Heatrick Heavy Hitters – Muay Thai Performance

“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 per...

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 chall...

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 ques...

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 exhausti...

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.

Exc...

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...

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. Th...

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 skyrockete...

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 a...

Are you asking the right questions during a fight? The fight isn’t just about power—it’s about strategy and problem-solving...Your brain is wired to recognize patterns and make split-second decisions based on experience.Sometimes, that gives you razor-sharp reactions. Other times, it leads you straight into danger.Every weight class has its own typical balance of strength, speed, and reach—and every fighter instinctively calibrates...

Your Muay Thai fight IQ isn’t just about what you do best—it’s about what breaks your opponent. The key? Adaptability.You can’t force your favorite game onto every fighter. Instead, you need to recognize their style and adjust accordingly.Winning a game of rock-paper-scissors against someone who only ever throws rock is easy!Now, imagine stepping into a Muay Thai fight with someone who does the same thing—same attacks, same rhythm,...

Do you tend to fight on instinct, not quite sure what your actual fight strategy is?

Maybe you’re great at pressing forward, but struggle against elusive opponents.Or perhaps you prefer to counter, but aggressive fighters throw you off your game.

Every fighter has a natural, primary fight mode, and understanding it is the key to levelling up your game.Although, your fight mode alone isn’t enough.

It’s when you combine your Fight Mode ...

Ever watched a Muay Thai fight where one guy just seems one step ahead the entire time? No matter what his opponent throws, he’s already gone—or already in his face, shutting everything down.

It looks like magic, but it’s not.

It’s range control.

And if you’re not thinking about it, you’re giving away fights before they even start.

Why Techniques Alone Won’t Save You...

Most fighters get obsessed with perfecting techniques. Sharper comb...

Ever feel like there’s too much conflicting advice on training? One coach tells you to run every day, another says it’s a waste of time. Some fighters swear by cutting hard and fast, while others say slow and steady is the only way.So which is it?This week, while helping the new Heavy Hitters intake get set up, I pulled two big questions from our YouTube comments that cut right to the heart of these debates:* How much running actua...

Ever feel like you’re a step behind in sparring? Is your Muay Thai footwork letting you down?

You throw a combo, step in, and suddenly—bam! You’re off balance, eating a counter. Or worse, your opponent angles off, and you’re left chasing them–like a beginner at their first dance class.

Muay Thai footwork isn’t just about moving—it’s about controlling the fight. And if your movement isn’t sharp, everything else suffers.

I know how f...

Have you ever watched an elite Muay Thai fighter and thought, “They make it look so effortless”? It’s not just their technique or strategy that sets them apart—it’s their balance.

You see, balance isn’t just about staying upright. In Muay Thai, balance is the foundation of composure—it’s the ability to dominate exchanges, win rounds, and control the fight. Under the Thai judging system, it’s absolutely crucial.

Scoring in Muay Thai...

Thinking about your first fight? Knowing when you're truly ready isn’t about perfection—it’s about pushing yourself past your comfort zone.

In this video, I’ll break down how to tell if your training has plateaued and why stepping into the ring is the next step in your growth. If your training isn’t challenging you anymore, it might be time to embrace the discomfort and get ready for your first fight—and the lessons that come with ...

Every Muay Thai fighter embarks on the quest for self discovery, and it's a journey that tests you in every way. It's about pushing past physical boundaries, but also about evolving mentally and emotionally. In this video, we dive into how the fighters who’ve shaped their careers have embraced the quest for self-discovery, evolving through struggles, setbacks, and triumphs. Through the lens of Muay Thai, the quest is about buildi...

In this video, Kevin Ross dives into the concept of imperfect progress and how it can be a crucial element in your martial arts journey. Following up on questions from our previous video, Ross shares valuable insights on navigating challenges and learning from mistakes. He emphasizes that while every fighter aims for success, it's the lessons learned through adversity that truly shape us. Are you tired of feeling stuck in your tra...