Ben Patrick, aka Knees Over Toes Guy, and Derek Williams interview Nick and Jim from TFC about their approach to feet, footwear, and training. They explore the ATG system, the impact of footwear on foot function, promoting natural movement with cork devices and uncivilized shoes, restoring foot function, and embracing natural movement.
Empowering individuals to take charge of their own health is crucial for overall well-being.
Natural foot function is best achieved when the foot is allowed to be barefoot and unrestricted by unnatural footwear.
Prioritizing foot health can lead to improvements in overall movement, joint health, and can help resolve foot conditions and other related issues.
Deep dives
The Philosophy of TFC
The podcast episode features a discussion between the hosts of TFC, who believe that it is best to be in control of a situation and understand it rather than relying on external factors. They emphasize the importance of empowering individuals to take charge of their own health and well-being.
The Importance of Foot Function
The podcast highlights the significance of foot function and its impact on overall movement and health. They discuss the anatomy of the foot, emphasizing the 26 bones, 33 joints, and the necessity for the foot to adapt to various surfaces. They stress that natural foot function is best achieved when the foot is allowed to be barefoot and is not restricted by unnatural footwear.
The Four F's of Footwear
The hosts discuss the essential features to look for in footwear that promotes healthy foot function. They introduce the concept of the Four F's: foot-shaped, flat, flexible, and feel. They explain how shoes that mimic the natural shape of the foot, have an even sole height, are flexible, and have a thin sole can enhance foot health and function.
Starting the Foot Health Journey
The hosts encourage listeners to start their foot health journey by taking simple steps, such as going barefoot for short periods, gradually transitioning to natural footwear, and actively engaging in foot exercises like balancing and toe mobility. They highlight the importance of individual progress and starting with small actions that can have a significant impact on foot health over time.
The Benefits of Foot Health
The podcast episode addresses the benefits of prioritizing foot health, ranging from resolving foot conditions like plantar fasciitis and Morton's neuroma to improving overall movement and joint health. They emphasize the connection between foot function and the performance of other body parts, indicating that improving foot health can have a positive impact on knee, hip, and back issues.
This week is a special episode that was recorded on our recent trip to Clearwater in Florida where we hung out with Ben Patrick (aka Knees Over Toes Guy) and his team at the ATG headquarters. We had an epic time experiencing the ATG method firsthand, followed by recording this podcast and then running our Playshop there the next day.
This episode was actually recorded for the ATG podcast, so it’s essentially Ben Patrick and Derek Williams interviewing Nick and Jim all about our approach to feet, footwear and training so in that sense it’s a great overview of what we’re all about at TFC.
For anyone interested more in the ATG approach, we actually had Ben on our podcast a few years back, where he shares his story and approach to lower body training - obviously his personal focus is mostly on the knees due to his previous injury history but the ATG system is a really great holistic training methodology that can be amazing for lower body and whole body movement health so we definitely recommend checking out that episode as well as The ATG podcast itself and Ben’s YouTube channel The Knees Over Toes Guy if you’re keen to learn more - we also will be featured in a YouTube video on there over the next week or so, so you can stay tuned for that.