Dr Christopher Kirk PhD, FHEA, CSci, CSCS
Senior Lecturer of Sport and Exercise Physiology
Summary
I am a BASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist, NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, and active researcher. I teach exercise physiology and strength & conditioning on both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. I am Course Leader for the MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences, and the BASES Endorsed Laboratory Director. My research interests are in the application of physiological first principles to improving combat sports performance and athlete health across the lifespan, with my main focus being MMA.
About
I completed my BSc (Hons) here at Sheffield Hallam in 2003, my MSc (by 香蕉视频) at the University of Central Lancashire in 2014, and my PhD at Liverpool John Moores University in 2022.
I have been teaching and lecturing since 2006, first in a number of FE colleges and then at the University of Derby before joining 香蕉视频 in 2020. I use my breadth of experience to make the science of sport and exercise accessible and applicable for all our students to allow them to achieve their goals and pick their own futures.
In my applied practice I have provided S&C coaching and physiological interventions for a wide range of sports including rugby, American football, GAA, taekwondo, MMA, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, para-swimming, athletics and Olympic weightlifting. My practice includes novice athletes and international standard performers, but I approach each with the same goal - to utilise physiological first principles to improve their performance and health throughout their lives.
My research is focussed on the performance and health of combat sports athletes, with MMA being my main area of interest. I work closely with the International MMA Federation, the English MMA Association and I maintain strong links with gyms, coaches, promoters, governing bodies and research groups across the globe.
Teaching
School of Sport and Physical Activity
Courses
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science
MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science (Course Leader)
MSc Strength and Conditioning Coaching
Modules
香蕉视频:
Scientific Principles for Sport
香蕉视频 Project Supervisor
Postgraduate:
Professional Practice in Sport and Exercise Science
香蕉视频 Project Supervisor
香蕉视频
Measurement of training load and fatigue;
Training loads and training practices of combat sports and other sports;
Weight management and weight making in combat sports;
Performance outcome measures for sports;
Brain trauma occurrence and management in training environments.
The Physiological Society Representative for Sheffield Hallam
In my research and applied practice I work closely with the International MMA Federation, the English MMA Association and a range of high level combat sports clubs, coaches and athletes.
Publications
Journal articles
Batra, A., Finlay, M., & Kirk, C. (2025). Jump performance and field-based anaerobic capacity profiles of international standard amateur mixed martial arts athletes. Revista de Artes Marciales Asi谩ticas, 20 (1), 18-29.
Batra, A., Finlay, M., & Kirk, C. (2025). . Revista de Artes Marciales Asiaticas, 20 (1), 18-29.
Kirk, C., Cronin, C., Langan-Evans, C., Clark, D., & Morton, J. (2024). . International Sport Coaching Journal.
Lundberg, T.R., O鈥機onnor, M.I., Kirk, C., Pollock, N., & Brown, G.A. (2024). Comment on: 鈥淎 unique pseudo-eligibility analysis of longitudinal laboratory performance data from a transgender female competitive cyclist鈥. (Letter to the editor). Translational Exercise Biomedicine, 1 (3-4), 355-358.
Tucker, R., Hilton, E.N., McGawley, K., Pollock, N., Millet, G.P., Sandbakk, 脴., ... Lundberg, T.R. (2024). . Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 34 (11).
Kirk, C., Clark, D., & Langan-Evans, C. (2024). . Journal of Sports Sciences, 42 (22), 2093-2102.
Zhong, Y., Lakicevic, N., Drid, P., Gee, T., Tang, W., Sui, Y., ... Li, Y. (2024). . International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching.
Tucker, R., Hilton, E.N., McGawley, K., Pollock, N., Millet, G.P., Sandbakk, 脴., ... Lundberg, T.R. (2024). . Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 34 (8).
Weldon, A., Cloak, R., Kirk, C., Ruddock, A., Langan-Evans, C., Detanico, D., ... Kons, R. (2024). . Journal of Strength and Conditioning 香蕉视频, 38 (4), e160-e173.
Lundberg, T., Tucker, R., McGawley, K., Williams, A., Millet, G., Sandbakk, 脴., ... Hilton, E. (2024). . Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.
Kirk, C., & Stebbings, G. (2024). . Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Kirk, C., Langan-Evans, C., Clark, D.R., & Morton, J.P. (2023). . International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance.
Kirk, C. (2023). . 香蕉视频 Quarterly for Exercise and Sport.
Kirk, C., & Childs, C. (2023). . Vision, 7 (2).
Baribeau, V., Kirk, C., Le, D.Q., Bose, A., Mueller, A., French, D., ... Murugappan, K.R. (2023). . International journal of sports physiology and performance, 18 (1), 85-94.
Spanias, C., Kirk, C., & Ovretveit, K. (2022). . Revista de Artes Marciales Asi谩ticas, 17 (2), 130-139.
Kirk, C., Malone, J., & Angell, P. (2022). . Biology of Sport, 40 (2), 457-464.
Kirk, C., Langan-Evans, C., Clark, D.R., & Morton, J.P. (2021). . PLOS ONE, 16 (5).
White, T., & Kirk, C. (2021). . Nutrition and Health.
Kirk, C., Clark, D.R., Langan-Evans, C., & Morton, J.P. (2020). The physical demands of mixed martial arts: A narrative review using the ARMSS model to provide a hierarchy of evidence. Journal of sports sciences, 38 (24), 2819-2841.
Kirk, C., Langan-Evans, C., & Morton, J.P. (2020). Worth the Weight? Post Weigh-In Rapid Weight Gain is Not Related to Winning or Losing in Professional Mixed Martial Arts. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism, 30 (5), 357-361.
Kirk, C., Atkins, S., & Hurst, H.T. (2020). . Human Movement, 21 (4), 88-96.
Vasconcelos, B.B., Protzen, G.V., Galliano, L.M., Kirk, C., & Del Vecchio, F.B. (2020). Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training in Combat Sports: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 34 (3), 888-900.
Kirk, C. (2018). . Facta Universitatis, Series: Physical Education and Sport, 16 (1), 073.
Kirk, C. (2018). Human Movement, 19 (2), 46-59.
Kirk, C. (2016). Sport Science Review, 25 (5-6), 334-349.
Kirk, C. (2016). . Facta Universitatis Series : Physical Education and Sport, 14 (2), 227-236.
Kirk, C., Hurst, H., & Atkins, S. (2015). . Journal of Combat Sports and Martial Arts, 6 (1), 15-20.
Kirk, C., Hurst, H.T., & Atkins, S. (2015). Measuring the Workload of Mixed Martial Arts using Accelerometry, Time Motion Analysis and Lactate. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 15 (1), 359-370.
Stephen Atkins, H.T.H. (n.d.). Reliability of a Portable Accelerometer for Measuring Workload during Mixed Martial Arts. Journal of Athletic Enhancement, 03 (05).
Conference papers
Kirk, C., & Childs, C. (2023). A case study of automated pupillometry changes over a 48-hour period following mixed martial arts sparring (Oral presentation and abstract). In BASES Conference 2023, Coventry, 16 November 2023 - 17 November 2023.
Kirk, C., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Childs, C. (2023). Pilot Pupillometry Data Examining The Effects Of Mixed Martial Arts Sparring On Autonomic Brain Function. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 55 (9S), 489-490.
Kirk, C., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Childs, C. (2023). Pilot data of the effects of mixed martial arts sparring on autonomic brain function (Oral presentation and abstract). In ECSS Annual Congress 2023, Paris, 4 July 2023 - 7 July 2023.
Kirk, C., Langan-Evans, C., Clark, D., & Morton, J. (2022). Influence of cardiorespiratory fitness on performance in simulated mixed martial arts bouts (Poster and abstract) 鈥 Runner up for ECR Best Poster Presentation Award. In The Physiological Society: The Biomedical Basis of Elite Performance 2022, Nottingham, 12 April 2022 - 13 April 2022.
Kirk, C., Langan-Evans, C., Clark, D., & Morton, J. (2021). The relationships between external and internal training loads in mixed martial arts (Oral presentation and abstract) - Awarded BASES Conference Grant: Sport and Performance Division. In BASES Conference 2021, Online, 16 November 2021 - 18 November 2021.
Kirk, C., Langan-Evans, C., Clark, D., & Morton, J. (2021). Exploratory factor analysis of relationships between latent training load and overreaching variables in mixed martial arts (Poster and abstract). In The Physiological Society: Future Physiology 2021, Online, 19 April 2021 - 21 April 2021.
Kirk, C., Langan-Evans, C., Clark, D., & Morton, J. (2020). The perceived intensities and distribution of training modes in mixed martial arts (Poster and abstract). In UKSCA Conference 2020, Online.
Kirk, C., Langan-Evans, C., Clark, D., & Morton, J. (2020). The training characteristics, loads and effects of mixed martial arts (Oral presentation). In ACSM Combat Sport Special Interest Group Conference 2020, Online, 4 May 2020.
Kirk, C., Langan-Evans, C., Clark, D., & Morton, J. (2019). The relationship between training variables and sleep quality amongst mixed martial arts competitors (Poster and abstract). In The Physiological Society: Future Physiology 2019, Liverpool, 2019 - 2019.
Kirk, C., Clark, D., Langan-Evans, C., & Morton, J. (2019). An exploratory case study examining the training loads and effects of mixed martial arts competition preparation (Oral presentation and abstract). In BASES Conference 2019, Leicester, 19 November 2019 - 20 November 2019.
Kirk, C., Langan-Evans, C., Clark, D., & Morton, J. (2022). Body composition changes but no physiological adaptations following a mixed martial arts pre-competition training camp (Oral presentation and abstract). In BASES Conference 2022, Leicester, 15 November 2022 - 16 November 2022.
Other activities
- BASES The Sport and Exercise Scientist magazine Editorial Group member
- BASES Sport and Performance Division CPD Representative
- NSCA Combat Sport Special Interest Group Chair
- Academic Editor for PLOS One
- Scientific Committee for Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas (RAMA)
- Review Editor for Frontiers in Sport and Active Living
- Associate Editor for 香蕉视频 Directs in Strength and Performance
- Associate Editor for Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences
- External examiner for BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Central Lancashire
- External examiner for MSc Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Central Lancashire
- The Physiological Society Representative for Sheffield Hallam
Postgraduate supervision
Current 香蕉视频 Students
PhD Oct 2022 - Present (2nd supervisor) Tony Kerr: Measuring affect via facial cues during exercise
PhD Oct 2023 - Present (DoS) John Callan: Head accelerations and training load in elite amateur boxing
I am happy to meet with anyone interested in undertaking a PhD or an MPhil research degree in any of the areas of study listed in the 香蕉视频 section of this profile. Please see the links below for how to apply, and contact me directly to discuss:
PhD: /courses/sport-and-physical-activity/phd-sport-and-physical-activity/full-time
MPhil: /courses/sport-and-physical-activity/mphil-sport-and-physical-activity/full-time