manager of the UFC Gym in Dubai. “I'd tell my fasting clients to focus on maintaining rather than increasing performance levels during Ramadan. Shorter, high-intensity workouts or split sessions may be more manageable during this time.”

“Always be mindful of how your body responds to fasting and adjust your training according to how you feel. If you start feeling fatigued or dizzy, consider reducing the intensity or taking a rest day instead," says the fitness professional.

During Ramadan, it’s best to consider scheduling workouts during non-fasting hours, such as after iftar or before suhoor. “This allows you to fuel your body before and after training, whether it’s a light workout or intense training sessions such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) or other forms of martial arts,” he adds.

Should athletes adjust their training schedules?

Athletes have their uniqueness during fasting and how they feel best differs from person to person. “My job is to adapt everyone to what the training requires in order to maintain technical and physical levels. I believe that during Ramadan, it’s more about adapting schedules,” says Ramon Lemos, head of the UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Team. “That’s why we train after iftar. We don’t train while fasting, thus avoiding the risk of muscle loss due to being without an energy source.”

Scheduling workouts before suhoor is also recommended, says Meyers. “This allows you to fuel your body before and after training, whether it’s a light workout or intense training sessions such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or other forms of martial arts.”

In line with this ethos, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, part of the UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Team, hasn’t compromised on her training routine, except for adjusting the timing to post-iftar. “I train only after iftar,” says the 23-year-old. “I haven’t made any changes to the training routine, only to the timing. We train from 9pm to 10:30pm daily during Ramadan.”

However, staying active throughout the day is still important, says Balqees Al Hashemi, also part of the national team. “Before breaking my fast, I engage in drills to stay active. Following the breaking of my fast at 9pm, I proceed with Jiu-Jitsu training, and upon completion, I head to the gym for further workouts,” says the 19-year-old Emirati athlete, who won gold at Jiu-Jitsu World Championship held in the Mongolian capital last year.

Different discipline, different approach

What’s important to note is that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to training during the fasting period. While Jiu Jitsu athletes may opt for a workout after breaking their fast or before, MMA fighter Abdullah Al Qahtani, hailing from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, prefers to undertake two training sessions per day during the holy month.

Shifting from his regular training hours of 8am to noon and 6pm to 9pm, his Ramadan training schedule includes a 2-hour session before iftar and a more elaborate session after breaking the fast. “The first session is not very hard; it’s more technical, just drills. Then at night, after iftar, I have the hardcore training, like conditioning or spine exercises, from around 10-11pm till 2am,” reveals Al Qahtani, a lightweight fighter signed by Professional Fighter's League (PFL).

Adding to that, amateur MMA fighter Malik Basahel, 22, mentions, “If I’m training before iftar, which is before breaking my fast, I opt for a low or medium intensity workout because I may not be fully fuelled and hydrated, which can lead to fatigue and increase the risk of injuries.”

“I tend not to compete during Ramadan because I am unable to train normally, and cutting weight would be difficult and potentially unsafe while fasting,” adds the Saudi fighter, who’s currently pursuing his undergraduate studies at University of Leeds, UK, while simultaneously preparing for a professional career in combat sports.

To this, Hattan Alsaif, who recently made history becoming the first Saudi woman to sign a professional MMA league, adds, “Three hours before iftar, I conduct my training session, then I break my fast, and after iftar, I have another training session. When you have a goal in mind, there’s no stopping.”

What should athletes eat?

Maintaining fitness levels while fasting during Ramadan requires careful planning and attention to nutrition. “During Ramadan, athletes should focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods that provide sustained energy, support muscle recovery, and promote overall health,” says Dr Henna Kutty, lifestyle medicine specialist and holistic health coach based in the UAE.

Paying attention to consuming nutrient-rich foods during suhoor and iftar to support training and recovery is vital, adds Meyers. “It’s important to incorporate complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and healthy fats to supply sustained energy and support muscle repair.”

Jiu-Jitsu athletes require a significant amount of energy and carbohydrate storage, says Zeina Soueidan, a Lebanese nutritionist based in the UAE. “The amount of food intake depends on training and competition frequency. Professional athletes should spread their food intake over 2-3 meals from iftar to suhoor."

"Ideally, a balanced iftar with various food groups and suhoor rich in protein ensure they have sufficient energy to maintain muscle strength. They require protein for recovery to maintain and build muscle strength," she adds.

Soueidan, who also runs a food counter called Hook’d at the Gracie Humaita BJJ gym in Al Safa, Dubai, further adds, “In competitions, the requirements differ because athletes will need simpler carbohydrates that can be used immediately. However, they also need complex carbohydrates stored to sustain their training. These are the two main differences.”

From suhoor to iftar

For suhoor, Dr Kutty recommends complex carbohydrates like grains oats, brown rice, and whole wheat bread to provide sustained energy throughout the day with a combination of lean protein sources such as eggs, yoghurt, cottage cheese, or lean meats, which help repair and build muscles and healthy fats, such as nuts, seeds, avocado for sustained energy.

“For iftar, it’s absolutely important to start with hydrating foods, such as water-rich fruits and vegetables like watermelon, cucumber, and oranges to help rehydrate the body,” she adds.

Throughout the period of fasting, Jiu-Jitsu athlete Al Hashemi adheres to her diet plan meticulously, with guidance from her nutritionist. “Should I sense a decline in energy levels, I promptly consult my nutritionist for necessary adjustments,” she adds.