CASES collaborates with International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA) for webinar

We’re delighted to announce our first major collaborative event with the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA), following the formal MoU partnership signed in 2025.

'Monitoring Training Load in Combat Sports: Implications for Training Design and Performance' is a free webinar where leading experts in Strength and Conditioning and Sport Science explore the implications of training load monitoring in combat sports, with key insights for programme design, performance, and athlete management across the sports science disciplines.

This webinar takes place on Wednesday 11 February at 7pm and will feature two of CASES' accredited and leading members - Dr Mitch Finlay MCASES is Chair of the Sports and Performance Division and Dr Chris Kirk FCASES, a CASES Fellow. Mitch and Chris will be joined by two strength and conditioning experts from combat sports - Denis Potter, MSc and Dr Amit Batra.

Dr Mitch Finlay MCASES

Mitch is a Senior Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics and Strength and Conditioning and a CASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist, currently serving as Deputy Chair. He has extensive experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach and Applied Sport Scientist with professional and amateur combat athletes. An active researcher, Mitch’s work includes exploring the biomechanics involved in boxing, and he aims to advance the understanding of the sports demands, and the training load and physical preparation of combat athletes.

Dr Chris Kirk FCASES

Chris is a CASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist, a CASES Fellow, and NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences. His research focuses on applying physiological first principles to enhance combat sports performance and athlete health across the lifespan. Chris’ novel PhD work on load monitoring in MMA has advanced the understanding of athlete preparation in the sport.

Denis Potter, MSc

Denis is an Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach working with GB Taekwondo. His current work focuses on understanding the demands of Taekwondo training and competition to better inform training design. Alongside his role with GB Taekwondo, Denis also provides strength and conditioning support to athletes across a range of other combat sports.

Dr Amit Batra

Amit is a sports physiologist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist working across multiple sports. He has vast experience in supporting athletes and currently works with Olympic athletes through the Polish Athletics Association. A former international-level Taekwondo competitor, Amit brings applied experience from both competition and practice, having also worked in Strength and Conditioning roles across several combat sports, including MMA.

You can register on the IUSCA website. 

CPD credits available via CASES