Following over a months lay off from training due to a persistent illness, I’ve lost a lot of muscle.
Stepping back on the scales I’m nearly 5kg lighter. My composition remains good, but I need to get my weight back were it was so I’m competitive in my weight category at 75kg max (day before weigh-in).
My strength has dropped proportionally with the muscle loss, so I need that back too.
I simply don’t feel robust enough to ward off injuries from training or competing.
My next block of training needs to both build strength and add muscle mass in key areas (that will aid my Thai boxing performance rather than merely slowing me down). I need to focus on strength and functional hypertrophy.
3-weeks in and I’ve added nearly 2kg of muscle in only the places that I need it. No wasted bulk — and I’m beginning to feel sturdier.
I thought I’d share with you an overview of the routine I’m using.
THE ROUTINE
I’ve been supersetting a strength exercise with a higher volume hypertrophy exercise, that is working sets of each exercise back to back without rest. The strength exercise is performed for 5-reps followed by 8-reps of the following hypertrophy exercise. Then taking 2-minutes rest before repeating the next set for a total of 4 work sets.
I’m training 3-times a week in the gym, alternating two session plans, three times a week.
So in the first week I perform session (A), then session (B), followed by session (A) again on non successive days.
In the second week I perform session (B), (A), then session (B) again. The exercises used in the two sessions are as follows.
SESSION (A)
Front squat x 5-reps
Rear foot elevated split squats (Bulgarian split squats) x 8-reps each leg
Incline bench press x 5-reps
Dumbbell chest press x 8-reps
Pull-ups x 5-reps
Dumbbell bent over rows x 8-reps each side
Candlesticks x 5-reps
SESSION (B)
Deadlift x 5-reps
Single leg suspension squat x 8-reps each leg
Standing over head press behind neck x 5-reps
Barbell push press x 8-reps
Barbell bent over row x 5-reps
Suspended rows x 8-reps
Coreplate (landmine) twists x 5-reps
SESSION (A) EXERCISES
SUPERSET 1
a) Front squat — knee dominant lower body
b) Rear foot elevated split squats (Bulgarian split squats) — unilateral knee dominant
SUPERSET 2
a) Incline bench press — horizontal push
b) Dumbbell chest press — horizontal push
SUPERSET 3
a) Pull-ups — vertical pull
b) Dumbbell bent over rows — horizontal pull
CORE
Candlesticks — core anti-extension
SESSION (B) EXERCISES
SUPERSET 1
a) Deadlift — lower body hip dominant
b) Single leg suspension squat — unilateral knee dominant
SUPERSET 2
a) Standing over head press behind neck — vertical push
b) Barbell push press — vertical push
SUPERSET 3
a) Barbell bent over row — horizontal pull
b) Suspended rows — horizontal pull
CORE
Landmine (Coreplate) twists — core anti-rotation
PROGRAM PROGRESSION
Each exercise superset pair consists firstly of a strength exercise (5-reps), followed immediately by a hypertrophy
finisher (8-reps). Each superset is repeated 4-times before moving on to the next pair of exercises.
As far as programming the intensity, I use low, medium, high and high+ (overload) weeks.
• Low weeks use a 9-rep max weight for the 5-rep strength exercise, and a 12-rep max weight for the 8-rep hypertrophy exercise, i.e. 4-reps left in you, or a -4 rep max loading
• Medium weeks use a 7-rep max weight for the 5-rep strength exercise, and a 10-rep max weight for the 8-rep hypertrophy exercise, i.e. 2-reps left in you, or a -2 rep max loading
• High weeks use a 5-rep max weight for the 5-rep strength exercise, and an 8-rep max weight for the 8-rep hypertrophy exercise, i.e. 0-reps left in you, or 0-rep max loading — maximum effort
• High+ weeks use the same loads as the high week (0-rep max), but the maximum number of full form reps are recorded (until technical failure)
The high+ week is an overload week that also tests new strength levels to establish appropriate loading for the following block of training. Then you can start the whole cycle again, building from low week, through to high+ week.
When designing individual programs, I test all the lifts, calculate % of 1-rep max, and specify target weights for all exercises of every session.
But, when issuing general templates, where fighters find their own weights, it’s simpler to work with a target number or reps (e.g. 5-reps) and a weight intensity (e.g. -4 rep max).
In this -4 rep max example, 5-reps completed with a weight you could lift a maximum of 9-times will feel relatively easy (low week), as you should feel like you have 4-reps left in you.
You should now have enough detail to structure your first block of training.
And if you’d like to know my thoughts behind the exercises I’ve selected in these two routines, take a look at my follow up Exercise Selection article.
Don Heatrick
Founder of Heatrick Strength and Conditioning
Don Heatrick is a family man from the UK, former mechanical design engineer, European Muay Thai silver medallist, former pro Thai boxer (ranked 4th in UK while aged 40-years), a Muay Thai coach, podcast host, and the go-to expert on Muay Thai performance training with over 25 years of coaching experience.
Don helps ambitious fighters and coaches take their game to the next level by bridging the gap between Strength & Conditioning, Performance Science, and Muay Thai.
Follow Don Heatrick on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donheatrick/
I’m just wondering, do you feel it is necessary to include any rear-delt isolation exercises to this routine/programme, perhaps on a separate day?
Although you do include rowing movements, I assume you include them to put more emphasis on the lats, or are the rear-delts sufficiently stimulated in your opinion to grow alonside the front and middle delts, to prevent any muscle imbalances?
Thanks,
Pablo
Hi Pablo,
Good question. You’ll get all the rear deltoid development you’ll need by working the rowing exercises with good form.
The key here is functional hypertrophy (muscle growth). By training these movements you’ll only ‘gain meat’ where you need it, and maintain a robust balance of strength on both sides of the joints.
Check out the following post I’ve put together which goes a little deeper.
https://heatrick.com/2013/02/04/fighter-weight-training-sessions-in-a-nutshell/
[…] If you’re not sure what I mean by any of these exercises, please take a look at the videos in this previous post. […]
What an amazing website!
I’ve just found this site and want to say how professional and informative it is (and I’ve only been on it for 5 mins!)
Great work
Thanks Simon, I appreciate you taking the time to leave me your feedback. I’ll keep at it :)
Yes, amazing site. Just the stuff i’ve been looking for. Thank you very much for this great resource.
cheers from Vancouver, BC
Cheers Alden :)
Great site, I have been trying to come up with a weights routine for about the last 3 months specifically to enhance my Thai training but almost every site is obsessed with mirror muscles or should I say Hypertrophy (for the record I have nothing against that type of training It is just not functional for what I want to achieve!), also when you do find articles relating to sport specific training they are either aimed at professionals that train for a living and have all day everyday to do so or they are written by some geek with a degree in sport science that has never really applied any of their knowledge to the real world. I have developed a 2 day split which is almost identical to yours but I will now be adding the supersets. Thankyou a great informative site backed up by your personal experiances, I will be spreading the word.
Thank you Lee, I’m glad you’re finding the site useful.
Your feedback regarding the content and the way I present it is very valuable to me. It certainly helps validate my mission and will shape the way I approach my writing in the future.
And please do spread the word! :D
Hi Don,
I would be intrigued to hear what your reply would be to the ‘weight training will add bulk/size/mass which makes it harder to make a given weight and ‘squeeze’ into a weight class….which I’m sure your aware many fighters do already.
Also, im curios how often you train muay thai, weights, run, others forms of training you do per week and how it differs from the traditional way in Thailand…and of course what each session entails.
just an idea :)
Hi Colin,
Weight training needn’t add unnecessary bulk, it depends on the intensity and the volume of lifts that you use. The routine above does add muscle mass, but it targets development of functional mass that aids athletic performance with a proportional increase in strength.
You can also develop strength WITHOUT increasing weight too. Take a look at the following post for more detail:
https://heatrick.com/2012/09/30/why-must-thai-boxers-train-with-weights/
How you programme all the various forms of training is a good question… and a difficult one to answer briefly. I’ll put together a post to shed some light.
Thanks Don. Think ive read all of the posts now so will try not to ask a question uve already covered!
Keep up the good work. Thanks again
Haha! No problem Colin. If you have a question, just ask mate.
I was wondering if you do programs A and B on the same day?
Hi Anwar,
The sessions are intended for two different non-consecutive days. Both sessions work the whole body, and having a day between each weight training session allows sufficient neuromuscular recovery.
Regards,
Don
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your
blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future. Cheers
Thanks Rico,
If you sign up to the free newsletter, you’ll be notified each time I add some new content. :)
[…] Part 2 of this article elaborates on the routine, complete with videos of the exercises. […]
First off – very good blog. I’ve been reading a few of your posts here and there (forwarded here from r/muaythai) and want to thank you for your time and effort.
A few questions.
1. Can I sub back squats for front squats? I feel my hamstrings are very weak compared to my quads already.
2. I’ve heard overhead presses behind the neck are bad for you (exterior rotation vs interior rotation) – would standing military press (bar in front) leave any holes in the workout?
3. Also considering lateral dumbbell raises instead of the barbell push press. Would this also put any holes in the workout?
4. You say you break your weeks into low, medium, high, high+. does this mean you do 4 week rotations? low -> mid -> high -> high+ -> low -> mid -> etc… I’ve done some basic strength training and it focused on linear progression and am still pretty new in the gym (~6 months strength training / ~1 month MT training). Any guidance would be helpful.
Again, great site! An invaluable resource for a MT noob like me.
Hi Paul, no problem and thanks for getting in touch. Good questions too. :)
Here are my quick answers:
1. Back squats can be substituted for front squats, there will just be more hamstring/glute (hip) involvement. Front squats are my personal preference as they target the knee dominant pattern – and I target the hip dominant pattern with the deadlift. My other reason to front squat, is as a progression for the clean (olympic lift).
2. Military presses are ok. But, pressing behind the neck is only a problem if you have injured or unusual shaped scapulae (shoulder blades). Most people are fine. My reason for pressing from behind the neck is that this better trains the muscles stabilising the scapular, that tend to become long and weak from our fighting stance posture. It also acts a progression toward the overhead squat and snatch (olympic lift).
3. Lateral dumbbell raises are shoulder isolation exercise and doesn’t develop a functional movement pattern. The push press is a much better choice as it also adds power development to the routine.
4. Linear progression is fine initially, but you’ll soon reach plateaus in performance. The cycling of 3 or 4 intensity levels (over 3 or 4 week rotations) allows for recovery and progression – especially when factoring in all the other training Thai boxers subject themselves to! The lower intensity sessions also allow you to craft your lifting technique too, rather than running your lifting-pattern ragged and reinforcing bad habits.
Hope this helps ;)
Don – you are a man amongst boys. Thank you so much for your response. I’m going to leave your routine as-is and start today! Thanks again!!
tried the workout last week – am loving it on my off-days from muay thai training. had one more question – is the suspended single leg squat essentially a stepping stone to pistol squats?
It’s great you’re getting into the routine Paul. Yes, the single-leg suspension squats can work as a progression toward pistol squats, and also add (muscle building) volume to the preceding deadlift strength exercise. The suspended squat allows you to trim the amount of assistance contributed from your arms to get the loading just right for the number of reps required too.
so i’ve been doing this routine, and am coming along nicely EXCEPT for the candlesticks. my core must be too weak to do that quite yet. can you suggest some other exercises i can do to build up to that? currently i do planks and crunches (a variety of crunches).
Hi Paul, great question…
I don’t know if you’ve seen my video specifically on candlesticks, it gives a little more detail on how it’s performed:
https://heatrick.com/2012/10/15/candlesticks-a-true-core-strength-exercise/
Retracting one leg will reduced the amount of leverage, and you can reduce it further by bending both knees.
You could also just work the ‘eccentric’ lowering phase only, bending at the hips to allow you to return back to the start position.
There are some other ideas I have for building up core anti-extension strength, I’ll put together a blog post for you ;)
Hey Don
First of all thanks for the amazing post! I’ve been looking for something like this for a long time now. Really good job! :)
I have some questions though.
1. Can I substitute Bulgarian Split Squats with Walking Lunges? Just because I love them.
2. Can I substitute either the overhead Press or the push press with cuban presses? I feel like I get a lot more shoulder activation with the cuban presses.
3. I’m used to do pullups right after my deadlifts (to deload my spine). Can I rearrange the workout so that I do pullups after my deadlifts?
I really hope you can help me out.
Other than that, have a nice day.
Peace :)
Hi Randy,
Thanks for the positive feedback. :)
1. Yes, just keep the number of walking lunge to 8 reps per leg, and at the same intensity level (loading) specified.
2. Cuban presses are great for developing the muscles stabilising the shoulder, but won’t be particularly effective for building functional muscle or movement. The overhead press develops functional strength and the push press adds volume for hypertrophy (growth) and adds some power development too.
3. Yes, swap the ‘pulling’ exercises (listed as superset 3) between the two sessions, and re-order these pulling supersets after the lower body exercises, then follow with the upperbody pushing exercises (listed as superset 2) before finishing with the core exercise.
Best regards,
Don
how long you should follow this strength-hypertrophy training block to see benefits and before switching to another training method where conditioning/power/explosiveness is the focus?
Is 8 weeks a good number?
To achieve any significant changes, a block should be at least 6-weeks in length. 8-weeks will be even better. :) I’d still train power once a week during this block to maintain rate of force development.
alright thank you! Which exercises for power (and reps/sets) do you recommend to fit in there as a 3rd training session?
..and another question..
can I do box pistol squats instead of single leg suspension squat?
can I vary between different deadlift exercises (sumo, trap-bar, stiff-leg etc.)?
thanks again
I’d add a third session with some plyometric drills such as box jumps, some med ball throws for the core and something simple like kettlebell swings or push presses.
If you follow the 3-to-5 principle: between 3 – 5 sets of between 3 – 5 reps for neuromuscular training (strength and power) you will get good results. Check out the following post:
https://heatrick.com/2012/12/17/strength-training-simplified/
Box pistol squats are fine – as long as you can control the form strictly for the given number of reps.
Any version of a deadlift (hip dominant lift) is also fine. :)
Don
Hi Don,
Firstly, fantastic article and great to hear ways to counterbalance any potential injury.
I had 2 questions on this:
1) What would come after 6-8 weeks of following this routine?
Will the benefits decrease, and should we consider to an alternative 6-8 week program in order to ‘shock’ the muscles to see continuous gains?
2) My trapezius muscles can get very tight after weights and Muay Thai. Is continued following of this program likely to alleviate any imbalance and reduce tightness?
Thanks,
Chris
Hi Chris, I’ve written a brief answer for you on the Q&A forum:
https://heatrick.com/forums/topic/6-8-weeks-on-time-to-change-my-programme/#post-3849
Best regards,
Don
Hey Don,
I’m ridiculously happy that i found your website! Everything I’ve been searching for!
hopefully you still write more on this website because i love learning from your articles!
thanks,
Raf
Hi Raf,
Thank you for getting in contact and giving me some feedback. Much appreciated. :)
Cheers, Don
[…] Building Functional Muscle for Muay Thai – part 2 […]
[…] Building Functional Muscle for Muay Thai — part 2 (complete with videos) […]
Hey Don,
I’ve been doing this routine for 4-5 weeks now, and have progressively ramped up the intensity to the high+ range. What do you think I should do for my next block of strength training? Should I continue the same routine and readjust the intesities? Should I change up some exercises?
I appreciate your help.
-Matt
Hi Matt,
You can re-run the same routine if you like, as you’ve said, simply adjust the intensities relative to you new maximum loads. You could also change some exercises too if you wish. I’ll look at producing a TeamMuayThai download with some further progressions.
Cheers,
Don
Hi Don,
Do you repeat each superset 4 times? For example Superset 1 x4, Superset 2 x4 etc ?
Hi Azza, yes that’s right. Repeat each superset 4-times before moving onto the next superset pair.
Nice blog, i would need a simple Routine for strength Building only. Thank you
Thanks Sven. I’m putting together some more programmes soon.
Hey Don,
Very nice blog, incredibly informative. Keep up the good work. I have a question though. I currently have an injury but I’ll soon hit the gym once again. I need to rebuild muscle mass and regain some strength and I really want to try out your routine. But I think I’ll have a hard time finding the appropriate load for the exercises and different load for different weeks (low, medium, high). For instance I don’t know how to go about finding the appropriate weight for -4 rep loading. I don’t know if I’m just an idiot, but I hope you can help me.
Thanks in advance,
Benjamin
Hi Benjamin,
Finding your -4 rep loading needn’t be too scientific. :)
Either lift a weight that you estimate you have about 4-reps left in you, or test to find approximately what weight you can lift for 4 more reps than the target reps specified.
Hope that clarifies things?
Best regards,
Don
[…] Building Functional Muscle For Muay Thai – part 2 […]
Hi don. Im jake from the philippines. Im a fan of your conditioning by the way, would like to ask onto how much weight i need to start as a beginner and im a bit confused of the intensity. Again u got awesome website you sir are one of the best online coaches out there, world class, conditionings are short and sweet as i may say. Godbless and cheers!
Hi Jake, thanks for your feedback and glad you’re finding the website so useful. :)
Just begin by loading all the exercises with enough weight that you could do an extra 4x perfect reps for all of them if you wanted.
You’ll effectively finish every set feeling like you have 4 more reps left in you. This is a ‘Low Week’.
The next week load it a little heavier so that you feel you have 2 more reps left in you for every exercise. This is a ‘Medium Week’.
The following week take it up a bit more, so you just about reach technical failure – this is a ‘High Week’.
The next week, use the same loads as the previous week, but this time do the maximum number of reps that you can for each exercise. This is a ‘High + Week’.
You’ll need to make a note of all your weights/reps to progress loads across the weeks.
I hope that helps clarify things!
i thank you and your conditioning i have been using over a month and my performance has improve! But i do it once a week with my muaythai (strength 1st day, succeeding days are muay thai). Does that work? And 1 more if you dont mind good sir. For high+ weeks max for each weights? (for 5 reps max we can lift for 5 reps same as 8 rep exercise)? Thank you so much! Support from Philippines YawYan martial arts
Mabuhay!
One strength session a week will become largely maintenance only, twice a week ensures good progress.
And yes, use the same weights as the preceding high week (respective 5 and 8 rep maxes), but go for as many reps as possible before your technique/form goes (technical failure).
You may not get any more reps on the High+ week, but you may surprise yourself! Following this you return to a low week and repeat the cycle, but with increased weights throughout.
Oh i see. So to see good progress .workout with the with sessions A and/or B 2 to 3 times a week for good progress? I see will follow this as always. Thank you for giving out short and great advices. Cheers!
If i may add, the technical failure confuses me. We do it til we cant do another set? Its for both high and high + weeks?
Sorry and thank you again!
Mabuhay
Hi Jake, please see my comment above. ;)
Hi Don,
I really like this routine and have just started doing it after the doing rehab for a bad rotator cuff, though I’m a little bit confused by the progression structure…
With it being 3x a week with weekly increase in intensity, doing A/B/A one week and B/A/B the following week with an increase weight means that session A only gets taxed once with that intensity.
Is that the intention?
Or would I be better treating the A and B sessions in the following manner to allow for a smoother progression i.e.
1. A(low)/B(low)/A(low)
2. B(low)/A(med)/B(med)
3. B(med)/A(med)/B(high)
4. A(high)/B(high)/A(high)
5. B(high+)/A(high+)/B(high+)
6. A(high+) – Rest of week off!
I’d be grateful for your feedback, your insights have been invaluable and I have used your short notice plan twice now with great results.
Hi Dave,
If you’re using the routine 3-times a week, see the third session each week as a ‘bonus session’ at the same intensity of all the sessions that week.
So the bonus session will alternate between routine A and routine B each week. Although this may offend your sense of planned symmetry (I’m like that too!), it works perfectly well I assure you. ;)
And thanks for the feedback regarding the plans offered on the website, much appreciated!
Best regards, Don
Thanks for the prompt reply Don,
That clarifies things for me a lot, however I am going to choose the above plan (possibly due to OCD!) but also because I am effectively starting out again and feel that I need to give my shoulder a bit more time to acclimatise to pressing.
Just so happens that the above progression will time perfectly for my next fight. ;)
Cheers Don!
No problem Dave, let me know how you’re planned structure works for you. Timing in relation to your fight is also a major factor.
And of course, best of luck in your next fight! :)
Thanks for the great workout don. But could you tell me how long I should rest between the sets?
Glad you like it Peter!
The rest intervals are described in part 1: https://heatrick.com/2013/01/14/building-functional-muscle-for-muay-thai/
“The strength exercise is performed for 5-reps followed by 8-reps of the following hypertrophy exercise. Then taking 2-minutes rest before repeating the next set for a total of 4 work sets.”
Hope that helps you out. :)
[…] Muay Thai Muscle Building Routine A >> Muay Thai Muscle Building Routine B >> […]
Hi i have a question. My name is Bilguun and i am from Mongolia.
Do i complete session A and B all in one day?
i have 3 times of muay thai training a week. I try to hit the gym 2 times a week so it means total of a 5 day workout for me. I am wondering if i do A session in 1 day and B session in another day or both in one training session?
The sessions are intended for two different non-consecutive days. Both sessions work the whole body, and having a day between each weight training session allows sufficient neuromuscular recovery.
Regards,
Don
Thanks a lot Don! Your website is amazing. Just started trying this out and have a few questions if you don’t mind.
1) For the landmine twists, I’ve seen in other exercise videos where they turn their body while doing it, whereas you keep you chest facing forward. Is this the right way?
2) If you do this 3 days a week plus say 2x MT sessions, how do you fit in cardio? Do you have some suggestions for simple 20-min cardio workouts that don’t work the legs too heavily
Hi Gabriel,
Thanks for your feedback! Much appreciated.
The Landmine Twist I’ve demonstrated in the video is just one version… One I consider to be the foundation version, that teaches strong (anti-rotation) core stability in isolation.
Other versions that include a rotation from the hips are, for me, a progression with an additional level of complexity that “distracts” from a sufficiently braced core. By starting with the more static version I’ve given, you learn what a truly braced core feels like, and it can then easily be applied to other more dynamic versions.
Regarding the placement of cardio in relation to 3x strength sessions and 2x Muay Thai sessions, it really depends on personal circumstances. There is so much variation in when fighters can or can’t do certain sessions – because of facility availability, work and family commitments etc.
But, I’ve laid out a logic for creating a plan for your training week in my Fat Loss For Fighters Guide, which is relevant for any training, not just fat loss. You can check that out here (just scroll down a little to the “Your Training Week” heading:
https://heatrick.com/2020/01/26/fat-loss-for-fighters/#4
I hope that helps. :)
This has been a very great and helpful routine to include with my muay thai training. Thanks a bunch!!!!
You’re welcome! Thanks for the feedback. :)
Hi Don, I came across this website and more concretely with this post and I’m quite surprised. I’m a very methodical person when it comes to preparing my programs (since my schedule is quite tight and I’m always looking for the best formula) and this one is amazing. I haven’t tried it yet but I’ll def go with 2 sessions instead of 3, as I saw you said to someone else on the comments that it could work well too.
Thanks and greetings from Spain! I’ll def pass this to my people :)
Hi Abel,
Thank you for sharing both your feedback, and your thoughts. And I hope you enjoy the results once you get stuck into the routine too. :)
By the way, what would be your thoughts around making either session A or B right before the actual Muay Thai session (of 1h)? And that being, 2 back to back sessions, basically?
Hi Abel, good question…
These are my recommendations in this short video here.
Hi Don,
Whilst using this programme for the strengh sessions, what would you recommend as the specific focus of cardio sessions on the other days?
Thanks
Hi Sam,
During a strength block in a fighters programme, I’d generally match this with Aerobic Capacity/Aerobic Power conditioning sessions. This consists of low intensity, longer duration 30-60mins) cardio, and moderate intensity, short duration intervals.
These won’t conflict with strength gains and build the aerobic foundation for the more taxing work that comes in the following blocks in the fight camp or overall training phase.
Check out the Optimal Fight Camp Blueprint here, and the Science of Building Champions video series here for more detail. :)
Edit:
I just seen you’ve joined the Accelerator Program already! Thank you!
You’ll have this all sorted now then. ;)