Physical Preparation Podcast Archives - Robertson Training Systems

In this engaging discussion, mental performance practitioner Brady Howe clarifies the roles of different mental health professionals. Jump coach Joel Smith shares innovative jump training techniques, emphasizing varied drills and arm mechanics. Nutrition expert Christina Chu critiques trendy supplements, urging listeners to save their money. Exercise scientist Jim Stoppani talks caffeine and effective performance nutrients, while coach Ken Vick explores eccentric training methods. Finally, Dr. John Rusin distinguishes credentialed coaches from influencers, advocating for real-world experience in coaching.

Dan Lorenz, Director of Sports Medicine at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, explores the intricacies of ACL rehabilitation and return-to-play strategies. He emphasizes the importance of pre-operative care to reduce inflammation and improve outcomes. Dan discusses the psychological aspects of recovery, the necessity of trust in the rehab process, and how open communication between therapists and coaches can enhance recovery. He also highlights the role of blood flow restriction training and the risk factors for re-tearing. Dan's insightful advice urges patience for long-term success.

Explore essential tips for coaches aiming to enhance their happiness and success. Discover the importance of lifestyle design and living beneath your means. Learn how to craft a fulfilling career while prioritizing personal life. Uncover the value of fostering a supportive coaching inner circle and the necessity of practicing self-care. Find out why it’s beneficial to outsource certain wellness tasks and how to master recovery techniques. Finally, reflect on the positive impact you have on your clients every day.

In this engaging discussion, veteran coach Dave Gleason shares insights from over 30 years in youth strength and conditioning. He highlights the challenges young athletes face today, including rising injury rates and the pressures of early specialization. Dave emphasizes the importance of recovery, fostering a positive relationship with fitness, and the need for holistic development. He also offers practical advice for parents and coaches to help athletes navigate their journeys, stressing that connection and individualized care are paramount in training.

Eamonn Flanagan, Lead Strength & Conditioning Consultant at the Sport Ireland Institute, shares his expertise on jump and plyometric training for athletes. He dives into the distinctions between different strength qualities and training methods. Eamonn discusses the significance of eccentric impulse in performance, the valuable role of countermovement jumps, and how to assess athletes effectively. He also provides practical advice on programming plyometrics and adapting training based on individual athlete characteristics and recovery.

Whether it’s writing hundreds of articles for websites like T-Nation… …creating books SO LONG the editors cut you off at 576 pages… …or educating over 20,000 fitness professionals, there’s only one word I can use to describe today’s guest… …prolific. Dr. John Rusin is an internationally recognized strength coach, physical therapist, and injury-prevention expert with nearly two decades of elite-level experience training MLB All-Stars, NFL All-Pros, Olympic gold medalists, and world-record-holding powerlifters. Named a “Top 50 Health & Fitness Expert” by Men’s Health, he has pioneered a health-first, pain-free approach to performance that has transformed athletes and everyday clients alike. And today we’re going to take a deep dive into helping YOU optimize your training!   Quotable Quotes: The key ticket to you being successful as a coach is your clients and your athletes being healthy —– If you can create content that helps 80% of people, 80% of the time, you’re absolutely killing it out there —– We are the summation of all of our life’s experiences and our careers experiences   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: John’s background, and how he got started in the physical prep space. The importance of maintaining health and longevity in fitness training. How to shift from a “no pain, no gain” mentality to a balanced, pain-free performance approach. The negative impact of social media on fitness education, and the need for credible (and actionable!) information. Why many of us have evolved our training philosophies and – ultimately – become more well-rounded in our approach How John’s personal approach to fitness has evolved over the years (i.e. how he still stays in phenomenal shape!) A really important question: Can you train every day without crushing yourself? Or burning yourself out? Why every coach should value continuous learning, and why we MUST adapt our training methods over time. And last but not least, should men actually train more like women?!?!?!     Connect with Dr. John Rusin: Pain-Free Performance Book Dr. Rusin on Instagram Dr. Rusin’s Website   Related Links: John Rusin on Authentic Movement, Injuries and Pain-Free Performance   Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic! Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel? Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes? If so, you need to check out Train Heroic. I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none. To learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic. Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that. So don’t wait any longer – head over trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!   Subscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post John Rusin on Workout Frequency, Physical Qualities, and Minimum Effective Dose Training appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Today – my friend – we’re going to touch on ALL the hot button topics. For instance, are we potentially missing the mark with our eccentric-focused training? Putting an over-emphasis on extensive jump training? Or maybe, just trying to figure out where the heck do deep tier plyos fit into the equation? Ken Vick is the President and Global High-Performance Director of Velocity Sports Performance, and someone I know is ALWAYS thinking about training and how to optimize it. And in today’s episode we’ll cover all those topics – and so many more!   Quotable Quotes: Eccentric actions in sport are the most important in my view. They can give an athlete an advantage or they can cause damage —– You just put a huge engine in without any brakes. If you’re not training through eccentric actions, you’re missing the brakes —– Watch sports looking at it as a movement specialist. What are the movement patterns and what are the muscle actions that go along with that?   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Ken’s journey from Olympic weightlifting and track coach to high-performance director. The Shocks/Springs model, and how they relate to human movement. Are slow, controlled eccentric exercises with light weights giving us the training adaptations we want? The value of understanding the force/velocity curve – and never getting too caught up on one side of it! How Ken uses medicine balls in his training programs. Why it’s so important to watch sports as a movement specialist – and not as a casual fan of the game! What role should isometrics play in training? And especially with regards to tendon loading programs? Ken’s thoughts on both extensive pogos and deep-tier plyos, including where they might fit into your program. Final thoughts on building frameworks, systems, and why every coach should work with (or at least watch!) sports they don’t coach.     Connect with Ken: Ken Vick on Instagram Ken Vick on Twitter   Related Links: Ken Vick on Sharing, Speed Development and Being a Radical Centrist   Supercharge Your Decision-Making and Program Design with Hawkin Dynamics Force Plates! Hawkin Dynamics designs and builds performance hardware and software the right way. Their dual wireless force plates give you the most accurate, real-time data on athletic performance. You’ll have the ability to performance test your athletes in a matter of seconds, and give them immediate feedback on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for that day’s training session. Their software is designed in house and continually updated to ensure the interface is clean, intuitive and easy to use, so both you and your athletes can visualize what’s going on and how to improve their performance. And Hawkin Dynamics is built around their customers and provide industry-leading support and training services to ensure you get the most out of their solutions. With options to lease or buy, coupled with a 5-year warranty, Hawkin Dynamics force plates can take your performance facility to the next level. To learn more, head over to HawkinDynamics.com or follow them on Instagram @HawinDynamics.   Subscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post Ken Vick on Extensive Pogos, Deep Tier Plyos and Building Real Eccentric Strength appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Supplements are such a hot topic these days, I just had to do another show on them. For instance, many of us need a little pick-me-up before we train – but are the pre-workout mixes on the market any good? Creatine is obviously a hot topic as well, especially with regards to muscle building and now cognition. But how much do you REALLY need to take to see the benefits? And last but not least GLP-1’s are all the rage in the weight loss community. But are they something YOU should be considering? Well luckily for us, we’ve got a world-renowned expert to help us answer these questions! Dr. Jim Stoppani is a Yale-educated PhD who has devoted his life to studying exercise, nutrition, and supplements. And in this episode, we’re going to take a deep dive into the world of supplements!   Quotable Quotes: I’m a firm believer in creatine enhancing your cognitive performance as well as the muscle performance —– If you’re not used to caffeine and you take a 500 mg dose, it’s going to ruin your day. —– You should be expecting something that’s going to enhance your performance, not how you feel   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Dr. Jim Stoppani’s background in exercise physiology, strength training, and how he got started working for Weider Publications Why he’s so obsessed with understanding strength training and bodybuilding all the way down to the molecular level Pre-workout supplements: What should you be looking for? And what should you avoid? His thoughts on creatine for both building muscle AND cognitive performance. How he feels like programming should evolve as you age, and some insights into what he does with his own workouts GLP-1’s – are they worth all the hype? And should we change our viewpoint on the role they play in weight loss and long-term health? Why social media is so hard to navigate, and his thoughts on finding credible fitness information amongst all the noise     Connect with Dr. Jim: Website Instagram X/Twitter YouTube   Related Links: My Fit Pal Cronometer Dr. Jim Stoppani on Science-Backed Training and Nutrition for Fat Loss   Get Cost-Effective Yet AWESOME Cable Training with Ancore! Do you own a small, boutique gym or training facility? OR are you looking to outfit your home gym with an awesome cable machine at a fraction of the usual price? If so, you need to check out Ancore! Trusted by over 100 pro teams across Major League Baseball, the NBA and NHL, Ancore provides true cable resistance in a portable format. I love Ancore because it takes up zero space in my gym, yet still feels like a real cable machine – all at a fraction of the price. Ancore is used in over 10,000 facilities world wide, and backed by over 240 5-Star reviews. Quite simply, fitness pros like myself trust Ancore – and you should, too. To get started with Ancore, head over to AncoreTraining.com here and use the code RTS to save $60 on your next purchase.   Subscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post Dr. Jim Stoppani on Pre-Workouts, Creatine for Cognition, and Navigating the World of Supplements appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

One thing I’m always leery of are fitness industry buzzwords. For instance when people start talking about cleanses, detoxes, or fitness “challenges” I’m immediately skeptical. And in that same vein, you here all kinds of people today talking about gym culture. But what does that really MEAN? Can you truly create a gym culture? And if so, what are some ways you can ensure that your gym’s culture is truly elite? Well if you’re curious about this, then you’re going to LOVE today’s episode with my good friend Andy McCloy! Andy McCloy is a renowned strength and conditioning coach, entrepreneur, and fitness innovator based out of Madison, Alabama, and is best known as the founder and head coach of Body Creations Inc. He’s also recently joined forces with Luka Hocevar to create the Built to Last gym mentorship, and in this show, we’re going to talk about what it really takes to develop world-class coaches and an elite gym culture!   Quotable Quotes: Culture eats strategy for breakfast. —– Find the right people and put them in the right seat —– You have to have a baseline level of competence at a ton of skills before you start becoming just the owner of a gym.   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Why “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” The power of investing in your staff, and then letting them develop organically over time Why “Kaizen” is a key mantra in Andy’s personal and professional growth Hiring Coaches: Why there’s more to it than just the X’s and O’s of coaching How gym culture adapts and evolves over the years The value of mentorship, and why ongoing education is critical for ALL team members Why every coach should have a growth mindset and be open to learning new skills beyond coaching How to onboard your staff to ensure alignment and integration with company culture and goals The power of having a strong vision and values in your hiring process Final advice for gym owners to build and maintain a strong gym culture for years to come!     Connect with Andy: Andy McCloy on Instagram BCI on IG Build to Last Gym Mentorship   Related Links: ALL of Andy’s Podcast Episodes HERE!   Grow Your Fitness Business or Gym with Push Press! Gym owners and coaches, have you heard about PushPress? It’s the best gym management software company and it’s revolutionizing the fitness world. So check this out: PushPress is built BY gym owners. They understand the ins and outs of running a fitness business because they’re “in the trenches” in their own gyms every single day. Key products like Core, Grow, and Train are designed to help you with everything from billing and scheduling to lead generation and progress tracking. Built on the “help first” ethos, PushPress places an exceptional focus on prioritizing client needs, listening to feedback from their community, and using it as the impetus for its ever-evolving, innovative features. And here’s the strongest plug I can give them – I’ve actually switched to PushPress for all of my clients and athletes. Getting things set-up and running smoothly is not only easier, but also far more intuitive than many other solutions. So if you’re interested in learning more, just head over to pushpress.com/ppp.   Subscribe, Rate & Share Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post Andy McCloy on Kaizen Coaches and Building an ELITE Gym Culture appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.

Are you curious about supplements like creatine or electrolytes? When you should consider taking them? Or maybe wondering what supplements are more hype than actual help? If so, you’re going to love this week’s podcast with Christina Chu! Christina is a Boston-based sports dietitian and CEO of Christina Chu Nutrition LLC. She supports athletes from youth baseball to professional combat athletes through individual nutrition counseling and team talks. And today, we’re going to take a deep dive into supplements, and what YOU should consider taking – as well as what you NEED to save your money on!   Quotable Quotes: Supplements are supplemental to your diet. It’s quite literally in the name, in case you ever forget. —– It’s what’s on the inside that matters, not the outside. So the branding could look really pretty, but it’s the quality of the products that matters the most. —– You can’t out supplement a bad diet no matter what.   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: Why supplements should complement a well-rounded diet, not replace it. The key components or big rocks of what Christina considers a “balanced” diet. How a lack of regulation can make for some crazy claims, and why third-party testing of supplements is so critical. The power of creatine for both muscle building AND cognition. Why Omega-3’s aren’t sexy, but still incredibly helpful and protective to the body. Caffeine: How much is enough? And how do you optimize both timing AND dosage? Christina’s list of supplements that are probably more hype than actual help. Thoughts on consistency and long-term success with any nutrition or supplementation program. The evolving research in sports nutrition, and why there’s never any shortage of topics to dive into!     Connect with Christina: Christina’s Website Christina Chu on Instagram Christina’s Patreon Christina Chu on Building the Performance Plate and Fueling for Athletic Performance Christina’s Sports Nutrition Matrix on IG   Related Links:   Level Up Your Program Design with Train Heroic! Are you tired of using clunky, antiquated program design tools like Microsoft Word or Excel? Are you ready to level up your programming, and make it far more engaging to your clients and athletes? If so, you need to check out Train Heroic. I’ve been using TrainHeroic for years now both here at RTS and at IFAST, and I can tell you the user experience both as an athlete and coach is truly second to none. To learn more and start your free 14-day trial, just follow this link to learn more about Train Heroic. Not only will you get your first 14 days free, but it’s just $10/month to get started officially after that. So don’t wait any longer – head over trainheroic.co/rts and start crafting beautiful programs your clients and athletes will love TODAY!   Subscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Physical Preparation Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts and leave your honest review. I’d also love to connect via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit our website. Thanks so much for your support – love and appreciate you! The post Christina Chu on Creatine, Electrolytes, and the Essential Role of Nutrition in Performance appeared first on Robertson Training Systems.