Elevate your Muay Thai jumping game with the secrets to jumping higher for fighters, and striking with devastating force. This in-depth guide breaks down the biomechanics of explosive jumping, inspired by the incredible technique seen in the analysis of a top-tier Muay Thai jump knee (hat tip to Bao Muay Thai)! In this video, [...]
Muay Thai endurance training is more than just endless running! And this conversation with one of my Heavy Hitters is too good to keep ourselves. This isn't just any chat; it's about mastering the art of Muay Thai endurance. Ready for some insights? Here's a glimpse of what we uncovered: We break [...]
Gear up for an eye-opening episode as we dive into the fascinating topic of "Squats vs Muay Thai Kicks." Join us as we tackle James' query on integrating strength training with Muay Thai techniques. Despite boasting impressive lifting numbers, James finds himself trailing behind professional fighters in terms of fighting ability and technique. Should [...]
Prepare to challenge your perceptions of Muay Thai as we uncover the unspoken truth – fighters are more than mere martial artists. In this eye-opening video, we explore the evolution of Muay Thai from a traditional martial art born of the battlefield, to a battleground for modern athlete warriors. While traditional Thai training emphasises [...]
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 [...]
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! [...]
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 [...]
To become a faster, more explosive fighter you must first become stronger – produce more force. If you can create more force, you can accelerate quicker, hit at higher velocity and do more damage. That’s the mechanics, but we’re biological machines not purely mechanical ones. If we want our strength to transfer into the [...]
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 [...]
Paraphrasing a recent question… I have seen your videos on different training blocks… I have been training Muay Thai for 6months and I’m not going to be fighting any time soon, so is it necessary to do the speed block and peak-week if I’m not competing? Here's a short podcast [...]
In this episode of the Science of Building Champions podcast... Liam Harrison, 8x World champion, current UK number 1 (and has been for 18 years), renowned Muay Thai coach in his own right, both on the world-wide seminar circuit in-person and online, and more recently, host of the “Kickin’ It” [...]
For many fighters, bodyweight training only serves as muscular endurance training – multiple rounds of upward of 10 reps per exercise. This approach develops endurance, or “conditioning”. It doesn’t touch the neuromuscular system that’s developed in resistance training sessions targeting strength, power, and speed. And in missing this, fails to [...]
Another nice balance of questions between movement skill, resistance (strength, power, speed) training, and energy systems cardio (endurance) conditioning in this Q&A episode. In this second episode of the Q&A I'm asked... Hi, Don. What do u think of the Ido Portal method of [...]
Some big questions this week! In this episode of the Q&A I'm asked... What is better for the longterm progression and why? MAS or Main Conditioning from Heavy Hitters? Warm-up protocols to stimulate greater neural drive? Training at home and having trouble with loading [...]
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 [...]
I said, "Ask me anything." Well I asked for it! While getting to grips with the Instagram Live format, in this first episode of the Q&A I'm asked... 1. Why don't you buy a toupee? 2. Does masturbation or sex before a fight negatively affect performance? 3. [...]
As promised, here’s the first area of soft tissue work that you can do at home using a tennis ball, or similar. I’ve started at the ground, with the foot, because not only is a tennis ball the perfect implement for this part of the body… But also the foot is [...]
Once you are tired of just “working out” (spinning your wheels), start TRAINING instead. When you’re training, you’re progressively working toward a specific purpose... And that purpose is far more targeted than “stay in shape” or keeping busy. A woolly objective like that may burn calories and prevent you putting [...]
I’m often asked for a genuine training program for Thai boxers that don’t have access to any gym equipment – something to supplement the typical training regimen in Thailand... And in the current climate, something you can do at home when your gym has closed to help control the COVID-19 outbreak. So I set [...]
Naresuan the Great Shrine, Ayutthaya My first trip to Thailand was back in 2000, organised by Ajarn Tony Moore though the British Thai Boxing Council. The trip was an eye-opener in every sense possible! As a Muay Thai coach, I travelled to train in real Muay Thai gyms, [...]
