Just Fly Performance Podcast

Today’s podcast guest is Stefan Holm—Olympic gold medalist and one of the most elite high jumpers in history. Standing just 5’11”, he cleared over 140 bars at 2.30m or higher, won the 2004 Athens Olympics, and holds an indoor best of 2.40m (co-owning the “height jumped over head world record). Now a coach for Sweden’s national team, Holm brings deep insight into jumping training and performance at the highest level. On today’s episode, I ask Stefan about his early life as an athlete, and formative sporting experiences, along with the tree of coaching that led to his own training methods. Stefan covers his history with high jump variations, plyometrics, strength training, technique development, and much more on today’s show. As Stefan is now a coach, he also discusses his philosophy based on his time as a world-class competitor. This is not only a great show on training ideas, but also a great opportunity to study one of the best of all time in their given sport discipline. Today’s episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength and LILA Wearable Resistance Gear. Use the code “justfly25” for 25% off any Lila Exogen wearable resistance training, including the popular Exogen Calf Sleeves. For this offer, head to Lilateam.com View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) Timestamps 4:29- Stefan’s Early Training: Genetics, Childhood Sports, and High Jumping 15:21- Rituals in High Jump Training and Athletic Mastery 26:06- Strength Training and High Jump Performance 40:12- High Jump Training Methods, "Holm Hurdles," and Plyometrics 41:04- Emphasizing the Feeling of Flying in High Jump 52:36- Approach Dynamics in High Jump 1:01:17- Strength Training and Range of Motion Concepts 1:03:32- Gradual Plyometric Progression for High Jumpers Stefan Holm Quotes (2:50) "My dream was to be a professional soccer player." - Stefan Holm (3:00) "We played tennis, we played ice hockey, we tried track and field, we played football. Of course, we just played outside, trying to do everything." - Stefan Holm (6:50) "I think you can handle a lot, all of you, but I think you have to build it up year by year. I mean, doing these sort of plyometrics that I did at the age of 28, 30, I didn't start there." - Stefan Holm (9:23) "I started jumping for fun together with my best friend in his backyard when we were like six or seven years old. And we had to do the scissor kick because we had didn't have a mat to land on. We had to land on our feet." - Stefan Holm (24:45) "But then I starting lifting in the fall of 1995 when I was 19, one and a half years later, I jumped 230 for the first time. So I think that I, when I get used to it, the first six, seven months, that was rough because I, I got muscles that I couldn't control. I got so much stronger and slower and just felt heavy and everything. But after, I mean, six, seven, eight months, but I could get control of everything then. I really think that it, it helped me to jump higher and also to get stable on higher heights. I could do them more often." - Stefan Holm (27:01) "If I really, really, really wanted to jump a certain height, I jumped until I cleared it. For good and for bad." - Stefan Holm (37:20) "Whatever everybody sees is these viral clips, me jumping over like 170 hurdles or 150 hurdles or whatever there are. But I mean I. I started off on the usual lower hurdles. That's 107 their tops. And I was doing plenty of jumps as a kid and as a youth jumper as a junior. I didn't buy these high hurdles until I was 24." - Stefan Holm (41:10) "I had a session when I was jumping over hurdles, different kind of exercises, around 200 jumps in a session. I also did some, some bounding 60 meters. 24 times 16, 24 12. Left, right, left, right, left, right. And yeah, and then six times on your left leg, six times on your right leg. That was a very, very fun morning actually." - Stefan Holm

Today's podcast features Ty Terrell, Director of Strength and Conditioning for Oklahoma Men’s Basketball. Ty brings deep experience from the NBA, having led performance programs for the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks. He specializes in athlete development, performance testing, and biomechanics-driven return-to-play protocols. Ty has been mentored by Lee Taft and Bill Hartman, and has a unique fusion of abilities and methods in human performance. Typically, the goal of athletic performance training is based on increasing outputs, muscle size, and aerobic capacities. Less emphasis is given to athletic movement qualities, how the body creates space for motion, and the process of loading and releasing energy. In understanding both outputs and movement dynamics, a more comprehensive training experience can be provided. On today’s podcast, Ty speaks on optimizing the phases of athletic movement, particularly the “unloading” and reversal phases of squat and jump patterns that are often missed in training. He discusses the balance and interplay of movement-oriented training with strength and output capabilities. From a practical perspective, Ty gets into the nuts and bolts of unweighting methods, opening space in squat and hinge patterns, working absorption and propulsion with cables, step-up dynamics, and much more. Today’s episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength. Use the code “justfly25” for 25% off any Lila Exogen wearable resistance training, including the popular Exogen Calf Sleeves. For this offer, head to Lilateam.com View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) Timestamps 2:45- Holistic Athlete Development in College Sports 11:06- Organic Skill Development Through Free Play 19:04- Optimizing Movement Patterns for Athletic Success 20:06- Biomechanical Efficiency in Training Practices 29:52- Optimal Force Production for Athletic Enhancement 38:04- Optimizing The Phases of Athletic Movement for Vertical Jump Outcomes 47:44- Band-Assisted Unweighting for Muscle Recovery 53:54- Optimizing Movement Quality with Training Modifications 55:27- Optimizing Movement Quality Through Unweighting Methods 1:01:43- Efficient Transition Phases in Vertical Jumping 1:09:30- Cable Unweighting for Enhanced Movement Patterns 1:13:31- Cable Lifts and Step-Up Techniques Quotes (18:21) "I keep things very simple. I don't get far away from like, just the traditional movements. You have to be able to squat well enough." - Ty Terrell (22:40) "The unweighting phase creates the potential for the braking phase. The braking phase slingshots us into the propulsive or concentric phase." - Ty Terrell (23:15) "You need output, you need to be able to produce that quickly. But there are aspects of movement quality that will negatively impact your propulsive output. So you have to have both. And I think the biggest thing is to find is to define what is good enough in your situation." - Ty Terrell (40:12) "I think you're trying to get the most with the least. And the priority is to make them feel like they can go out and play. So it's more restorative." - Ty Terrell (44:48) "I kind of want that inflammatory process to occur in the off-season. So, you know, the adaptations and responses that come with that as opposed to the season, it's like we're trying to dampen those inflammatory responses so we can do something the next day." - Ty Terrell (49:00) "A big thing we do either at the beginning of the workout to learn movement or to learn how to move in a Low threshold way we do a kind of sandwich. Maybe we had a sprint day, maybe at an encore workout, then we're going to sandwich the day with, hey, like another like 10 minutes of low threshold work and unweighting, you know, so like front foot elevated split squats." - Ty Terrell (50:31) "You have to find a way to come back into that space a little bit or else you won't be able to acces...

Today's podcast features Tony Holler. Tony Holler is a veteran high school track and field coach, renowned for his "Feed the Cats" sprint training philosophy. With over 40 years of coaching experience in both track and football, Holler has become a leading voice in athlete-centered speed development. He is the head track coach at Plainfield North High School in Illinois, where his teams have consistently produced elite sprinters and state champions. He is also the co-founder of the Track Football Consortium, a popular coaching event that bridges the gap between sprint and team sport development. In a day where the methods are many, Tony Holler has created a training system where he keeps the simple things simple, but off-sets that simplicity with a variety filled “X-Factor” training day that runs like a power-oriented basketball practice in many ways. On today’s podcast, Tony speaks on his formative experiences as an athlete, young coach, and teacher that have led him to his current positions in coaching. Tony speaks extensively on his X-Factor workouts, inspiration from his dad’s basketball practices, and the keys to the variability in both plyometrics and wicket variations that define the training day. He also speaks on X-Factor paving the way for a simpler, competitive speed workout on the following day. Tony also touches on how the “feed the cats” methods have influenced the successful distance program at Plainfield North, along with many other nuggets of wisdom. Today’s episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength. Use the code “justfly25” for 25% off any Lila Exogen wearable resistance training, including the popular Exogen Calf Sleeves. For this offer, head to Lilateam.com View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) Timestamps 8:37- Competitive Coaching Styles in Track and Field 16:59- Fostering Passionate Learning Environments for Success 22:06- Sports Engagement and Flow for Long-term Passion 32:04- Color-Coded X Factor Athletic Training Program 43:54- X Factor Workouts for Recovery and Performance 50:29- Transitioning from Survival to Performance Mindset 59:49- Optimizing Sprint Performance Through Varied Techniques 1:02:08-Enhancing Speed with Varied Wickets in Training 1:08:16- Focused Timed Sprints for Effective Performance 1:12:30- Optimizing Coaching Practices for Large Groups 1:15:01- Intentional Training for Optimal Athletic Performance 1:22:07- Optimizing Cross Country Runs for Peak Performance Quotes: (4:45) “Baseball is not a hard sport, but they made baseball hard for us” - Tony Holler (5:50) “I grew up with this weird mix of Neil Young and General Patton” - Tony Holler (13:00) “There is no defense in track… it’s not a zero-sum game, which I love” - Tony Holler (20:30) “I think like and love come before excellence” - Tony Holler (32:10) “In basketball, my father would start practice with stations, and stations were things like we jump back and forth over a balance beam, and then we go forward, back and forth. And then the next station was jump rope, and the next station was lateral slides back and forth, touching the lane lines. And we do that kind of thing in X Factor because what I have found is that basketball players seem to be the healthiest, most durable track athletes.” - Tony Holler (35:30) “Our favorites are the extreme ISO lunge that we do not do for five minutes. We do it for more like a minute. You know, maybe we're not cooking the steak long enough. But this is very important. Always err on the side of less.” - Tony Holler (00:44:15) “I color code our speed workouts and our X factor workouts as yellow, which to me means caution. And that caution is don't let today ruin tomorrow. Almost always the day after an X factor workout is a sprint workout for us” - Tony Holler (47:40) “Speed is repetitive. X factor is very much flex” - Tony Holler

Mike Robertson, co-owner of IFAST and host of the Physical Preparation Podcast, dives into the balance of braking and propulsion vital for athletic performance. With over 20 years of coaching experience, he shares insights on optimizing movement patterns, particularly for off-season athletes. The discussion covers the evolution of training philosophies, blending strength with functional mobility, and practical strategies for enhancing recovery. Mike also reflects on the joy of coaching youth sports and the lessons learned from nurturing young talent.

Today's podcast features Matt Aldred. Matt is the head strength and conditioning coach for basketball at the University of Michigan. He has international expertise and a diverse background in sports he has worked with through his previous stops in NCAA strength and conditioning. In addition to his strength and conditioning experience, he is certified in fascial abrasion technique and Frederick stretch therapy, in addition to a sports massage background. Matt has also co-authored the Fascial Mechanics for Sport course alongside Danny Foley. In building a performance program, it must ultimately be centered around the needs of the athlete. Athletes need to be as ready as possible on game day. Some athletes need more mass and physical strength. Others need more conditioning and body composition management. Others need more fluid and adaptive movement capabilities. Many athletes enjoy and benefit from providing their input into the program. These facets of performance make athletic development more dynamic than just “get them strong and I did my job”. On today’s podcast, Matt talks about many aspects of building an athlete-centered program, highlighting training the spectrum of muscular strength and tissue quality, over to dynamic, high-velocity training with a priority on athletic qualities. He also speaks on training variability (such as “every rep different”), multi-planar training, basketball game demands, athlete autonomy, wearable resistance training, and much more. This show puts many pieces into place of a comprehensive approach to athletic development, encompassing so many facets of improvement in the field. Today’s episode is brought to you by TeamBuildr’s GymStudio. For a Gym Studio 14-day free trial, head to gymstudio.com Use the code “justfly25” for 25% off any Lila Exogen wearable resistance training, including the popular Exogen Calf Sleeves. For this offer, head to: Lilateam.com View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) Main Points 3:41- Functional Training for Athletic Performance Enhancement 7:34- Peak Performance Training for Athletes 12:49- Position-Based Athletic Programming for Optimal Performance 18:14- Enhancing Athletic Performance Through Varied Training 22:39- Position-Specific Basketball Training Programs 25:04- Game-Specific Training for Peak Performance 27:25- Dynamic Training Approaches for Athletic Performance 37:11- Strategic Micro-Dosing for Athlete Performance Optimization 46:00- Sticking to Basic Exercises for Effective Training 47:46- Enhancing Athletes' Adaptability Through Varied Workouts 49:33- Tailored Training Zones for Athletes in Weight Room 51:13- Optimizing Player Performance Through Varied Training 55:28- Amorpho Gear Enhancing Basketball Performance Sessions 1:08:25- Functional Movement Training with Light Weights 1:14:54- Functional Movement Training for Athletic Performance Quotes (00:07:34) "The game is so intense and it's so movement-based. We have to replicate that in the weight room. We can't just be weight and warriors because we've all had that athlete that's super strong and looks amazing. And I'm looking at the opposition team in a warm up going, who is that!? And then they don't play." - Matt Aldred (00:13:50) "The longer I've done this, the more I really lean into an athlete's intuition." - Matt Aldred (00:20:40) "There are certain exercises like a chin-up we're probably going to want to go full range of motion. I want you to hold at the top with Tempo down. But if we're doing a horizontal row, man, I can be elbow wide. I can be really quick reps. I can hold at the top. I can do a split stance with an anchor on a Kaiser pull-down. We can make that horizontal roll whatever we want to do." - Matt Aldred (00:24:29) "I don't think that we put the athlete in the box like no man, like whatever you are, I'll program towards that." - Matt Aldred

In a captivating discussion, Bob Thurnhoffer, the Assistant Track & Field Coach at the University of Louisville, shares his wealth of knowledge accumulated over nearly two decades of coaching. He reveals innovative training methods for speed and power, including plyometric concepts and the significance of general strength. Bob recounts his creative adaptations during resource limitations and emphasizes individualized approaches for young athletes. This insightful conversation sheds light on the evolution of strength training while exploring the balance between intensity and recovery.

Austin Einhorn, a renowned movement specialist and founder of APIros Performance, dives into innovative athlete training and injury prevention techniques. He discusses crucial topics such as hip extension and its muscle complexities, optimizing shoulder mechanics for performance, and the importance of variability in strength training. Austin highlights the significance of clear mental focus in athletic training and challenges conventional approaches, advocating for unique movement patterns and coordination strategies that build resilient athletes capable of high performance.

Laurent Meuwly, the Head Coach for sprints in the Netherlands, discusses his innovative training approaches developed from his experiences with world-class athletes. He dives into the importance of individual muscle assessments and tailored strength exercises for sprinters. Unique concepts like 'Flyers vs. Diesels' provide insight into athletic archetypes, while advanced techniques like overspeed training and cluster methodologies enhance speed and performance. Laurent emphasizes creating a relay-based culture and a supportive training environment to build elite sprinters.

In this engaging discussion, Anthony Cockrill, Director of Volleyball Sports Performance at SMU, dives into the intricacies of explosive strength development. He unpacks the importance of eccentric training and discusses various squat techniques like the Zurcher squat. Anthony highlights how individualized programs can maximize athletic performance, touching on the role of shoulder mobility and the integration of plyometrics. His insights are rooted in real-world application, making it a treasure trove for coaches and athletes alike.

Bren Veziroglu, a movement educator known for blending science with personal exploration, discusses transformative training methodologies. He emphasizes the importance of dynamic, movement-rich environments for skill acquisition versus rigid drills. Bren shares insights on integrating traditional strength with innovative mobility approaches and partner-based exercises. He also highlights the value of adapting training to include playful elements, enhancing engagement and fostering more effective athletic performance.