Tag: speed

Backside Mechanics, Psych Referral, and Hernias – Movement Debrief Episode 97

Movement Debrief Episode 97 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: What is the difference between backside and frontside mechanics in sprinting? Would backside mechanics help someone push off the ground better, thus making them faster? What tips do I recommend for coaching sprinting? How do I go about approaching someone who needs a psychology referral? When is the best time to bring up that a client would benefit from a psychology referral? What are hernias? What are some different types of hernias? What treatments are typically performed for a hernia? What conservative treatments are useful for hernias? How do I approach treating a hernia?

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Movement Analysis and Breathing Strategies for Pain Relief and Improved Performance

Chris, a high level mountain biker, at first didn’t believe someone could help him move better over the internet. He had back issues for a hot minute, what the heck was an online consult going to do? A couple consults later with me, and Chris is pain-free, back to doing all the wild and crazy things he was doing before without issues. Chris was so juiced up about his results that he wanted to learn more about my thought process and what I do that he had me on his podcast. Chris Kelly is the owner of Nourish Balance Thrive, a really cool site that brings several great practitioners together to help clients remotely with whatever their goals are. Despite Chris technically not being in the field, he’s one of the best interviewers I’ve had the pleasure of podcasting with. He asked some great, unique questions, and we got into a wide variety of topics. Here are some of topics we discussed on the podcast: Ben House and Flō Retreat Center in Costa Rica How I got into physical therapy. The influence of Bill Hartman. Working with NBA basketball players. The influence of Dr. Bryan Walsh. Sleep and performance How to treat pain Assessing movement Movement variability The online assessment process Pain vs. tissue damage How we improved the host’s chronic lower back pain The importance of the pelvic floor What is considered normal breathing How to promote behavior change in our clients Applying the principle of minimal effective dose

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The Training Tool Nobody is Talking About…

Note from Zac: There is a ton of BS out there when it comes to building speed, power, and all things performance. Is training in sand one of those instances? That’s where I enlisted someone who knows WAY more about sprinting and getting peeps fast—Hunter Charneski. Hunter is one of those guys who is always learning, always evolving, and the perfect guy to take an honest look at whether or not sand training can be a useful.  The answer may surprise you.

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Costa Rica Underground S&C 2018 Retreat Review

I recently had the opportunity to attend a strength and conditioning retreat hosted by none other than the legendary Ben House at his Flo Retreat Center. The retreat consisted of a morning filled with meditating, writing, thinking, and of course learning. Afternoons were time to bro down with fellow bros at the beach, on hikes, and exploring all the wonders that Costa Rica has to offer. The experience was life changing for me. Very rarely do I get a chance to be a part of a community like we had in Costa Rica, especially as a mercenary PT. I had the opportunity to learn from great people, share phenomenal moments, and make new friendships that I hope last a lifetime. If you want to get schmarter, meet amazing people, or simply get away from the riggers of a overconnected environment, I strongly encourage you to sign up for one of these retreats. I’m hoping to be there again next year. Without further adieu, if you want some knowledge bombs from the heavy hitters who were there, check out the review below.  

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You’re Hurt, Now What?

Getting hurt. It happens. Many times when it does, your mind will end up racing. What should I do? Should I go see a doctor? Do I just wait it out? What can I do to help me get back on my feet faster? Without a guide, these questions may seem impossible to answer. Until now. Check out today’s podcast and post that creates for you a standard operating procedure anytime an injury is sustained.

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The Derek Hansen Speed Seminar

It turns out the Hamptons isn’t just a place to live large. It’s also a place where great learning can take place. That is exactly what recently happened when me and my boizzz arranged a 1-day seminar with sprint coach extraordinaire, Derek Hansen. For those who don’t know, Derek is one of the best sprint coaches in Canada, and had spent 10 years learning from THE Charlie Francis. He is a wealth of knowledge in many areas, but the course focus was on all things sprinting, speed, acceleration, and periodization. The setup we arranged was very unique. We watched Derek coach three different athletes on sprint mechanics, and watching the man work was quite remarkable. His ability to find the right cue, verbiage, and drill to attain improved sprint mechanics was remarkable. He is definitely an artist at his craft. Point being, if you get a chance to hear the man speak, do so. You won’t regret it. Without further ado, here are the notes. [Note – I am not the best sprinter in the world, so bear with me on the videos]

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Course Notes: The Elite Speed Seminar

I just finished up the Elite Speed Seminar at what has become my home away from home, Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training. The presenters were Lee Taft and Nick Winkelman, and I learned a great deal in an area that I am weak in. Here are the notes and quotes. Multi-Directional Speed Tools That Make Change – Lee Taft Lee talked about 5 qualities to train that separate great from good athletes. Performing well under urgency, as sympathetic states change how we move. Reactivity – These are reacting to finite reactions, such as a gun going off in a sprint. Random reaction – This uses the stretch-shortening cycle more frequently by foot repositioning. Think a shortstop. Tactics – Reacting to fakes and deception. Mistake Recovery – Training to recover from worst case scenarios. Here were Lee’s recommendations for program design. Skill acquisition – The ability to control desired movements. This portion can be trained by either skill components (3-4 exercises), skill itself (1-3 exercises), or linking skills (shuffle to sprint). Force application – Performing the desired movement patterns with increased force or resistance. Random reactive training – Challenge movements under a random setting, but make sure the above 2 components are rock solid first. Here were Lee’s recommendations to progress to reactive training Acceleration → deceleration → Change of direction →One direction reaction → Multi-direction reaction. Some great cues that Lee used Stay in the tunnel. Arms long and strong. Tear the paper – Get in the athletic position, load the big toes, and try to rip

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