

The Adaptable Athlete Podcast
Javier Miller-Estrada
The Adaptable Athlete Podcast is a podcast for coaches and practitioners who want to learn more about modern approached to sport movement and skill acquisition; and who ultimately, want to help to their athletes become more adaptable. Host, Javi Miller-Estrada engages in discussions with some of the absolute best sport coaches, trainers, and practitioners in the world. Coaches who are truly pushing the industry forward.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 3, 2022 • 50min
The Power of Blood Flow Restriction Training w/ Ben Kelto
Send us a textFor today’s episode, my guest is Ben Kelto!Ben is a physical therapist, and clinical director of Spooner Physical Therapy in Chandler, AZ Ben is originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and has a strong background in athletics. As a former college wrestler, Ben has a unique understanding of what it takes to get an athlete from the table to back out on the field.One of the things I like about Ben is that he employs a pragmatic approach towards therapy utilizing a wide variety of evidence inventions So he’s not married to one specific single technique.I’ve seen him first hand, utilize methods that are outside of the box but all w/ the aim of helping his patients achieve their goals.In today’s episode, Ben and center much of of our conversation around BFR or blood flow restriction training, which is a technique that becoming increasingly popular in the physical therapy space and even bleeding into the performance space as well. Traditionally BFR has been used for post op patients but Ben utilizes it in some unique ways, which we discuss We also discuss topics such as:The gaps in return to play protocols Addressing patients from a holistic point of view Therapist to strength coach communication The origins of BFRHow BFR can be implemented Some BFR benefits And of course, so much more!If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Spooner's Website Ben's Email: b.kelto@spoonerpt.com BFR Research paper 1BFR Research paper 2BFR Research paper 3Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Feb 17, 2022 • 59min
An Ecological Approach to Volleyball Practice Design w/ Mike Gee
Send us a textWelcome to Athlete Blueprint Podcast!...For today's episode, I'm joined by coach Mike Gee (@coachmikegee).Mike is a volleyball coach and currently serves as Director of Volleyball at North Pacific Juniors VBC, a premier volleyball club based in Oregon and Washington. Prior to that, he coached on the division 1 volleyball level for several yearsIn 2003 he told his mother that he wouldn’t be coaching volleyball for the rest of his life. Today, he’s still at it. These days, Mike Gee spends countless hours a week studying the research literature on skill acquisition in sport, and, unlike traditional coaches, he uses an ecological dynamics approach to coaching volleyball.In addition to being active on social media, under the name coachmikegee ,thats mike gee he also runs a youtube channel under the same name, which I will link to in the show notes.I really enjoyed this conversation w/ Mike. . As mentioned earlier he takes a non traditional and non linear approach to volleyball coaching, which we get into during the episode. We get into everything from implicit vs explicit instruction in volleyball, to coaching in context, to scaling of information, to some practical applications for volleyball coaches out there. Essentially We really take a deep dive in to coach during this episode!At Ignite, we work with a lot of volleyball players, so I really enjoyed talking w/ Mike...I hope you guys enjoy!If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Mike's Twitter Mike's Instagram Mike's YoutubeMikes email: coachhmikegee@gmail.comNorth Pacific Juniors VBC WebsiteCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Feb 10, 2022 • 48min
The Truth About Creatine w/ Korey Van Wyk
Send us a textWelcome to the athlete blueprint podcast!For todays episode, I’m joined by Korey Van Wyk (@KoreyVanWyk)Korey is an educator and sports performance coach who has spent the last decade of his career bridging the gap between science and practice. As a former professor of kinesiology and collegiate strength coach, he spent every day connecting the classroom and the weight room. Now as an acquisitions editor for Human Kinetics, he helps create world-class educational products for trainers and coaches. One unique thing about Korey is the diversity of his career, which spans from college strength coach at northwest college in Iowa, to working directly w/ Brett Bartholemew’s company The Art of Coaching, to his current position w/ Human KineticsKorey really has his pulse on the industry. Through this he now provides educational content for coaches. In essence Korey coaches coaches.Korey recently released a a mini course on creatine. Which is what much of our conversation centers on today…we also discuss:what concepts new coaches tend to struggle with Creatine and it’s use for adolescent athletesCreatine and it’s effectiveness on sprint performance Creatine and it’s use for female athletesAnd of course we cover so much more!Creatine is a largely misunderstood supplement and I wanted to bring Korey on to set the record straight...Enjoy the show!If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Korey's Twitter Korey's Instagram Korey's Website Korey's LinkedInAccess to Creatine Mini Course (PLAE Academy Website) Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Jan 27, 2022 • 1h 4min
Training The Human Movement System w/ Zach Elder
Send us a textWelcome to the Athlete Blueprint Podcast!For today’s episode, I’m joined my Zach Elder!Zach is currently the direction of strength and conditioning, and athletic skill acquisition at Mac strength a private baseball training facility in Edina Minnesota.As a Minnesota native, Zach played everything from basketball, baseball, basketball, football, Tae Kwon Do, and anything else he could get involved in. Zach went on to play Division 2 baseball at Saint Leo University in Tampa, Florida, where he graduated w/ a degree in sports business..He then went on to finish his career at Concordia University, Saint Paul, where he would obtain his MS in Exercise Science and his CSCS.Before MacStrength, Zach was an assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Concordia, St. Paul, working with Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, and Baseball. In addition to being an expert in baseball performance training, Zach has also consulted with ECHL, USHL, and Euro league Hockey players since 2018. Zach works with athletes of all ages, from 8 to 28, helping them optimize and develop their bodies for high performance. One of the reasons I wanted to have Zach on his because oh his unique approach to strength training and that we share a similar love for long term athletic development, not to mention he’s just funny dude.In our conversation we discuss The effect of negative self talk for athletes How being a “washed up athlete” has changed Zach’s perspective for the better How coaches should prepare their athletes for life after sportsHow Zach Train’s the human movement system in his unique approach to strength Zach’s approach to join integrity for the hip and shoulderHow an athlete being “coachable” may not always be a great thingIf you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Zach's Twitter Zach's Instagram Mac Strenth Website Mac Strength InstagramCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Jan 20, 2022 • 41min
The Movement Revolution w/ Rob Gray
Send us a textFor today's episode, I'm joined by Dr. Rob Gray (@ShakeyWaits)!!Rob is an associate professor of human systems engineering at Arizona state University and is the host of the wild popular podcast The Perception and Action Podcast. His podcast which he has hosted since 2015 and includes over 380 episodes focuses on taking the latest and greatest research in the field of movement sciences and distilling those high level topics down into digestible concepts so that coaches and practitioners can apply in their setting .Rob is also an accomplished researcher in the field of movement sciences and Recently released a book called How We Learned to Move: A Revolution in the Way We coach & Practice Sports Skills, which I can attest to Is an excellent read and is actually sitting in my book shelf right now!We discuss some of the concepts of the book but we also discuss:How human’s inherently crave variability How practice should not always be perfect and repeatable and that learning is messy How variability can help w/ injury prevention And some practical advice for coaches in setting up these principles in their own practice For me this was an episode I was looking forward to a ton!…A wise mentor once told me to “Stand on the shoulders of Giants” and for me Rob is one of those giants.If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Rob's Podcast website Rob's Twitter Rob's Book Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Jan 6, 2022 • 35min
How to Become an Elite DB in American Football w/ Preston Hale
Send us a textFor this episode, I am joined by Preston Hale! (p_hale3)Preston is a performance coach and DB coach, who also happens to be my business partner over at Ignite Performance! Preston works w/ high level defensive backs from high school and to the elite pro level. He is one of the absolute best DB coaches in the country...I get to be w/ Preston everyday, so I'm excited to bring his vast knowledge to you guys! Preston does an amazing job of taking game concepts and distilling them into a practice setting that way his athletes are the. most prepared on the field. In our conversation we discuss:Preston's background What makes up a truly elite DBHow you can make typical DB drills like the "W" drill and make them more game like Preston's unique way of watching film and how he incorporates his athlete's perspective while doing itOf course, we cover so much more!If you like today's episode, leave a review here....If you want to reach me directly, contact me on social media or shoot me @javier@igniteperformance.netEpisode Resources:Preston's Instagram Preston's Facebook Ignite Performance (our facility) Website Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Dec 30, 2021 • 46min
Basketball Skill Acquisition and Development w/ Adam Omiecinski
Send us a textFor today’s episode, I’m joined by Adam Omiecinski!Adam is a Basketball Coach from Upstate NY who focuses on Player Development. He is currently coaching as an assistant at SUNY Adirondack and for Dags Basketball, where he gets to work with athletes from as young as the age of 7 to the occasional Professional. Prior to these positions, Adam assisted at his High School alma mater of Hudson Falls for 10 years.Adam also has a blog centered on player development called Hardwood Dexterity , where breaks down basketball movements, in an extremely unique way In today’s episode we discuss: Using a constraints led approach and differential learning to skill development in basketball Who some of the elite movers in the nba What qualities make up elite movers in basketball How you can effectively expand the toolbox, or the “bag” of basketball players w/out explicit instruction Some practical training advice for those working w/ youth basketball players And of course so much more!One of the reasons I wanted to have Adam on the podcast is because he brings such a unique approach to skill acquisition in basketball. As a former basketball player, don’t let the hate for you, These topics really resonated with me and Selfishly Adam and I get to geek out on some of these things… Please take a moment to check out Adams blog Hardwood dexterity which I will link in the show notes….I hope you enjoy the show!Get in touch w/ Adam here Adams TwitterAdam’s Blog As always, if you have any questions or ideas for future episodes, feel free to contact me:Email: javier@igniteperformance.net Instagram: @thecoachjavtwitter: @thecoachjavCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Dec 15, 2021 • 21min
Debunking The Biggest Jump Training Myths
Send us a textWelcome to the Athlete Blueprint Podcast!For today's episode, we will be taking a deep dive into one of my favorite topics, Jump training! More specifically, we will be debunking some common jump training myths! This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I have worked extensively w/ court sport athletes (volleyball, basketball) and I have noticed glut of misinformed or misrepresented information out there. So I wanted to set the record straight on some common training myths that I have seen over the year.In today's episode I cover:How too much more reps is not always a good thing w/ jump training How we must consider global load when designing a jump program Why Jump and Strength Specificity Matters The Pro's and Cons of Heavy Squatting for Jumping Why jumping high in practice does not necessarily mean you'll jump high in a gameWhy Training your breaks are just as important as training your gas pedalWhy patience is key to developing a high jump over timeOf course we cover so much more!...Thanks for tuning in, I hope you enjoy the show!Here are some of the other blog posts I've written for Ignite Performance 3 Proven Ways to Increase Your Vertical Jump Quiz: What Type of Jumper Are You?Why I Don't Care How High Your Box Jump is As always, if you have any questions or ideas for future episodes, feel free to contact me:Email: javier@igniteperformance.net Instagram: @thecoachjavtwitter: @thecoachjavCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

Dec 9, 2021 • 41min
Matt Caraccio: Reframing Player Evaluation in American Football
Guest Matt Caraccio discusses reframing player evaluation in American football, emphasizing viewing athletes as problem solvers and analyzing context in player assessment. The podcast challenges traditional evaluation methods, highlighting the importance of skillful movement analysis and understanding how context drives player performance across different positions.

Nov 18, 2021 • 42min
Kevin Longoria - "Train Smarter to Train Harder": Optimizing Athletic Performance Through Recovery
Send us a textIn today’s episode I speak with Kevin Longoria!Kevin is the chief science officer of Biostrap, digital health company that has evolved from being a consumer wearable into a comprehensive health monitoring platform with a mission to improve human health on a global scale.Kevin is very accomplished and his resume is quite long (deservedly so) so I’m going to try my best to give you the cliff notes versionAs an exercise physiologist, Kevin has a passion for research and education and has led validation studies and has developed and implemented nervous system based training systems for various populations ranging from compromised health, corporate wellness and professional athletic organizations.Prior to his position at Biostrap, Kevin was a physiological consultant four numerous high level combat athletes, including to two division UFC world champ and Olympic gold medalist, Henry Cejudo.As I mentioned earlier, I could go on about Kevin’s accomplishments but here’s what you need to know… point-blank Kevin is one of the absolute best in the world when it comes to understanding the optimization of athletic recovery and performance. I wanted to do this podcast with Kevin because I feel the importance of recovery and managing stress both physical and psychological is grossly under discussed for athletes. In this conversation, Kevin and I wanted to discuss many of the topics which includes the following:The importance of sleep and hydration for athletesThe importance and monitoring athlete readiness for optimizing performance and how wearables might help Kevin’s experience working w/ high level athletes, including Henry cejudo and James the iron cowboy Lawrence who famously ran 50 Ironmans in 50 days What mental traits might separate elite athletes from other athletes How sleep routines and blue light can affect sleep and hormone levels How hormone levels are affected by gut health And of course much much more! As I mentioned earlier Kevon is a super bright guy and definitely someone who I learn from constantly. I’m excited for you guys to hear what he has to say. I hope you enjoy the show!Kevin doesn't much on social media, but here is the contact info for him and Biostrap:Kevin's LinkedinKevin's Email: kevin@biostrap.comWebsite Instagram Twitter Facebook As always, if you have any questions or ideas for future episodes, feel free to contact me:Email: javier@igniteperformance.net InstagramtwitterFacebookCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav