Muay Thai seems to attract more than its fair share of "nice" people... So how can a nice person hit another person with the kind of destructive power that Muay Thai is designed to inflict? In a recent Heavy Hitters program support call, Arnaud asked how can he overcome a fear of hitting and hurting people? It was a great question, and one he was happy for me to share to help out others too. Thanks Arnaud. :) Full video podcast version, show notes and further resources at https://heatrick.com/2021/08/04/how-to-overcome-the-fear-of-hitting-people/

Heatrick Heavy Hitters – Muay Thai Performance

How To Overcome The Fear Of Hitting People – Muay Thai

Confirmed! Women are valued by Men in Muay Thai! I want to start with the huge positive before I share the negative I experienced in response to my recent podcast episode with the awesome Angela Chang on my The Science of Building Champions Podcast. Let me explain everything… Full show notes and further resources: https://heatrick.com/2021/06/26/what-do-men-really-think-of-women-in-muay-thai/

What Do Men REALLY Think of Women in Muay Thai?

Father Time waits for no man, and if you haven’t already felt how getting older affects your Muay Thai, it’s a certainty you will. In this episode, I’ll look at what you need to do to keep doing what you love (Muay Thai) and remaining badass for the rest of your life... What’s vital to remaining vital! Show notes and further resources at https://heatrick.com/2021/04/21/fighting-father-time-remaining-a-muay-thai-badass/ All podcast episodes are available at https://heatrick.com/podcast Subscribe and join the most informed Muay Thai performance community out there!

Fighting Father Time & Remaining a Muay Thai Badass

A lot of fighters are using heart rate monitors these days, to allow them to train at the right intensity in their cardio sessions. And I love using monitors in my programs too. But most fighters are basing their training on a calculated age related maximum heart rate… Which for most people will be way off – because individual genetics determine what your max heart rate is, NOT your fitness. In this episode learn how to test for your REAL max heart rate. Show notes and further resources at https://heatrick.com/2021/03/17/what-is-your-real-max-heart-rate/  All podcast episodes are available at https://heatrick.com/podcast Subscribe and join the most informed Muay Thai performance community out there!

What's Your REAL Max Heart Rate?

I've been asked how I'd recommend structuring strength and conditioning when you're just 2 weeks out from a fight. So here's a quick "down and dirty" podcast episode to get something out quickly! Show notes with links to further references: https://heatrick.com/2021/03/02/2-weeks-out-how-to-structure-muay-thai-sc/ All podcast episodes are available at https://heatrick.com/podcast Subscribe and join the most informed Muay Thai performance community out there!

2 Weeks Out – How Structure Muay Thai S&C

How to surpass those that have been training longer than you in Muay Thai: I’m often asked questions like… “Is 20 years old too late to start Muay Thai and become successful with it?” So in this episode, I wanted to add a little flavour to answers I’ve given to this in the past… I believe that measuring your potential impact in Muay Thai by the number of competitive years you have left in you isn’t a good indicator. Show notes with links to further references: https://heatrick.com/2021/02/28/starting-late-starting-anyway-finishing-ahead/ All podcast episodes are available at https://heatrick.com/podcast Subscribe and join the most informed Muay Thai performance community out there!

Starting Late – Starting Anyway – Finishing Ahead!

In this (whiteboard) podcast episode, I go into some detail on how I’d recommend changing the strength and conditioning element of training if you’ve little or no Muay Thai training going on right now! All podcast episodes are available at https://heatrick.com/podcast Subscribe and join the most informed Muay Thai performance community out there!

Adjusting Strength and Conditioning Training For Little or No Muay Thai!

Paraphrasing a recent question… "I have seen your videos on different training blocks… I have been training Muay Thai for 6 months 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 episode to share my thoughts on this one... 

Do I Fight Peak Even If I've No Fight Date?

"If I have FIA (cam hip impingements on both hips), will I be able to ever kick high without surgery?" Prompted by an Instagram message, hip impingements and Muay Thai kicks are a common issue! So I've taken the opportunity to explain what you can do to help yourself if hip impingements affect you, and if you'll need to have surgery after all. For the video version of this episode, with further resource links at https://heatrick.com/2021/01/18/hip-impingements-and-high-kicks/ All podcast episodes are available at https://heatrick.com/podcast

Hip Impingements and High Kicks?

Driven from a question left on one of my previous Q&A videos, here I expand on my reply, and explain what I mean when I say a "Low Intensity Muay Thai Session". For the video version of this episode, with further resource links at https://heatrick.com/2021/01/13/low-intensity-muay-thai-training/ All podcast episodes are available at https://heatrick.com/podcast

Low Intensity Muay Thai Training?

In this episode I dig into Jonathan Haggerty’s mindset, methods of conditioning your shins for Muay Thai kicks and shin blocks, and the different maximum heart rates for different exercises. For the video version of this episode, with text transcript and links, click here. All podcast episodes are available at https://heatrick.com/podcast

Jonathan Haggerty's Mindset, Shin Bones, & Heart Rates!

From Buakaw to Petchmorakot... is it real? Combat sports athletes are constantly bombarded with video clips of fighters using training methods or supplements that are seemingly a shortcut to fantastic results. Most of the time, these clips are little more than social media stunts, either to market a product or simply to get likes… And fighters are always up for having a laugh, and playing with some new toy in their training for a session or two. Certain training methods keep coming around at regular intervals on social media.  Some do help fighters improve, while others either waste their time, or even negatively impact performance. And in this episode I take a close look at breathing...  Both Elevation Training Masks, and Personal Oxygen Supplementation. For the video version of this episode, with text transcript and links, click here. All podcast episodes are available at https://heatrick.com/podcast

Elevation Training Masks, & Breathing Pure Oxygen— Proven or Playing?

Don’t only rate your training session by the physical performance, such as distance covered, time to complete, maximum weight lifted, number of sets and reps, heart rate etc. Also rate your mental focus for the session. Ultimately, this IS the most important factor. Things like illness, injuries, lack of time, or a dog needing to take a dump, all interfere with you perception of what was a productive training session… When in reality, as long as you are following a progressive training program, all you need to do is three things: 1) Show up 2) Focus on the critical points of the training session 3) Apply sufficient effort If you’ve done this, you’ve maintained momentum, regardless of what any of the other measures of your session may have been. Give yourself a ‘pat on the back’. Mentally reward yourself for staying on track regardless of circumstances (good or bad). Full article at https://heatrick.com

Struggling With Motivation? UNSTOPPABLE Muay Thai Mojo!

Gyms around the world are either reopening or preparing to reopen very soon. It’s great news, but the reality of just what we’re going back to bears some thought. In order to reopen safely, gyms must abide by new operating restrictions and safe practice. The number of people allowed in the gym at one time will be limited to comply with social distancing rules and to ensure shared space and equipment is kept clean and safe. The reality is that most people won’t be able to return to training just like they did before. So let’s expect this and plan for it. For the video version of this episode (including bodyweight exercise examples) click here.

Corona Efficiency – Tips for Returning to the Gym in 2020

I’m hearing more often from fighters that are doing their best to systematically improve their athletic ability... But are finding that well-meaning trainers are sabotaging them with regular “beastings” that set them back. A knowledge gap is beginning to grow between the students and trainers/coaches. Information is increasingly available online, and students are actively researching ways of optimising their fight performance. They’re investing time in learning more about this part of the training puzzle that many coaches still aren’t. If you’re looking for some starting points, I’ve distilled key information into multiple guides on my website at heatrick.com… They’re there to help you not only keep up, but get ahead of the game. Feel free to dive in.

Are Muay Thai Students Getting Ahead of Their Trainers?

Helping ambitious fighters and coaches take their game to the next level by bridging the gap between Strength and Conditioning, Performance Science, and Muay Thai

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Heatrick Heavy Hitters – Muay Thai Performance

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