What's the secret to winning in Muay Thai? Iman Barlow can shed some light! In this episode, Iman Barlow shares valuable insight into what it really takes to take your childhood dreams all the way. Part of the first generation of child nak Muay outside of Thailand, and with a competitive career spanning 25 [...]
How you coach fighters between rounds can make or break a fighter's performance entirely. Although there are certainly best practices, such as keeping your instructions to the bare minimum and focusing only on the priority information to avoid information overload... It's not as simple as "one size fits all". Different fighters have different personalities [...]
Tune-up your Muay Thai Superman punch or elbow with this Med Ball Jump Slam exercise! Not only is this a great explosive hip extension and core anti-extension exercise, but it’s a fantastic way to teach timing and awareness of body position during jumping strikes. Seriously great for amping up your flying Superman elbow! This [...]
The mindset of Liam Harrison, capable of coming back despite being knocked down twice in succession by a fast-starting Muangthai PK.Saenchai in the first round at ONE 156... Looking on, it seemed he was done. But Liam's mind kicked into overdrive instead of overwhelm. With two "lives" gone, and a final one left... He got up, and knocked the Thai down 3 [...]
A complete fighters switch step tutorial, including technical drill breakdowns to optimise power through timing and foot placement. Some fighters struggle to find the correct movement pattern for an effective switch step, and coaches can struggle to teach this to students that 'don't get it'. This fighters switch step tutorial video looks at building [...]
Every fight team, every Muay Thai gym, will at some stage encounter a bad attitude fighter – a destructive member who brings negativity rather than a supportive, positive contribution. These members gossip, sabotage, create conflict, and strive for 'them and us' divisions in your gym. The problem is, a bad attitude fighter may also [...]
In this episode, we ask how do Thais train so much and explain why you don’t have to! I’m often asked questions similar to this one from Alex… “I was wondering something while I was training at Attachai. The sessions over there are way harder than I’m used to, but I assume he just puts [...]
Fighters push ups aren't typically considered to enhance the clinch! Most fighters view push ups only as a punch-specific exercise, but programmed in your training correctly, it can make a serious difference to your Muay Thai clinch escape too. And being a bodyweight exercise, specific [...]
I'm not going to opt for the more obvious reaction or hand eye coordination drills, catching, avoiding, throwing or punching tennis balls. Instead, I’m going to share two strength and conditioning exercises for fighters using a tennis ball... Both of which directly contribute to two key factors that heavily influence [...]
Wasted Opportunities! Most of us visiting Thailand to train are fleeting visitors at best, and fail to understand the nuance of Thai culture and the business of Muay Thai in Thailand... This both prevents us from getting the most from our time in Thailand, [...]
Why is there typically more shouting during strikes in Muay Thai training than in fighting? In this episode, I’ll share my thoughts on this specifically, and on breathing during Muay Thai in general... Join the most informed Muay Thai performance community out there! Subscribe Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/donheatrick Apple [...]
I'm often asked how fighters can adjust their training programs if they're experiencing lower back pain while deadlifting. Here's a recent question... "I'm struggling doing deadlifts at the moment due to my lower back being activated before my glutes in my posterior chain. "I'm working on the muscle imbalance in [...]
Many fighters struggle to adapt their training program to suit their personal weekly schedule... A schedule that’s VASTLY different to a full time fighter out in Thailand. In this short podcast, I explain more by way of a worked example from Jamie. Join the most informed Muay [...]
Sundays tend to be a reflective day for me, and my Sunday posts therefore share more personal insight… Both of my own thoughts and feelings, and a personal look behind the scenes of my own life too (in case you’re interested). This morning, while out exercising my dog Logan, I [...]
This episode looks at overcoming pre-fight fear, how introverts can shift state to fight at their best, and why it takes more than a solid S&C program to become a champion! Join the most informed Muay Thai performance community out there! Subscribe Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/donheatrick Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/heatrick-heavy-hitters-muay-thai-performance/id1381118000 Spotify: [...]
Sports science is often shot down by elite fighters… Fighters that offer themselves as world class performers, who don’t follow a scientific approach to their training, and that often criticise the performance of others that do. And it’s an understandable mindset when that’s appeared to be the reality for you [...]
Consider this… Accepted ‘best practice’ is only the ‘best so far’. In his book Rebel Ideas, Matthew Syed discusses what we accept as ‘best practice’... It makes sense that if there’s a way of doing things that proves superior, that everyone should adopt it. [...]
Riddle me this... What becomes more difficult the better you get? ...Have you got it? I'll tell you where I'm going with this, my answer is... Improvement But this is much more than just a riddle... If you want to become the best you can be, we must unpack this [...]
Nearly ten years ago now, at the age of 39, I returned to the ring after a two year layoff. I was matched against Mike Clarke, an undefeated fighter in his prime from Tobin's Gym, with a bad habit of stopping his opponents within a few rounds. At the time, his record stood [...]
When do you need more work on a particular aspect in your training? When do you have enough? What’s the most important aspect to focus on right now? When do you shift your focus onto something else? Etc... The questions are endless... And meaningful answers require deeper insight of both [...]
