How Much Muay Thai Training Is Really Needed?

Many fighters and coaches misunderstand just how much Muay Thai training is really needed to achieve the best performance possible.

Generally, Thais don’t understand how to program progressive training.

They throw everyone into largely the same regimen, regardless if they’re beginners or seasoned pros.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣And those that can’t keep up, or become injured as a result are deemed “lazy”.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣Even Damien Trainor shared with me in our podcast together, that after feeling like he was burning out in Thailand, he had to take a day's rest – and then nobody at the camp would speak to him for 2-weeks!⁣⁣⁣

And Liam Harrison has shared his thoughts on this too, explaining his experience while living in Thailand…

That many top 10 stadium-ranked fighters in their late teens are giving up by the age of 21, because the training was killing them!

And founder of Sumalee Boxing Gym, Dr. Lynne Miller goes on to explain how traditional Thai culture makes for slow progress when it comes to taking onboard newer philosophies.

⁣⁣⁣Overtraining is real, and so are overuse injuries.

And there’s a boneyard (of discarded fighters) that you don’t see.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣I’m not saying don’t train hard.

I’m saying pay attention to your body and don’t break yourself trying to match those that have…⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣a) incrementally adjusted to tolerate high training volumes over years of training, and⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣b) are genetically more robust than the majority.⁣⁣⁣

And the truth is…

⁣⁣Even Thais come undone when they’re training changes too much – even in as little as 5 mins work!!

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[bigassdummy]

They are adapted to their sport. You could be a world class athlete and your first week of jiu-jitsu will seem like hell.

[froggyluv]

Was shocked that the shuttle run burned out the Pro Thai fighters but your reasoning makes total sense. Lifelong trainer and Thai hobbyist and this is top notch information

[JoshuaVinceKBX]

I trained Muay Thai a year ago. During my first month, I trained 2-3 times a week because I was only trying out to see how it is. During my second month, I paid for the everyday training, so I trained 5-6 times a week.

After 2 weeks of training almost everyday, my quality of sleep became so much worse. There are times that I only get 3 hours of sleep and it was beginning to worry me. It's like my body was overstimulated by the high intensity of the training, that even when I'm doing nothing my body still thinks I'm at the gym training Muay Thai.

I trained Taekwondo rigorously back in high school, 3 times a week. It never affected any of my health nor my sleep. It made me realize that training everyday was a bad idea. Never gonna do that again.

[keuzevrijheid]

From 11 till 15 I skateboarded everyday at least 2 hours. Practising the same tricks over and over. I tried skateboarding again in my late twenties and I was in agony after a single day of skating and doing the same tricks. Interesting to experience how the body loses its adaptation to a specific excercise.

[kenaddoh]

Completely agree …Some Dutch clubs have a similar approach to training…IMO, you should go at a high intensity for short periods or a moderate intensity for long periods. High intensity for long periods often leads to injury and burnout.

[brianodonnell]

Great video clip mate. Well done. I have been to Thai gyms many times and they have no idea on what 'over training', or even 'over stretching 'is all about.

[silverfox]

Damn that was an eye opening video! Bravo buddy 👏🏻🙏🏻👊

[yahord]

This needs to be said. Too many people blame themselves, when they don't know the science. Excellent insight 👏

[LawrenceKenshin]

This is really wonderful content and knowledge being shared Don! Hope to catch up again one day.

[Mental_V]

You are nothing less than amazing and you deserve talking to world wide audience

[JWMCMLXXX]

Great subject. Great information.
Thank you for the links

[troll]

I forgot his name but one Muay Thai master said

"You don't rest in real fights. You're out of air? You can't say to him "wait, time out don't kill me yet." That's why we train like this"

[zohebalikhan]

This is a very insightful video and I learnt a lot in terms of training management and the necessity of both progressive overload and making (gradual) changes to your training regiment to grow as a fighter. We develop best when we have adequate rest, have a sense of progression, and constantly face different types of stimuli.

[gregkelly]

Really lucid analysis, contextual and insightful. Thank you!

[fightingelements]

Thanks for the information Heatrick, very insightfull escpecially on the implementation of science into Muay thai training.

[gsomethingsomething]

This was really eye-opening and extremely well explained. Thanks. ...New sub!

[kevinhansen]

veeeery interesting! I started in Thailand the thai way, injuries within the month, now 6 months later i'm still here but do it my way and its going great!

[martinflint]

Awesome video thanks very much for opening up my eyes to what really goes on

[pwnership]

Thanks for the video it was really insightful. Can't wait to check out the S&C program too

[nateF]

Hey man, im new to your chanel and i have to say, your videos are top quality. I am new to muay thai and your videos are helpful. I think you deserve alot more recognition and subscribers.