About Don Heatrick

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So far Don Heatrick has created 369 blog entries.

Jonathan Haggerty – Lessons From Fighting Rodtang!

NOBODY can deny that the fights between Rodtang and Jonathan Haggerty were some of the most exciting bouts in combat sports. And, surely, fighting with Rodtang is going to shine a light on areas you can improve. Styles make fights. Knowing your own fighting style, and not allowing emotions to sway you into playing [...]

Jonathan Haggerty – Lessons From Fighting Rodtang!2023-03-17T15:12:21+00:00

How To Choose The Best Core Exercise For Fighters

I was asked about that Pallof Press w/ Perturbation core exercise that Tawanchai was using in my recent reaction video... "Could that be used in a Strength Block in a training program?" When choosing the best core exercise for fighters, it's important to first consider... How far a fighter is away from an important [...]

How To Choose The Best Core Exercise For Fighters2023-03-09T18:53:44+00:00

Two Fight Warm Up Exercises You’re Missing

When it comes to fight warm up exercises, back stage at shows, I often see fighters missing out on truly priming their bodies for explosiveness. Well, today I'll share a two exercise protocol that will amp you up, both physically and mentally in a total of just 8 to 15 reps! [...]

Two Fight Warm Up Exercises You’re Missing2023-03-03T14:06:38+00:00

How To Coach Experienced Fighters – Professor Tony Myers

As fighters become more experienced, we must understand how to coach them so they don't become stale. Experts in any field are ruthlessly good at the basics. What marks the best apart from the rest, is their ability to revisit and resharpen their foundational practice. It's vital that those at the top of their [...]

How To Coach Experienced Fighters – Professor Tony Myers2023-02-24T14:11:04+00:00

ONE Championship Fighter Strength and Conditioning – Coach’s Reaction To Tawanchai’s Fight Prep

Tawanchai has been putting in the work for his first defence of the ONE Championship Featherweight Muay Thai World title. And he's shared a glimpse of his strength and conditioning prep on Instagram. In the clip, we see him working through a series of exercises... Battling Ropes Band Resisted High Knees Band Resisted Agility [...]

ONE Championship Fighter Strength and Conditioning – Coach’s Reaction To Tawanchai’s Fight Prep2023-02-15T16:31:26+00:00

What Is Authentic Muay Thai Training NOW? Old School vs New School

Muay Thai training and Muay Thai as an art has a deep history. And when it comes to the ring sport we’ve all come to love, the period between 1980 and 1995 known as “The Golden Era”, spawned arguably the most talented fighters ever. Names like Dieselnoi, Samart, Jongsanan, and Sakmongkol demand almost superhero [...]

What Is Authentic Muay Thai Training NOW? Old School vs New School2023-02-09T21:00:03+00:00

Dynamic Hip Mobility Exercises – Shin Box Switch With Hip Extension

For snappy punches and kicks, Shin Box Switch hip mobility exercises both warm up and challenge hip internal and external range of motion – they're harder than they look! And adding a hip extension movement turns these hip mobility exercises into combined hip strengthening exercises too... Not to mention increasing your ability to use your [...]

Dynamic Hip Mobility Exercises – Shin Box Switch With Hip Extension2023-01-24T14:31:13+00:00

Paul Banasiak: Losing A Fight By Doing Too Much!

Paul Banasiak shares that losing his Glory debut fight taught him to not over-effort... That it's important to balance risk and reward, and that doing more or going harder in a fight doesn't necessarily equate to bigger, better results. Be aware of the "glitches" you suffer by overthinking instructions and losing your flow! [...]

Paul Banasiak: Losing A Fight By Doing Too Much!2023-01-20T14:55:30+00:00

Scheduling Your Weekly Training Plan For Fighters – Part 2

When putting together a training plan... Although many fighters and coaches are doing the right things, they organise their training weeks haphazardly and squander the full training effect, or inadvertently cancel out performance gains entirely. At best, this wastes effort. At worst, it burns out fighters and injures them. But, you can apply simple steps [...]

Scheduling Your Weekly Training Plan For Fighters – Part 22023-01-12T18:18:50+00:00

Scheduling Your Weekly Training Plan For Fighters – Part 1

These days, fighter training has become more sophisticated. Coaches, fighters, and hobbyists alike all realise that to remain healthy, injury free and perform their best it takes more than steady runs, bag work, pad work, and sparring. But, what types of sessions are needed? How often should you train? What order should sessions go? [...]

Scheduling Your Weekly Training Plan For Fighters – Part 12023-01-12T14:06:16+00:00

Ognjen Topic: How To Become The Best Fighter You Can Be

Put this battle-tested advice from Ognjen Topic into practice to become the best fighter you can be. Although distilled in fighting, these lessons apply to every domain of your life. There's a pattern to becoming the best you can be. Know the pattern, chase the challenge, and become your best... [...]

Ognjen Topic: How To Become The Best Fighter You Can Be2022-12-29T09:09:31+00:00

Mid Back Rotation Mobility For Fighters | Thoracic Spine

Thoracic spine, or mid back rotation mobility is lacking in 90% of the fighters I’ve tested, from novices to world class pros. In the last episode, I demonstrated how I test and score this. If you scored between 1 to 3, you’re limiting your striking power and have an increased risk of lower back [...]

Mid Back Rotation Mobility For Fighters | Thoracic Spine2022-12-28T09:09:36+00:00

Thoracic Spine Rotation Test For Fighters

How do you score on this thoracic spine rotation test? 9 out of 10 fighters can’t adequately twist their torso! They don’t have enough t-spine rotation, especially on the dominant side of their body. This means they’re limiting the amount of power they can produce in strikes (especially the close-range weapons like elbows and knees), and have an [...]

Thoracic Spine Rotation Test For Fighters2022-12-28T09:13:50+00:00

How Pre Fight Ritual Boosts Confidence & Performance – Part 2

Some pre fight ritual practices boost confidence and performance, while others hamper it! Having established an understanding of why ritual and superstition speaks directly to your emotional mind in high-stakes situations to boost confidence and performance in part 1... In this episode, we lever this understanding to pick the best rituals and personalise them, [...]

How Pre Fight Ritual Boosts Confidence & Performance – Part 22022-12-08T14:53:39+00:00

How Pre Fight Ritual Boosts Confidence & Performance – Part 1

The evidence is in. Using a pre fight ritual boosts confidence and performance, fact! Pre fight superstition and ritual are an inherent part of all combat sports, and are baked into the culture of Muay Thai. From Pra Jiad arm bands, Mongkhon headgear, lucky amulets, and sak yant tattoos, to wai kru and ram muay [...]

How Pre Fight Ritual Boosts Confidence & Performance – Part 12022-12-08T14:53:29+00:00

Fight Skills Technical Practice Part 2: Solo Sessions

Solo fight skill technical practice can fast-track your fight ability if it's done well. In this episode, avoid these fight skill pitfalls or risk sabotaging your technical practice and undoing all your hard work! Fight Skills – Solo Session Considerations Further Resources Fight Skills [...]

Fight Skills Technical Practice Part 2: Solo Sessions2022-11-24T18:50:13+00:00

Fight Skills Technical Practice Part 1: Group Sessions

When it comes to fight skills technical practice, repetition is key. And group sessions present challenges for individuals looking for technical practice opportunities to fast-track changes in their habitual fight skills. In this episode, I discuss my approach for fast-tracking technical practice in group sessions, both as a coach, and a fighter taking part [...]

Fight Skills Technical Practice Part 1: Group Sessions2022-11-25T16:07:56+00:00

Feeling Tired During Fights Isn’t The Same As Being Tired

There's a difference between feeling tired during fights and being tired... Competing as a fighter is stressful, and the cocktail of neurochemicals and hormones this dumps into your body drastically affects how you feel. Especially early in a fight career, nervousness, anxiety, or even all-out fear, will leave you feeling exhausted without even exerting [...]

Feeling Tired During Fights Isn’t The Same As Being Tired2022-11-04T14:25:23+00:00

Tips For Coping With Pre Fight Nerves

Even elite pros require methods for coping with pre fight nerves. And it begins with accepting how you really feel, before adopting strategies to manage that pre fight anxiety when it crops up... And it will! Every fighter has nerves before a fight. If they didn't, they can't perform their best. However, it's important [...]

Tips For Coping With Pre Fight Nerves2022-10-21T13:03:57+01:00
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