Regularly practicing this splits, passive, relaxed stretching routine for fighters will rapidly enhance your kicking flexibility. Splits stretching as shown for just 7 mins, at least 3 times per week, will make a huge difference to your kicking ability at all target heights. Not only will you reach higher targets, like the head, that [...]
One thing’s for sure, delayed onset muscle soreness is part of a fighter’s training – especially when you head out to Thailand to train! But… Is delayed onset muscle soreness the sign of a good training session? How can you avoid being too sore? Should you train if you’re really sore? How can you [...]
With the increasing volume of questions to fit into the 30 minute segment, apologies if I didn't manage to squeeze in your question in this episode! In this episode of the Q&A I'm asked... How often should you schedule training sessions that really push [...]
Here's a follow up answering to a couple of questions that came up from the first video on push up technique for fighters… "I feel so much weaker when I stop flaring out my elbows when I do my push ups, will this change?" "Is there any benefit to doing push [...]
Saenchai is a Muay Thai living legend, and his trademark moves are based on a particular athletic foundation that he’s naturally exploited to awesome effect. Saenchai is an elastic animal! He’s super efficient at storing and returning elastic energy in his muscles and tendons, what sports scientists call stretch-shortening cycle – and not [...]
Last time I showed you an exercise for core rotational speed and power, this time I serve you the foundation... anti-rotational strength! And this is a true strength exercise, one designed to create enough overload on your neuromuscular system to really increase the amount of force your core can produce and withstand. Combine this [...]
MuayThai Strength and Conditioning Q&A Episode 1: Core Exercises For Fighters Featuring Manachai, Erhan and Yodchai, filmed at the Yokkao Training Centre in Bangkok. Head over to my YouTube channel and subscribe to get all the latest info as soon as it goes live. Video Transcript: I get asked two kinds of questions when it comes [...]
My sports massage therapist Jacqui Sinclair pointed out I've a muscle imbalance in my back. Are you thinking this doesn't apply to you? Guess again — it's a sneaky muscle imbalance! Although I use a well balanced strength and conditioning training programme, I failed to account for some innocuous postural activities. In this video I explain why [...]
This morning I'm braving the London's weekday rush-hour, heading to Covent Garden for my daughter's Royal Ballet Workshop. Riding on the Underground Tube car presented an unexpected opportunity to train a bit of stance and balance. I managed to score a seat for my daughter, but I was left standing as the tube car [...]
It's not the strength of the arm that throws a punch, or the strength of the leg that throws a kick... It's the amount of power that a fighter can wind out from the trunk and hips – unleashing power via the rotary action of the hip via the trunk to the striking limb. [...]
In the previous article I posted a video showing a progressive series of unilateral (single limb) leg exercises, and this week I'll explain why they feature in my Thai boxer's strength and conditioning programmes. Because We're Thai Boxers Thai boxers operate on one leg or in staggered stances, placing an unequal load on the [...]
Following on from my last post, "Is Muay Thai Bad for Posture?", this time I look at some exercises that can counter balance the overuse and posture compensation that results from hours of Muay Thai training. These exercises strengthen and activate deep neck flexors and lower scapular fixators and stretch out the pectoral, upper trapezius [...]
Here's an interesting video of former Omnoi Stadium champion and two-time K-1 World MAX champion, Buakaw using landmine or coreplate exercises in his strength and conditioning programme prescribed by the Faculty of Sports Science at Kasetsart University. The movements selected are very sport specific, indicating they are toward the end of a meso cycle or block [...]
I'm often asked... How do fighters train their necks? What're some neck exercises for fighters? I'm sure you've all experienced firsthand that the neck gets plenty of punishment in Muay Thai training let alone fighting. Our necks are subjected to sudden blows from any direction and are yanked, pulled and [...]
