This week, I received an interesting question from Orson in Thailand about using HRV as a fighter.

After coaching fighters and analyzing performance data for over 15 years, I'll share something counterintuitive:

Some of your best training sessions might happen on days when your HRV scores suggest otherwise.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

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 Feel02:27 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

Further notes and resources at https://heatrick.com/2025/06/13/when-to-ignore-your-hrv-score-and-why/