A combat athlete’s development doesn’t depend solely on what happens in training or in the ring. Mental preparedness, nutrition, recovery, the ability to prevent injuries, and—in today’s world—the ability to share one’s story are just as important. The educational program of the European Combat Sports Festival, taking place October 20–24 at Unibet Arena in Tallinn, focuses precisely on these topics.
The program is led by Heleri Tähtre, whose mission is to bring together knowledge within the framework of the festival that can be used by beginners and experienced athletes alike, as well as coaches, referees, and anyone else interested. The seminars and workshops are free for participants and aim to provide those involved in combat sports with practical knowledge that supports their development both in sports and in everyday life.
The seminars and workshops are free for participants and aim to provide those involved in combat sports with practical knowledge that supports their development both in sports and in everyday life.
“We’ve tried to include a wide range of topics in the educational program—as many as combat sports need and can cover. We start with general physical training, which serves as a foundation for building combat sports skills, and we go all the way to personal branding, so that an athlete can become a big star on the big stage,” says Tähtre.
The seminars are free for both athletes and the general public
The festival’s educational program is free for participants. Tähtre emphasizes that the lectures and workshops are not intended solely for active combat sports athletes, but for anyone interested. “The entire program is free—both for combat sports athletes and the general public. Everyone is welcome,” he confirms.
The program covers topics such as nutrition, mental health, general physical training, injury prevention, and recovery. “While we’re offering topics geared toward combat sports, I think there’s something for everyone to take away from it. We’ll cover topics like nutrition, mental health, and general physical training; we’ll hold masterclasses with top athletes; and we’ll also have something for coaches and referees,” explains Tähtre.
The program covers, among other things, nutrition, mental health, general physical training, injury prevention, and recovery.
You also need to prepare mentally before stepping into the ring
Mental health topics play a key role in the educational program. According to Tähtre, the festival isn’t just about theoretical lectures; athletes will also receive practical tools they can use later in their training. “On the mental health side, we’ve brought in sports psychologists from the Olympic Committee. So we’re not just offering scientific seminars, but practical tools that athletes can work through right in the seminar and later take with them on their journey to prepare for competition.”
Personal branding helps athletes stand out
Tähtre sees topics related to personal branding as one of the festival’s greatest values. In her view, in today’s social media society, it’s important for athletes to be able to express themselves and show who they are. “To get anywhere in today’s social media society, you have to be ready to step into the spotlight and show who you are and what you can do,” he says.
The festival will be a success if the athletes take the knowledge they’ve gained with them
For Tähtre, the festival’s greatest success would be if participants take the knowledge they’ve gained with them and its impact begins to show later on in the world of combat sports. “The educational value that both young Estonian athletes and those coming from abroad can take away from the festival, and the results we may potentially see in our sports landscape in the coming months—that’s what makes this event so important.”
- The 2026 European Combat Sports Festival will take place October 20–24 at Unibet Arena in Tallinn. The festival will culminate on October 24 with the Main Event, The Clash 5.
- Co-funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the Education, Audiovisual, and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.