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Fight Strong for Marital Arts

The Hard Way Fitness

Martial Arts
Coach
Stephen Mooney

Our Promise

Every programme we publish is tested under pressure by our coaches and clients before it’s released. Born out of real training, not theory. These are the sessions we do ourselves. No shortcuts, no gimmicks, no marketing, or rubbish to sell you. All we ask is your honesty of effort and a review if you complete the programme.

Who is this Programme for

This programme is built for martial artists who want to become stronger, more resilient, and better conditioned for the demands of their discipline. Whether you train striking, grappling, or a hybrid system, this 15-week plan is designed to enhance your power, posture, work capacity, and durability without interfering with your skill training. It’s ideal for anyone who wants a structured strength and conditioning plan to complement their martial arts practice, reduce injury risk, and elevate overall athletic performance.

The programme progresses through clear phases Foundational, Locking In, New Baselines, and Test Weeks, giving martial artists a professional, organised training system that builds the right qualities at the right time.

About this Programme

The programme provides four training days per week. The pillars of the programme are two strength days, and each of these strength days has three versions, keeping you progressing without losing the structure or effectiveness of the plan. Cardiovascular training is also a core element, rotating between long slow distance, continuous high intensity, and interval sessions. All sessions are designed to fit around your martial arts class schedule. You also have weekly metabolic conditioning sessions for fitness benchmarking.

What you Will Get Out of the Programme

At the end of the 15 weeks, you’ll be stronger, fitter and better conditioned for your martial art. You’ll move with more power, recover faster between efforts and carry a level of resilience that helps reduce injury risk and improve performance across training and sparring.

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Stronger and Better Conditioned
This programme builds real strength for martial arts and improves the conditioning needed for harder rounds and faster recovery. You will become more stable more powerful and more resilient with training that supports your skill work instead of taking from it. Expect better endurance better posture and greater overall performance.
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Power For When You Need to Strike
Build the strength to strike with force grapple with control and stay sharp deep into training. This plan improves core stability conditioning and total body power so you can express your skills with more confidence and intensity.
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Engine for Every Round
Increase your ability to work at a higher pace for longer without fading. This programme uses continuous high intensity, interval and long slow distance cardio training methods to give you the engine to go for rounds.
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Strong Body Strong Positions
Gain the strength to hold better positions resist pressure and move with stability. This training builds posture control grip strength and balanced power making you harder to move and easier to keep in dominant positions.
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Strength is Never a Weakness
Cycle between strength, hypertrophy and skills based strength sessions, challenging you to learn and grown while you build a body capable of absorbing and produced fast and powerful strikes.
Features
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Access to your coaches
Coaches who will hold you accountable and provide the feedback you need to grow
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Programming 4 days per week
Strength, conditioning, and skill training that’s accessible and challenging for athletes of any level or background
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Mental Exercises
Structured mental training exercises to cultivate your inner strength
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Exercise Video Guidance
Instructional videos to guide your practice and make execution easy.
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Detailed, expert instruction
Coaches who will hold you accountable and provide the feedback you need to grow
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Committed Teammates
Join our Skool community. Surround yourself with the best.
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Delivered through TrainHeroic
Sweating over a lifeless PDF is so last year. Your coaches and team will push you harder, know you better, and keep you going longer.
Equipment
Required
Well stocked gym // Dumbbells // Kettlebells // Cardio Equipment // Exercise Machines // Stairs/Stair Climber
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Sample Week
Week 1 of 15-week program
Sunday
Programme Test Week 1 Day 1

Prep

A

Hard Body Code Preparation for Work Circuit

First job for you, is to start with 5-10 minutes on any cardio machine, start slow, get progressively faster but not sprinting until you start to sweat and feel your respiration start to increase. The goal is to raise your body temperature. Next lets complete our Activation, focus is to engage key stabilizers before main lifts. Do the following: Glute Bridge x10, Dead bug x10, Push-Up x10 Coach note: Move slowly and with control. The goal is engagement, not fatigue. Next is Mobilization Start from the bottom up. Lift one leg and gently roll your ankle joint in circles, alternating directions. Move to the knees, performing small, controlled circles in both directions. Rotate the hips slowly, opening the stance as needed to maintain balance. Roll the shoulders forward and backward with control, then finish with gentle neck rotations, keeping the movement smooth and within a comfortable range. Finally we have Potentiation, the focus is to prepare for higher intensity and neural readiness. Example exercises: Jump Squat x5, Push-Up to Shoulder Tap x6, Lateral Bounds x5 each side Perform explosively but stay relaxed. Quality of movement over volume. 1-2 sets should be sufficient.

B

DB Bench Press

5 x 5 @ 80 %

C

Incline DB Bench Press

3 x 10 @ 75 %

D

Seated DB Press

3 x 6 @ 75 %

E

Double KB Front Squat

3 x 10 @ 75 %

F

KB swings

15, 20, 25 @ 80 %

G

Push-Up

10 x 10

H

Paloff Press

3 x 10

I

2,400m Run

1 x 2400

J

Stretch

1 x 5:00

Tuesday
Programme Test Week 1 Day 3

Prep

A

Hard Body Code Preparation for Work Circuit

First job for you, is to start with 5-10 minutes on any cardio machine, start slow, get progressively faster but not sprinting until you start to sweat and feel your respiration start to increase. The goal is to raise your body temperature. Next lets complete our Activation, focus is to engage key stabilizers before main lifts. Do the following: Glute Bridge x10, Dead bug x10, Push-Up x10 Coach note: Move slowly and with control. The goal is engagement, not fatigue. Next is Mobilization Start from the bottom up. Lift one leg and gently roll your ankle joint in circles, alternating directions. Move to the knees, performing small, controlled circles in both directions. Rotate the hips slowly, opening the stance as needed to maintain balance. Roll the shoulders forward and backward with control, then finish with gentle neck rotations, keeping the movement smooth and within a comfortable range. Finally we have Potentiation, the focus is to prepare for higher intensity and neural readiness. Example exercises: Jump Squat x5, Push-Up to Shoulder Tap x6, Lateral Bounds x5 each side Perform explosively but stay relaxed. Quality of movement over volume. 1-2 sets should be sufficient.

B

DB Bench Press

3 x 10 @ 70 %

C

Crush Grip Incline DB Press

3 x 10 @ 85 %

D

KB Halo

3 x 5 @ 60 %

E

Goblet Squat

3 x 10 @ 80 %

F

Single Leg RDL

3 x 10 @ 60 %

G

Push-Up

3 x 20

H

Half-Kneeling Anti-Rotation Hold

3 x 0:25

I

Sprint

10 x 0:30

J

Stretch

1 x 5:00

Thursday
Programme Test Week METCON Mod 1

Prep

A

Hard Body Code Preparation for Work Circuit

First job for you, is to start with 5-10 minutes on any cardio machine, start slow, get progressively faster but not sprinting until you start to sweat and feel your respiration start to increase. The goal is to raise your body temperature. Next lets complete our Activation, focus is to engage key stabilizers before main lifts. Do the following: Glute Bridge x10, Dead bug x10, Push-Up x10 Coach note: Move slowly and with control. The goal is engagement, not fatigue. Next is Mobilization Start from the bottom up. Lift one leg and gently roll your ankle joint in circles, alternating directions. Move to the knees, performing small, controlled circles in both directions. Rotate the hips slowly, opening the stance as needed to maintain balance. Roll the shoulders forward and backward with control, then finish with gentle neck rotations, keeping the movement smooth and within a comfortable range. Finally we have Potentiation, the focus is to prepare for higher intensity and neural readiness. Example exercises: Jump Squat x5, Push-Up to Shoulder Tap x6, Lateral Bounds x5 each side Perform explosively but stay relaxed. Quality of movement over volume. 1-2 sets should be sufficient.

Conditioning

B

Combat Engine Circuit

AMRAP day. AMRAP: Work through a set list of exercises for a fixed time and complete as many rounds as possible, pushing your pace while managing fatigue. It builds conditioning, stamina, and mental resilience under continuous effort. Goal: Sustained output under fatigue, fight-pace conditioning. AMRAP set a timer for 30–40 Minutes: 12 KB or DB Swings (or Hip Hinges if no equipment) 10 Push Ups (or incline / hand-release) 12 Step-Back Lunges (each leg 6/6; bodyweight or holding DBs) 8 1-Arm DB Rows each side (or bodyweight row under a table / band row) 20 seconds skipping or Shadow Boxing (fast hands, tight guard, snap punches) 30 seconds Rest Scalable: No equipment → glute bridge instead of swings, band row instead of DB row. Harder → increase swings to 15 and add a 20-second plank at the end of each round

C

Stretch

1 x 5:00

Saturday
Programme Test Week 1

Prep

A

Hard Body Code Preparation for Work Circuit

Start with 5-10 minutes on any cardio machine, start slow, get progressively faster but not sprinting until you start to sweat and feel your respiration start to increase. The goal is to raise your body temperature. RAMP Block B (Activation) Focus: engage key stabilizers before main lifts. Glute Bridge x10, Dead bug x10, Scapular Push-Up x10 Coach note: Move slowly and with control. The goal is engagement, not fatigue. RAMP Block C (Mobilization) Start from the bottom up. Lift one leg and gently roll your ankle joint in circles, alternating directions. Move to the knees, performing small, controlled circles in both directions. Rotate the hips slowly, opening the stance as needed to maintain balance. Roll the shoulders forward and backward with control, then finish with gentle neck rotations, keeping the movement smooth and within a comfortable range. Block D – Potentiation Focus: prepare for higher intensity and neural readiness. Example exercises: Jump Squat x5, Push-Up to Shoulder Tap x6, Lateral Bounds x5 each side Coach note: Perform explosively but stay relaxed. Quality of movement over volume.

B

Cardio

@ 60:00

Coach
coach-avatar Stephen Mooney

Founder & Head Coach at Hard Way Fitness, Army Reservist, Muay Thai Fighter, and father of two. With a background in financial services and military training. I blend elite strength & conditioning, tactical fitness, and mental resilience to push members beyond their limits. Passionate about discipline, challenge, and building an unbreakable mindset.

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Do it the Hard Way

Every Hard Way programme is tested under pressure by our coaches and clients before it’s released. This one is no different. If you bring the commitment, it will deliver the results.

Get Fight Strong for Marital Arts
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FAQs
Do I need martial arts experience?
No. The programme is built to support martial artists, but anyone can use it to build strength, conditioning and resilience. All movements are scalable and safe for every level.
Will this interfere with my martial arts classes?
No. Training days and intensity levels are structured to complement your sessions, not compete with them. You can fit the strength and conditioning work around any class schedule.
What if I have limited equipment?
Do what you can with what you have, where ever you are. You can easily swap out exercises on TrainHeroic, reach out to us if you need help and check the required equipment list.
How long do the sessions take?
Most strength sessions take 45 to 60 minutes and conditioning sessions can be done in 20 to 40 minutes. Everything fits easily around work and martial arts training.
Can I repeat the programme after 15 weeks?
Yes. The phased structure means you can repeat it to set new baselines, retest your performance and continue building strength and conditioning through another full cycle.
The Proof
verified-athlete-avatar Jose

Engineering Volunteer Firefighter/EMT

Verified Athlete

"Coming off the back of a power lifting programme, I completed a 12 week hypertrophy focused program by Hard Way Fitness custom made for me with my inputs/testing before we started. It was amazing for me, got me ready for volleyball season."

verified-athlete-avatar Daniel

Programmer/Developer

Verified Athlete

"Hard Way Fitness programmes and their team training are unique in that they blends really good training, with the experience of how to fit it into real working adult and parents busy days. The community aspect is phenomenal for accountability and keeping you compliant"

verified-athlete-avatar Susan

Rugby player

Verified Athlete

"Hardway Fitness has changed my training style to a much more efficient and better method. Using the TrainHeroic app made sessions very easy to follow and kept me accountable. I Would highly recommend Hardway Fitness for all levels of experience."

verified-athlete-avatar Eric

Air Force Pilot & Entrepreneur

Verified Athlete

"Maintaining fitness was difficult considering my desk job. The discipline and routine of this programme ensured I was fit and ready. Staying disciplined over the programme through me resilience and there is real accountability. it made showing up for training so much easier."

Fight Strong for Marital Arts