Heatrick Heavy Hitters – Muay Thai Performance

Sound corrected version!! Many fighters and coaches misunderstand just how much Muay Thai training is really needed to achieve the best performance possible.***Apologies for having to re-upload this episode! I completely messed up the audio with the background music on the original... Doh! A huge thanks to everyone who provided feedback—it really helps me improve these episodes.***Generally, Thais...

In part 4, scientific skills training for fighters is enhanced with deliberate play! We discuss a continuum from deliberate practice – where skill training is structured and effortful, to deliberate play – where skill training is creative and enjoyable. And how there's a need for both! TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The Power of Play! 00:19 Deliberate Practice vs Deliberate Play 00:41 Using a Practice to Pl...

In part 3, scientific skills training for fighters becomes STRUCTURED! We discuss placing skills training in a periodised progression (as you approach a fight), skills training RPE, and take a closer look at a training session worked example too… TIMESTAMPS 00:00 RPE For New Skill Development 00:22 TUF – Technique Under Fatigue 00:48 Skill Training Programming 01:31 Skill Training Everyday? 02:05...

In this second part, we continue to apply scientific skills training for fighters to fast-track Muay Thai skill development… We explore  how to best practice new skills in a training session , to ensure you not only: Acquire skills quickly, cleanly, and retain them long-term , but also… Retain skills  in a way that  carries over  into practical, real-world use in the chaotic fight environment ! TI...

In this first episode, we begin looking at how  scientific skills training for fighters can accelerate your Muay Thai skill development by answering two fundamental questions : What’s the quickest way to learn a new Muay Thai skill with the highest quality? What’s the best way to practice so you don’t lose that skill? As a fighter, you might not like the answer… But, there’s a wealth of scientific...

Coaching for your first fight can make or break your competitive Muay Thai aspirations – whether you're sharpening up with non-decision bouts or aiming for titles someday. World-class Muay Thai coach Damien Trainor shares his philosophy on introducing students to competition. He emphasises the importance of getting to know your fighter and, crucially, helping fighters understand themselves. Mo...

Pro fighter Angela Chang opens up about a  critical mistake she made during her Muay Thai training in Thailand : pushing herself too hard and hitting the burnout wall. Discover how she learned to understand her limits and maintain peak performance without overstepping. Many fighters don’t push themselves hard enough, missing their full potential. Conversely, those immersed in the Muay Thai lifesty...

Is watching teammates before your fight a mistake? Coach Bryan Popejoy discusses the potential consequence of doing so on your energy levels in your own fight. Your body is a holistic system, mobilising energy based on your brain’s perception of your environment. The more emotionally invested you are, the greater the level of autonomic system arousal and the greater the energy cost, even if you ph...

I’ve always been able to take a body shot. A bulletproof core has always been my superpower. It allowed me to become a dominant Muay Khao fighter, completely unfazed by trading the heaviest of knees in the clinch… Confident I could inflict much more damage than I would take . To take a Muay Thai body shot you must both develop the  prerequisite core strength  and  shot absorbing technique . The tr...

Unlike many sports, in Muay Thai you can excel regardless of your stature or body type. It's possible to find a personal Muay Thai style for you. Tall fighters, short fighters, strong fighters, fast fighters! With so many tools in the box, Muay Thai allows you to play to your strengths. Develop the Muay Thai skill to fight using a style that suits your body type and athletic abilities, and you...

Now in my fifties, the training mistakes I made as a young fighter are finally catching up with me... If some training is good, and more means quicker results, then even more training is even better, right? That's how it felt at the time. However, time and scientific evidence have proved me wrong! The fact is, I'm part of an  emerging demographic of caucasian males in their early fifties w...

Why can't you fight how you spar in training? Why are you so stiff, clumsy, and fatigued? The key to understanding your first fight performance is to recognise the undeniable influence of your  psychology  on your  physiology ! Yerkes-Dodson anyone? In this episode, we discuss the tipping point between the optimal amount of  stress  to achieve your best and dropping over the cliff edge into th...

Are you a fighter training around injury? Should you be resting up or smashing on regardless? I've pushed on when I shouldn't have, and needlessly backed off too. There are lessons to learn here. Injury is part of any athlete's journey. But for fighters, managing injury well can separate you from the competition... In this episode: 00:00 Two Types of Injury 00:48 Testing It Out To See...

Even for fighters, running efficiency matters! Wasted running effort hurts  more  than just your running time… Injuries  will  catch up with you sooner or later. And don’t assume your running technique is good – even if you’re fast, and you don’t currently have injuries. I did, and I was wrong! Although combat sports athletes don’t need optimal running mechanics like say, track athletes, or even f...

The secret to training fighter endurance is to plug the gaps in fighting fitness typically left behind by regular bag work, pad work, and sparring practice. Don't do more of the same, develop what's missing. For most fighters, that means targeting GENERAL ENERGY PRODUCTION – the heart and lungs – rather than LOCAL ENERGY UTILISATION at the muscles themselves. And this emphasis shifts as yo...

Fighter performance testing …It’s cool to  see how you measure up … But, if you don’t  use the results to personalise your training , then don’t bother testing! Progressing beyond the previous two episodes (weaponising your Anaerobic Threshold), let’s shine a light on how the 12 minute Cooper Run can plug into a battery of performance testing for fighters , and what you can do with the results . I...

When it comes to heart rate training,  your  maximum heart  rate is far less important than knowing your  anaerobic threshold heart rate . Most of the time, I don’t care what a fighter’s max heart rate is. But it’s vital I know their anaerobic threshold heart rate… Was that a hard training session?  Your heart will tell you – if you know what you’re doing! Testing for, and training based on  your...

Welcome back to part 2 of Training Youth Fighters! In this episode, we continue our exploration into the art of training youth fighters, focusing on the crucial concept of finding balance. Join me as we dive deep into the intricacies of youth training methodology. We'll dissect the common pitfalls of early over-specialisation and the detrimental effects it can have on our budding athletes. We...

In this episode, we dive into a crucial topic that concerns many coaches, parents, and young athletes alike: is weight training safe for youth Muay Thai athletes? As a seasoned coach with a deep understanding of athletic development, I break down the nuances of incorporating weight training into the training regimen of young Muay Thai enthusiasts. We'll explore the importance of timing, age-ap...

Join me in this video coaching session as I share a series of Muay Thai pad work drills using a concept I call “Observation Clusters”. I'll guide you through advanced techniques designed to sharpen your combat skills and enhance your ability to read and react to your opponent's movements effectively. We'll explore the art of throwing combinations while strategically observing your oppo...

Dive into how my passion for Muay Thai triggered my transformation from engineer to Muay Thai pro and discover how you can fast-track your own journey to success! In this compelling video, I share my pivotal decision to leave behind stability for the thrill of Muay Thai. Learn how I merged modern science with tradition to create a winning formula. From founding a full time Muay Thai gym to reclaim...

Want to get better at slipping punches and angling off attacks? In this video, I break down my go-to combo for drilling evasive head movement - the classic 1-2-3 of jab, cross, hook. The key isn't just bobbing your head, but using footwork and hip rotation to naturally shift your head position as you step into your punch. We start by throwing the 1-2-3 continuous on the spot. Then I show how s...

You asked. Here are the answers! In this episode I answer your burning Muay Thai questions, covering topics like: * The benefits of Zone 2 cardio training and how to implement it into your Muay Thai training * Optimising for faster in-between round recovery * The ideal sparring frequency for casual and competing Nak Muays * The biggest weaknesses I see even in high-level fighters and how to fix th...

Growth mindset for fighters? I used to believe my abilities were fixed - until sporting achievements opened my eyes to growth mindset. After childhood math trauma, I was convinced I lacked numerical talent. But unexpected successes in sports showed me that with strategic practice, I could improve dramatically. My fixed mindset began to crumble. I realised if I could excel in areas deemed "imp...

Muay Thai sport specific training has it's place. But there are hidden risks. 😱 Many fighters don't realise there's a tipping point where more sport-specific training stops helping and starts increasing overuse injury risk instead. 🛑 The more training hours you put in, and the more years you’ve been in the game, compounds this risk. And the older you are, the finer the line between l...