Low HRV? Why You Can STILL Train Hard (Muay Thai Recovery Secrets)

Are you using HRV monitoring for your Muay Thai training and wondering if you should always trust the score? As a coach with 15+ years of analyzing fighter data, I'm here to tell you something counterintuitive: some of your best training sessions might happen on days when your HRV scores look low.



Don Heatrick cuts through the confusion around HRV for fighters. We explore why recovery scores are valuable signals, but not absolute stop signs. Understand the difference between low and high HRV, and why neither should unilaterally dictate your training intensity every single day.




Learn how to balance the data from your HRV system with your practical experience and how you truly feel. This is crucial for managing high-intensity training weeks, understanding four-week training cycles, and knowing when multiple "red flags" actually matter. Stop micromanaging your HRV scores and start making smarter training adjustments for optimal Muay Thai performance and recovery.



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 intensity



What you'll learn in this video:

The key to understanding HRV monitoring for fighters beyond daily readings.

Why a low HRV score doesn't always mean you can't train hard.

How to integrate HRV data with your subjective feeling for better training decisions.

Strategies for managing high-intensity training within a longer cycle, even with fluctuating recovery scores.

When to truly adjust training based on multiple red flags, not just isolated HRV readings.


KEY MOMENTS
Follow along using these quick timestamps:
00:00 HRV Monitoring For Fighters
00:12 Understanding Different HRV Systems
00:59 Low HRV Scores: Why You Can Still Train Hard
01:20 The Four-Week Training Cycle Explained
01:59 Balancing Data With How You Feel
02:27 High-Intensity Weeks: Managing The Red Flags
02:53 Stop Micromanaging Your HRV Scores
03:19 The Bigger Picture: Beyond Daily Readings
04:02 When Multiple Red Flags Really Matter
04:21 Making Smart Training Adjustments

🎙️ 📝 This episode's show notes and further resources at https://heatrick.com/2025/06/13/when-...

💪 🔍 Search "hrv" on our YouTube channel links page for this episode's show notes and further resources now!



Optimize your Muay Thai recovery and performance by understanding the bigger picture beyond just your daily HRV number!

#HRV #HRVForFighters #MuayThai #MuayThaiTraining #Recovery #TrainingLoad #Overtraining #FighterTraining #CombatSports #DonHeatrick #TrainingSmart



And if you enjoyed this video, hit subscribe to stay up to date with our latest Muay Thai performance tips every Friday!

🥊 🤝 We’d love to have you on the team…
https://www.youtube.com/user/donheatr...

RESPECTING THE TRADITIONAL. EMBRACING THE NEW. Turn your limited hours into real Muay Thai progress with training engineered for your life.

You'll find all our Muay Thai performance videos, podcasts, articles, and guides at https://heatrick.com/

📲👇 Follow me on social:
  / donheatrick  
  / heatrick