Sheridan Smith is using combat training to prepare for Two Birds. At 45, she has been working through kicks, balance and core work that supports fight sequences as well as her overall fitness.
Maisie Carter has worked with her for the last few months, and she says the early hurdle was simple: Smith “wasn’t a massive fan of kicks in the beginning.” Carter added that kicks are difficult at first because they demand balance before power, and that Smith quickly pushed through once she committed.
Maisie Carter on balance
Carter’s most practical note is the kind readers can use immediately. She recommends standing on one foot, then rising onto the toes and lowering back down, or simply standing on one leg while brushing teeth or waiting for the kettle to boil.
The drill is basic, but it fits the mechanics of the training she describes: balance first, then flexibility, then power. Carter says combat work uses the whole body, with the deep core doing much of the stabilizing, and that the same movements can improve strength, cardio, coordination and brain activity.
Three kicks, one system
Carter identifies three foundational kicks in the work Smith has been doing: the front kick, the turning kick and the side kick. Each one asks for the same sequence of control before force, which is why a clean stance and steady base come before speed.
That is the part most people skip. Smith was not sold on kicks at first, but Carter describes her as a powerhouse once she has decided to master something, and the training appears to have shifted from awkward repetition to a bodywide routine built around core engagement and conditioning.
For readers, the useful takeaway is not the show itself but the method: one-foot balance, repeated often, while doing something ordinary. If Two Birds is the destination, the workout is the road there — and it is built from moves that do not require a gym to start.
