Heatrick Heavy Hitters – Muay Thai Performance Don Heatrick

In part 3, scientific skills training for fighters becomes STRUCTURED!

We discuss placing skills training in a periodised progression (as you approach a fight), skills training RPE, and take a closer look at a training session worked example too…

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 RPE For New Skill Development

00:22 TUF – Technique Under Fatigue

00:48 Skill Training Programming

01:31 Skill Training Everyday?

02:05 Multiple Skill Practices Per Week

02:40 Avoiding Local Muscular Fatigue

02:57 Worked Example: Round Kick

Further notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2024/07/26/scientific-skills-training-for-fighters-part-3/

In this second part, we continue to apply scientific skills training for fighters to fast-track Muay Thai skill development…

We explore how to best practice new skills in a training session, to ensure you not only:

Acquire skills quickly, cleanly, and retain them long-term, but also…
Retain skills in a way that carries over into practical, real-world use in the chaotic fight environment!

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Practice One New Skill Among Multiple Retained Skills
00:37 Practice Variations Of That New Skill
01:28 All Skills Have 3 Features That Remain The Same
03:04 Building Good Skill Even When Tired

Further notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2024/07/19/scientific-skills-training-for-fighters-part-2/

In this first episode, we begin looking at how scientific skills training for fighters can accelerate your Muay Thai skill development by answering two fundamental questions:


What’s the quickest way to learn a new Muay Thai skill with the highest quality?
What’s the best way to practice so you don’t lose that skill?

As a fighter, you might not like the answer…

But, there’s a wealth of scientific research on motor skill development, and if you practically apply the findings to your training, you’ll go further, faster!

Here, in part 1 we get that ball rolling…



TIMESTAMPS
00:00 More Rest Equals More Retained Skill
00:36 Learning New Skill Or Testing Old Skill Under Fatigue
01:33 Skill Acquisition vs Skill Retainment
02:47 How Many Practice Reps Before Changing?

Further notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2024/07/12/scientific-skills-training-for-fighters-part-1/

Coaching for your first fight can make or break your competitive Muay Thai aspirations – whether you're sharpening up with non-decision bouts or aiming for titles someday.

World-class Muay Thai coach Damien Trainor shares his philosophy on introducing students to competition. He emphasises the importance of getting to know your fighter and, crucially, helping fighters understand themselves.

More Muay Thai enthusiasts than ever are taking tentative steps into the ring to further their development. There's immense value in testing your limits this way.

If stepping into the ring to face an unfamiliar opponent feels like a logical step for you, this episode sheds light on preparing for your first fight...

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Your Reason For Fighting

01:06 About Your First Fight

01:56 Fight Qualities Build Life Qualities

Further notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2024/07/05/coaching-for-your-first-fight-damien-trainor/

Pro fighter Angela Chang opens up about a critical mistake she made during her Muay Thai training in Thailand: pushing herself too hard and hitting the burnout wall. Discover how she learned to understand her limits and maintain peak performance without overstepping.

Many fighters don’t push themselves hard enough, missing their full potential. Conversely, those immersed in the Muay Thai lifestyle in Thailand can lose sight of maintaining a healthy balance. Angela’s journey offers invaluable insights into striking that crucial balance while Muay Thai training in Thailand.

There’s immense value in making mistakes and learning from them, as well as from those who openly share their experiences. Angela now confidently pushes herself to the edge without toppling over into burnout.

Tune in to this episode to learn how to determine your limits, spot the warning signs of burnout, and elevate your training without compromising your health.

Further notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2024/06/28/do-dont-do-this-muay-thai-training-in-thailand-angela-chang/

Is watching teammates before your fight a mistake?

Coach Bryan Popejoy discusses the potential consequence of doing so on your energy levels in your own fight.

Your body is a holistic system, mobilising energy based on your brain’s perception of your environment.

The more emotionally invested you are, the greater the level of autonomic system arousal and the greater the energy cost, even if you physically do nothing… Your body is charged and ready to act, even if you deem yourself to be inactive!

For fighters yet to fight on that same show, watching your teammates is draining you.

When I flew out to Thailand to compete at the amateur Muay Thai World Championships back in 2007, my corner team sat next to me, eagerly watching the new (at the time) Rocky Balboa in-flight movie.

Glancing across during a fight scene, I found my adrenaline levels going through the roof!

Because I was competing myself when we arrived in Thailand, it was just too much for me. I had to stop watching such emotive fight scenes.

This is an example of how draining even watching fights can be (if you’re emotionally invested).

In the end, I watched Rocky Balboa on the flight home again after the championships instead, and enjoyed it FAR more!

Further notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2024/06/21/energy-cost-of-watching-teammates/