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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
One Championship has been doing a great job of showcasing not only the fighters, but some of the behind the scenes training footage as well. And I'm often asked to comment on some of the exercises that have been shared on social media. And here’s one I was asked to comment on recently… [...]
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, [...]
The Heiden and Stick exercise is an important progression in a Thai boxers speed and plyometric training. It targets sideways, lateral movement, involving adductors and glute medius muscles at the hip to control the knee, and multiple muscle groups in the feet, ankle and calves. And it not only trains unilateral (single leg) [...]
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 [...]
"Heavy Hitter", Bob Wansink audio messaged me some great questions regarding speed and power training via Anchor.fm, and this Heavy Hitters Podcast is a direct reply. In this episode, I share the 5 exercise categories I use in every resistance training session that I program. VIDEO TRANSCRIPT WITH FURTHER [...]
The Suspension Explosive Press Up is an example of an explosive upper body power exercise for Muay Thai using a TRX Suspension Trainer. This is great for all you fighters on the move and without access to a fully equipped gym. This exercise is part of the progressive Minimum Equipment Program. It [...]
When it comes to exercise sophistication, there’s a time and a place for something more advanced, but if you use that prematurely you lose that opportunity for adaptation over the longer term. Please don't shortcut straight to this TRX exercise version, even if you can perform it straight off. There are simpler exercises you [...]
This video clarifies some of my thoughts regarding the changing face of Muay Thai training in Thailand itself. It's going to be a long process, but it has begun. Things are slowly changing in Thailand. And with traditional Muay Thai training habits so strongly embedded and blindly defended, it's the foreigners that could be [...]
I'm on a mission... to bring real strength and conditioning training to all fighters, even if they haven't got all the kit! ;) And this is especially true for fighters trying to keep on top of their training while away on holiday, or... even when out training in Thailand. We all know that resistance [...]
What do I mean, "Training and fighting the curve?" It's a fundamental principle of performance training that I'd like to breakdown for you, specifically for Muay Thai athletes. If you can grasp this, and structure your training to exploit it, I guarantee you'll unlock more of what you're truly capable of. There's two videos, offering [...]
I've put together a few videos that should answer a some planning training questions for you. The first one considers what I believe is the biggest mistake in Muay Thai strength and conditioning. Rather than just waffling on, just watch this 2-minute video and all will become clear... The second video elaborates [...]
It’s not uncommon to have periods where you’re fighting very frequently, which can obviously throw your planned strength and conditioning training into a bit of a spin. Although the very best improvements in athletic performance are built using the periodised strength and conditioning program, there are times when the ideal program this isn’t practical. [...]
Can I use Plyo's before Muay Thai skill training? This short video explains the relationship between activation and fatigue, and how it relates to strength/power movements preceding Muay Thai technical and tactical training. Triggered by a question on my Aerobic Plyometric Routine post, I felt the topic of post activation potentiation (PAP) needed to [...]
