Hyperarch Fascia Training is Changing the Game

The advanced system is revolutionizing athletic training, and it’s even reshaping UFC.

There’s a bold new wave of athletic training and performance enhancement making its way into elite sports — and it’s changing how athletes train and condition their bodies. Hyperarch Fascia Training (HFT) is a novel methodology gaining recognition for its focus on strengthening connective tissues, particularly fascia, to enhance athletic capabilities.

This innovative approach is bringing big changes into the training regimes of professional athletes — and it has the potential to utterly redefine our understanding of physical fitness and body mechanics. Now this training system is making its way to the octagon with two-time UFC champion Zhang Weili as she prepares for UFC 300.

The Genesis of a Movement

Chong Xie is the founder of Hyperarch Fascia Training® System, and his extensive research into the unique foot structure of elite level athletes and how it affects the upstream fascia connection to the rest of the body, especially glutes and core.

It was through close examination of live EMG readings between elite and sub-elite athletes that led to the development of his Hyperarch Fascia Training® System, a sophisticated and holistic training methodology designed to optimize athletic performance, enhance injury reduction, and accelerate recovery processes. Xie’s system has been recognized for its unique ability to marry traditional athletic training to cutting-edge scientific findings, and it offers athletes a comprehensive solution to achieving peak performance while mitigating the risks of injury.

Fascia’s Role in Training

When being introduced to Xie’s exciting new training method, many clients’ first question is: what is fascia?

Fascia is a network of connective tissue that envelops muscles, bones, and organs, and it plays a key role in movement and force transmission. Traditional training methods have predominantly centered around muscle strength and size, often overlooking the crucial role of fascia. But recent advancements in sports science have illuminated the significance of fascia in athletic performance, injury risk, and recovery.

Xie’s HFT system diverges from conventional training techniques by emphasizing the strengthening of the fascial network and enhancing fascia connection to the glutes.

“My methodology is based on the idea that a robust and responsive fascial system can significantly improve movement efficiency, power generation, and stamina,” says Xie. “It also reduces the risk of injury when used properly.” His training focuses on activating the fascial connections throughout the body, particularly from the feet to the glutes, a concept that is often neglected in standard training regimes.

Techniques and Scientific Basis

The training involves a series of phases, each designed to progressively enhance the fascial system’s functionality. The initial phase concentrates on activating the fascia, helping athletes understand and feel the fascial connections in their bodies. This is followed by a phase that seeks to improve the quality and strength of the fascia, Previously it was thought that the gluteus maximus attached to the femur, but recent fascia research reveals that more than 80% of gluteus maximus muscles attach to the fascia lata and fascia inserts (PMID: 24139012). Integrating corrective exercises to address adhesions and knots with this consideration yields greater results.

The final phase focuses on integrating this enhanced fascial strength into specific athletic movements to ‘bulletproof’ the athlete’s biomechanics and improve overall performance.

The science behind HFT is rooted in understanding the biomechanics of the human body and the role of fascia in movement. The fascial system’s viscoelastic properties allow it to store and release kinetic energy efficiently, contributing to explosive movements essential in many sports. Training this system enhances these properties and can lead to improvements in speed, power, and endurance.

Zhang Weili’s Training for UFC 300

The highly anticipated UFC 300, the next big match in mixed martial arts, is scheduled to be held on April 13, 2024 at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the greater Las Vegas Metropolitan Area.

Zhang Weili is a Chinese professional mixed martial artist, actively competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Women’s Strawweight division, where she holds the prestigious title of the current and two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion. She trains with HFT — and she is a prime example of the method’s practical application in a high-stakes scenario.

The focus on fascia has reportedly contributed to improvements in her reaction speed, strength, and stamina, crucial factors in the demanding environment of a UFC fight. The training is designed to make Weili more fascia-driven, reducing her reliance on muscular endurance alone, thus enhancing her resistance to fatigue — a significant advantage in the ring.

During her last fight, Weili outlanded her opponent with 288 strikes to Amanda Lemos’ 21 — which marks the greatest strike differential ever recorded in UFC women’s history. “For UFC 300, we want to repeat this incredible performance,” shares Xie, who trained Weili for the Lemos fight.

Benefits Beyond Pro Sports

While the spotlight on Zhang Weili’s preparation for UFC 300 highlights the training’s effectiveness in professional sports, its benefits extend to athletes at all levels. Athletes who utilize Xie’s cutting-edge HFT system can achieve a more holistic and integrated form of strength that supports a wide range of movements and can lead to fewer injuries.

Hyperarch Fascia Training represents a paradigm shift in athletic training, moving beyond muscle-centric approaches to a more comprehensive understanding of the body’s kinetic chain. Its growing popularity has seen it adopted by more and more elite athletes in football (soccer) world wide and this signals a broader recognition of the importance of fascia in athletic performance.

Xie has built a company around the concept — and he predicts that as more athletes and Physiotherapists embrace this methodology, we can expect to see a continued evolution in training techniques. “This type of training can push the boundaries of human athletic potential,” he emphasizes. “We’re applying science and technology to understand the body better and train smarter. The results have been undeniable — and I am excited to see what the future holds.”

Learn more: https://www.secret-of-athleticism.com/