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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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."
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"
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."
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."