Heatrick Muay Thai Strength And Conditioning

Fighter burnout is a ticking time bomb. Most don't realize it until it's too late – like me. The damage I did to my body in my teens and early 20s just caught up with me at age 52.Yet I managed to fight professionally until 40 without issues. The secret?I completely transformed my training approach at 25.But those early years of "old school" training? They left their mark.Like most young fighters, I thought:* Every session needed to be all-out* Pushing through pain meant I was tough* More training always meant better results* Recovery was for the weakThat mindset helped me survive fights... but it created hidden damage that took decades to surface.I've identified why fighters burnout, the exact point where 'hardcore' becomes 'harmful'...If you're pushing through pain, fighting fatigue, or feeling burned out - this video reveals why, and exactly how to fix it.KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 Training harder always means getting better?00:42 Is

Muay Thai skills can vanish when most needed. Ever heard that fighting is 90% mental and 10% physical? Here's why that's misleading...This common saying assumes three things:That you already have enough 'physical' to be in the game,That it's fight time not training time,That mental and physical aspects work independently. They don't.And this oversimplification is exactly why so many fighters' Muay Thai skills disappear when it matters most.I've spent over three decades both fighting and coaching fighters, and I've discovered there's a systematic process that makes skills actually transfer to fights.It works for everyone, and today I'm going to show you exactly how.

Are you struggling to balance your day job with your Muay Thai dreams? You're not alone. Many fighters believe their career is killing their progress, but the truth is, you can learn to manage both effectively.In this video, we'll show you how to stop letting your day job wreck your Muay Thai progress. We dive deep into the real challenges, from different types of work to the often-overlooked impact of mental fatigue.You'll get a clear, actionable guide on how to adjust your training, manage your recovery, and build the work capacity needed to succeed both in the gym and at your job.In this video, you'll discover:

Weekly Schedule for Muay Thai: Stop Wasting Training TimeMost fighters are doing the right training… but in the wrong order.If you want maximum results from your Muay Thai training — whether you have 3 hours or 36 hours a week — you need to nail the right types of sessions, in the right order, at the right frequency.In this video, I’ll show you:

Today we're tackling a crucial concept in sport performance - the double-edged sword of Muay Thai specific training.The thing is, you need enough supplemental training to build athletic qualities that show up in the ring, but not so much that you'd be better off just doing more Muay Thai instead.I'll break this down through three excellent questions from our YouTube community that approach this challenge from different angles.Because let's face it - if your supplemental training isn't making you better at Muay Thai, why bother?KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:23 The Transfer of Training Problem02:16 Advanced Techniques and Specificity04:33 Training Quality vs Conditioning06:54 Muay Thai Specific Training – The Bigger PictureFurther notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2025/08/01/muay-thai-specific-training-resistance-training-qa/Search "muay thai specific" on our YouTube channel links page for this episode's show notes and further resources now!

There’s a secret military strategy that can transform your fighting IQ. The OODA Loop is a tactical framework that can give you a serious edge in the ring.The OODA Loop was developed by a U.S. Air Force strategist, and it’s ideal for Muay Thai.Strategic Application...Many fighters fail here – especially in aggressive exchanges. They skip the crucial observation phase and turn it into a head-to-head slugfest.KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 OODA Loop - military strategy00:22 1. Observe00:50 2. Orient01:13 3. Decide01:24 4. Act01:42 Strategic Application02:16 Scoring Perspective03:51 Energy ManagementFurther notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2025/07/25/ooda-loop-for-muay-thai-strategy/

Ever felt supremely fit but wondered, “Why do I gas out in a fight?”I recently had a coaching call with a fighter who experienced exactly this. Despite being in the best shape of his life, he found himself exhausted after just three rounds.It wasn’t his fitness level – it was his fight strategy and work-rest ratios.Many fighters make three common mistakes:Work too long without adequate restRest too long and lose momentumOr (most commonly) have no strategic approach to their output at allKEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 How Many Rounds? It Matters!00:24 Muay Thai Time Motion Analysis01:10 What Happened In This Fight?01:58 You Can't Beat Human Biology!02:14 Work:Rest OutliersFurther notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2025/07/18/why-do-i-gas-out-in-a-fight-when-im-fit/

One of my fighters found themselves up to their neck in a brutal training schedule...Three killer training days stacked back-to-back!This isn't what you'd draw up in a perfect world. With Muay Thai training, you must work with what you've got.Muay Thai gym schedules are what they are - you train when the classes run.And let's talk about training partners - they can change everything about your session.A partner's experience level, size, or whether they're preparing for a fight can turn what you planned as an easy technical session into a full-on war.Your total workload combines both your life outside the Muay Thai gym and your training inside it.It's not just about managing your training, it's about managing your entire stress load–work, family, commuting–it all counts!In this episode, I break down how to handle these challenging schedules.KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 Adapting To Training Schedules00:11 Managing High-Intensity Training Weeks00:24 W

This week, I received an interesting question from Orson in Thailand about using HRV as a fighter.After coaching fighters and analyzing performance data for over 15 years, I'll share something counterintuitive:Some of your best training sessions might happen on days when your HRV scores suggest otherwise.Here's what the research and practical experience shows:Recovery Scores Are Signals, Not Stop Signs* Low HRV indicates an increased stress load* High HRV suggests parasympathetic dominance* Neither absolutely dictates training intensityKEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 HRV Monitoring For Fighters00:12 Understanding Different HRV Systems00:59 Low HRV Scores: Why You Can Still Train Hard01:20 The Four-Week Training Cycle Explained01:59 Balancing Data With How You Feel02:27 High-Intensity Weeks: Managing The Red Flags02:53 Stop Micromanaging Your HRV Scores03:19 The Bigger Picture: Beyond Daily Readings04:02 When Multiple Red Flags Really Matter04:21 Making Smart Training Adjustm

Plyometrics and weight training. Let's clear up this confusion!In Muay Thai, fighters often treat "strength AND conditioning" as one thing. But these are two distinct components: "strength" OR "conditioning."Let’s break this down...STRENGTH Training includes:• Weight room-based resistance work• Plyometric and med ball drills• Explosive power training• Traditional strength exercisesCONDITIONING is different:• Cardio work• Energy system development• Stamina building• Recovery capacityThey're separate beasts with different purposes. And here's where people get tripped up...KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 Weight Training Includes Plyometrics?00:12 Strength AND Conditioning... 00:48 Train Plyometrics Separately?02:06 Weight Training Twice a Week?02:51 Training in Thailand?Further notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2025/06/06/muay-thai-plyometrics-and-resistance-training-confused/

You know what’s fascinating about asking world champions for their best advice for Muay Thai?They see through the noise and cut to the chase.You may expect a ONE Championship double champ like Regian Eersel to talk about secret training methods or advanced fighting tactics.Instead, he shared something simpler – and far more powerful.One of the most dangerous strikers on the planet, standing there telling me his biggest regret wasn't about training harder or learning more techniques...It was about being too damn stubborn to listen to his coaches.“I was really hard-headed, I didn't listen at all,” he told me. When his trainers told him to punch more in sparring, he'd think, “Nah, I don't like doing the punch now. I'm gonna kick more.”Sound familiar?KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 Regretting Not Listening More!00:10 Young & Hard-Headed00:28 Coaches Saw It Coming00:49 Having Eyes On Your Sparring01:21 Exploiting a 3rd Person PerspectiveFurther notes and resources

“How strong do I need to be for Muay Thai — and am I strong enough?”“Why do I still gas out in sparring, even though my cardio seems solid?”These were the exact questions an experienced fighter threw at me during a recent coaching call.Many fighters share these frustrations, and it’s puzzling.One size doesn’t fit all, and I don’t like guessing or offering vague solutions!But the good news? I didn’t have to guess.I pulled up his performance testing results and pinpointed exactly where his training should focus.I believe you’ll find these insights helpful as well.KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:40 How Strong Is Strong Enough for Muay Thai?01:33 Turn That Strength Into Power You Can Use02:04 If You’re Strong Enough—Stop Chasing Bigger Deadlifts02:27 The Real Reason You’re Gassing Out in Sparring02:46 If Your Foundation Is Solid—Now It’s Time to EvolveFurther notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2025/05/23/how-strong-is-strong-enough-for-muay-thai-and-why-youre-sti

In Muay Thai, you must dig deep, but do you know when to push your limits, and when to ease off to level up?Are you the “More!” type… or the “Too Much!” type?Over the years—training myself and coaching fighters around the world—I’ve spotted a pattern.We all live on a sliding scale when it comes to challenge.And that scale moves.Push the edge regularly, and your capacity rises.But let it slide for too long? It drops. Fast.What challenged you six months ago might not touch the sides today.Or worse—what used to be easy now feels hard again, because you’ve unknowingly slid backward.You’re always moving on the scale.The question is: which direction?KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 Go Hard or Go Home?00:38 The Challenge Level – Sliding Scale01:04 Are You the “More!” Type… or the “Too Much!” Type?01:16 Train Hard… But Redefine What “Hard” Actually Means01:51 So… Where Are You On the Continuum?02:13 Be Brutally Honest02:28 Further Videos...Further notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/

Most fighters believe that every session, they must train harder to win. You don’t. Both older and younger fighters alike should take three steps forward, then one step back. Rinse and repeat for infinity!I was on a call recently with a fighter in his 30s — still sharp, still winning, still putting in the work.He asked me something I’ve heard before:“Can I keep progressing the weights each week, or do I need deload weeks?”Fair question.Especially if your lifts are still improving and nothing feels broken.But here’s the thing…Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 The Unfair Advantage That Lets You Train Harder00:27 Overuse Injuries Don’t Knock — They Creep In01:16 Ride the Wave: Push Progress When It’s There01:49 Don’t Drop the Other Plates While Spinning Strength02:39 Fight-Ready Means Tapered and Tuned03:35 Speed & Power — Don’t Let Them Fade04:17 Two Resistance Sessions Is Goldilocks Training for FightersFurther notes and resources at htt

The simplest way to get better at Muay Thai, is just to do more Muay Thai!I used to think soreness meant progress.If I wasn’t waking up stiff, bruised, or dead-legged, I’d wonder if I had even trained hard enough.So I’d double down — longer pad rounds, heavier bags, extra roadwork, more lifting sets.Because more work means more gains, right?That’s what I told myself… right up until my body said otherwise.Turns out, chasing exhaustion isn’t the same as chasing excellence.And that’s where Bryan Popejoy flips the script...KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 Why the "Train Till You Drop" Mindset Is Failing Fighters00:44 Smarter, Not Softer02:06 Why Thailand Isn’t Your Template03:48 What Real Efficiency Looks LikeFurther notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2025/05/02/think-you-need-to-do-more-muay-thai-bryan-popejoy-shares-what-youre-missing/

Thailand Muay Thai strength and conditioning is often stuck in its ways.“Train hard and you’ll get results,” they said.But what happens when you train hard... and the results don’t show up?Angela Chang knows that frustration inside out.She didn’t slack. She didn’t skip.She trained like a machine—morning runs, hours on the pads, heavy bag, clinch, sparring, rinse and repeat.The Thai way. The “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” way.Except… something was broken.She felt flat. Worn down.Like she was pouring more and more in—and getting less and less out…KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 Stubbornness Can Be a Strength—Until It Isn’t00:31 Push-Ups, Sit-Ups, Pull-Ups… and a False Sense of Progress00:59 The Hidden Gap: Skill Without Strength Is a Dead End01:44 Cultural Habits Can Be a Cage—Unless You Think for YourselfFurther notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2025/04/25/is-thailand-muay-thai-strength-and-conditioning-ok/

It’s easy to avoid the stuff that actually builds you up—especially if you’re only training from fight to fight.You’re in the groove, your bread-and-butter combos are sharp… until you touch the awkward stuff.But that “awkward stuff”? That’s where the real gains are.When I spoke with Professor Tony Myers—a legend in the world of Muay Thai—he shared something crucial:Skills are perishable. They come and go. You don’t just ‘have’ them. You’ve got to keep developing—mentally and physically. Otherwise, they slip.Too many fighters think training hard for six weeks before a fight will solve everything.It won’t.Still just training fight to fight? This episode will show you what you’re missing.KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 Skills are Perishable00:21 Psychology Shapes Physical Execution00:42 The Real Growth Lies in What You Avoid01:22 Don’t Just Train for a Fight – Train Beyond It01:55 Build a Broader Skill SetFurther notes and resources at ⁠https://heatrick.com/2025/04/18/why-training-figh

Ever wonder why some fighters look completely unfazed… even when they're eating clean KO shots?It’s not just that they’ve got a chin. And it’s not just experience either.A punch doesn't knock you out just because it's hard. It knocks you out because your head moves.More specifically, because your skull moves—and your brain doesn’t.That little delay is all it takes for your brain to slam into the inside of your skull. That’s the knockout.Mike Tyson’s famously thick neck wasn’t just for looks. It made him ridiculously hard to knock out.You can do the same—without having to bulk up like a Marvel character.Here’s how:-Brace your neck.Deliberately push your head into your gloves when you’re in your guard. It switches your neck muscles on and helps absorb the impact.-Engage your lats.Think of your elbows as tusks. Squeeze them in with purpose—it’s not just “hands up,” it’s “structure on.”-Adapt to the range:Long range (Green): Relaxed but ready.Mid-range (Amber): Structure engaged.Close range (Red): Han

To both fight smart, and keep it simple, isn’t a contradiction. But in the heat of battle, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by tactical decisions...Do I press forward or stay patient? Do I counter or attack first? Should I stand my ground or move?I used to overthink every exchange—until I simplified everything to just two primary fight modes; Aggressive/Elusive. Once I built my strategy around these two modes, my performance skyrocketed.If you know when and how to switch between them, you’re in control—no matter who’s in front of you.KEY MOMENTSFollow along using these quick timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:18 The Power of the Elusive Sway01:00 Bait and Punish: Turning Defense into Offense01:51 Yodsaenklai’s Tactical Genius02:45 Switching Between Modes for Maximum Effect03:33 Let Them Hang ThemselvesFurther notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2025/04/04/fight-smart-and-simple-mastering-the-two-primary-fight-modes/

There's a secret to advanced Muay Thai footwork. A hidden rhythm in every fight that no one talks about—if you’re not controlling it, your opponent is.They’re "stealing your step", keeping you reacting instead of attacking on your terms.The Secret to Controlling the Fight...Most fighters naturally step from foot to foot, right?That movement creates a rhythmic bubble—expanding and contracting as you and your opponent adjust distance.If you can disrupt that rhythm, you can dictate the exchanges.This is where “stealing the step” changes the game.Aggressive vs. Elusive Sway* Aggressive Sway: When you both step onto your front foot at the same time, your heads move toward each other. This loads up your power shots while they step into range.* Elusive Sway: When your opponent steps in and you shift back, their strike falls short. Now, they’re exposed, and you can counter with precision.This isn’t just movement—it’s control. You’re making your opponent fight on your timing, not theirs.KEY MOMENTSFollow