It's common to feel utterly exhausted during sparring sessions.

You might start a training session feeling fresh, only to find yourself fatigued after a few tough rounds. At this point, the temptation to take a rest round becomes strong.

However, when you choose to sit out rounds because you're tired, you're missing a critical training opportunity.
Especially if you want to compete.

Competitions often push you to your physical and mental limits, and the ability to perform under exhaustion is a crucial skill...
So, by taking rest rounds, you're avoiding the valuable experience of fighting through fatigue - a situation that is inevitable in tough matches.

Changing your mindset can make all the difference.

Accept that you’re exhausted and adjust your expectations.
You could even play games with your own head, such as imagining you're ahead in a match and need to protect your lead without getting submitted.

This scenario, for example, will help you develop the skill of operating under great fatigue, something you don't want to face for the first time during the finals of a big competition.

In other words, instead of stopping completely, consider setting smaller, more achievable goals.

Maybe it’s surviving the round, maybe it's not getting submitted, maybe it's just working on a specific technique at a slower pace.

By continuing to train through fatigue, you’ll build resilience and learn to manage your energy and emotions better.
Which is what matters most.