Just Fly Performance Podcast

• 492: Jarod Burton on Simplified Neurology and the Dance of Power Output

  Today’s guest is Dr. Jarod Burton. Jarod is a chiropractor and sports performance coach focused on neurology-driven movement. He blends manual therapy, strength modailities, and nervous system training to unlock better mechanics and athletic output. His work centers on identifying and clearing the neural limits that hold athletes back. In training, there are many layers to human performance and athletic outputs. One critical layer is the power transmission of the nervous system, and how to unlock this ability in all athletes. Many athletes naturally have a more adept system, while others may need more bridges to reach their highest levels of performance. In this episode, Jarod speaks on how his approach has evolved since entering clinical practice. He shares how he uses flywheel training to teach rhythm, “the dance” of force, and powerful catches rather than just concentric effort. He and Joel dig into spinal mobility, ribcage expansion, and even breakdance-style spinal waves as underrated keys to athletic freedom. Jarod then simplifies neurology for coaches, explaining how posture reveals brain-side imbalances and how targeted “fast stretch” work, loud/sticky altitude drops, and intelligently high training volumes can rebalance the system and unlock performance. Today’s episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength. Use the code “justfly20” for 20% off any Lila Exogen wearable resistance training, including the popular Exogen Calf Sleeves. For this offer, head to Lilateam.com Use code “justfly10” for 10% off the Vert Trainer View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) Timestamps 0:00 - Jarod’s background and early coaching lens6:55 - Internal vs external focus and simple cues13:40 - What good movement feels like20:10 - Speed shapes and improving posture29:18 - Blending strength with elastic qualities41:02 - Breathing mechanics and better movement options52:37 - Pelvis function and creating better positions1:00:15 - Skill acquisition and training that sticks1:11:48 - Programming principles and individual needs1:19:40 - Coaching philosophy and athlete communication Actionable Takeaways 0:00 – Jarod’s background, influences, and early coaching lens Jarod draws heavily on mentors in track and field, particularly their ability to teach posture, projection, and simple shapes. He notes that he used to overcoach mechanics and learned that athletes need experiences, not micromanagement. Emphasize principles over preferences. As Jarod says, “If I can teach the principles, the application can change.” 6:55 – Internal versus external focus and simple cues that work Jarod prefers cues that help athletes feel positions instead of thinking about them. He explains that internal cues can work when used to create awareness, but they cannot dominate the session. Use cues that point the athlete toward an outcome. For example, he prefers “push the ground away” instead of detailed joint instructions. 13:40 – What good movement feels like and the problem with forcing technique Jarod warns that coaches often chase “pretty” movement at the cost of effective movement. Technique should emerge from intention, not the other way around. He encourages coaches to give athletes tasks that naturally produce the shapes they want. If an athlete is struggling, simplify the environment rather than stack more verbal instructions. 20:10 – Speed development, posture, and improving shapes without overcoaching Jarod explains that acceleration improves when athletes learn to project rather than lift. Upright running quality comes from rhythm and relaxation, not from forcing tall mechanics. He recommends using contrast tasks to improve posture, such as wall drills combined with short accelerations. Let the environment teach the athlete and save verbal coaching for key errors only. 29:18 – Blending strength training with elastic qualities Jarod sees weight room work as support, not the driver, of speed and skill. He focuses on the elastic properties of tendons and connective tissue for speed athletes. He notes that heavy lifting can coexist with stiffness and elasticity if programmed strategically rather than constantly chased. Use low amplitude hops, bounds, and rhythm-based plyos to balance the traditional strength program. 41:02 – Breathing, ribcage mechanics, and natural movement options Jarod uses breathing work to help athletes find positions that allow better rotation and force transfer. He explains that tight ribcages limit athletic expression, not just breathing capacity. Many athletes struggle with rotation due to rigid breathing patterns, not lack of strength. Use breathing resets before high-speed work to create better movement “access.” 52:37 – Understanding the athletic pelvis and creating better positions Jarod emphasizes that pelvic orientation shapes nearly every aspect of movement. He encourages developing a pelvis that can both yield and create force, instead of being locked in extension or tucked under. Simple low-level movements like hip shifts, step-ups, and gait-primer patterns can transform sprint positions. Train the pelvis in motion, not just through isolated exercises. 1:00:15 – Skill acquisition, variability, and choosing training that sticks Jarod believes athletes need movement options and adaptability, not one perfect model. Variability builds resilience and skill transfer. Too much rigidity in training creates athletes who cannot adapt to chaotic sport environments. Coaches should create tasks that allow athletes to explore rather than follow rigid repetitions. 1:11:48 – Programming principles and adjusting training to the individual Jarod adjusts cycles based on athlete readiness rather than fixed rules. He focuses on how athletes respond to stress rather than the stress itself. Training should follow the athlete’s progression of competence and confidence, not arbitrary timelines. He prefers a flexible structure where principles guide but the athlete determines the pace. 1:19:40 – Coaching philosophy, communication, and what athletes need Jarod highlights that coaching is not about showing off knowledge but helping someone move better. He builds trust through communication and clarity rather than overwhelming athletes with science. He believes athletes need environments that reward curiosity and creativity. The coach creates the environment, but the athlete creates the movement. Jarod Burton Quotes “If I can teach the principle, the application can change, and the athlete can adapt.” “Good movement should feel rhythmic and natural, not forced.” “The environment will teach the athlete faster than a paragraph of cues.” “When an athlete stops trying to make the movement pretty, it usually starts to become pretty.” “The weight room supports speed. It should not compete with speed.” “Breathing gives athletes access to positions they did not know they had.” “Adaptable athletes win. Rigid athletes break.” “Coaching is about creating options for the athlete, not limiting them.” “I want athletes who can solve problems, not just follow instructions.” “Trust comes from communication, not complexity.” About Jarod Burton Dr. Jarod Burton is a chiropractor and sports performance coach who lives in the intersection of clinical practice, neuroscience, and high-performance human movement. A student of neurology and motor learning, Jarod works to uncover the hidden nervous system constraints that influence posture, coordination, elasticity, and power expression in sport. His methods combine manual therapy, joint mapping, sensory integration, and movement-based diagnostics to create individualized solutions that free up range, recalibrate neural rhythm, and unlock athletic speed, strength, and resilience. Jarod is passionate about a holistic philosophy of performance; one where the brain, body, and environment work in concert to reveal the best version of the athlete.

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• 491: Reinis Krēgers on Play-Based Athleticism and Elastic Power Development

  Today’s guest is Reinis Krēgers, a former champion decathlete turned track and physical education coach. Reinis is dedicated to building complete movers: fast, coordinated, confident athletes who understand their bodies. His training blends classical sprint development with exploratory tasks, helping athletes develop physical literacy and long-term adaptability. In sports performance, we often fixate on exercises, cues, and optimizing micro-qualities in the moment. What we discuss far less, yet what often separates the elite, is the role of play, creativity, and culture. By looking closely at events like the pole vault and hurdles, we can see how a developmental, curiosity-driven approach benefits athletes of every sport. In this episode, Reinis shares the remarkable story of losing a finger, training exclusively with his non-dominant hand, and still setting a shot put PR. This opens the door to a rich discussion on cross-education, novelty, and how the brain actually learns movement. We explore play-based coaching, pole vault as a developmental super-tool, contrasts between Eastern and American coaching philosophies, youth sport creativity, and sustainable tendon development. It’s a conversation full of insight, storytelling, and reminders of what truly anchors a lifelong athletic journey: curiosity, joy, and the art of falling in love with movement. Today’s episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength and LILA Exogen wearable resistance. Use the code “justfly20” for 20% off any Lila Exogen wearable resistance training, including the popular Exogen Calf Sleeves. For this offer, head to Lilateam.com Use code “justfly10” for 10% off the Vert Trainer View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) 0:00 – Early upbringing in Latvia and falling in love with movement 6:18 – Play, curiosity, and environment driven athlete development 14:50 – Injuries, setbacks, and choosing to continue competing 23:40 – Czech training experience and constraints based coaching 33:05 – European versus American development and long term athlete philosophy 45:10 – Games, novelty, and bringing play back into training 59:47 – Specialization mistakes and the importance of multi sport development 1:11:48 – Plyometrics, bounding, and gradual tissue adaptation 1:22:40 – Injury lessons, tendon health, and the value of long term gradual loading Actionable Takeaways 6:18 – Play, curiosity, and environment driven development Reinis explains that his athletic foundation came from unstructured exploration, not early specialization. Let athletes solve problems rather than repeat fixed patterns. Encourage outdoor play and varied surfaces to build natural coordination. Curiosity creates better movers than rigid instruction. 14:50 – Navigating injuries and staying in the sport Reinis shares how setbacks led him to rethink training instead of quitting. Use injuries as a signal to adjust training rather than push through blindly. Keep a competitive outlet during rehab to maintain identity and motivation. Return with smarter progression instead of trying to reclaim old numbers immediately. 23:40 – Constraints based learning from Czech training Reinis describes how training environments shaped movement without heavy cueing. Change the environment before changing the athlete. Use simple tasks and small boundaries to create automatic technical improvements. Let athletes feel solutions instead of chasing perfect positions. 33:05 – European versus American development Reinis contrasts long term models focused on movement quality rather than short term output. Early years should build durability, not just speed and strength metrics. Avoid rushing physical qualities before coordination and play are established. Development is a process of layering, not skipping steps. 45:10 – Bringing games and novelty back into training Reinis highlights how playful constraints improve responsiveness and decision making. Add game based movement to keep athletes adaptive under changing conditions. Use novelty sparingly to reawaken coordination and intent. Reduce scripted drills when athletes stop learning from them. 59:47 – Multi sport value and avoiding early specialization Reinis explains why single sport paths can limit long term performance. Multiple sports expand movement bandwidth and reduce overuse. Delay specialization until athletes have broad coordination skills. Early success does not guarantee long term development. 1:11:48 – Plyometrics and gradual tissue progression Reinis stresses that bounding and plyos require patience and slow tissue adaptation. Progress volume and intensity over seasons, not weeks. Start with low amplitude contacts before higher velocity work. Tendons adapt slower than muscles, so loading must reflect that timeline. 1:22:40 – Tendon health and long term loading approach Reinis shares what he learned from repeated injury cycles. Small, consistent loading beats aggressive spikes in volume. Build tolerance through frequency and controlled exposure. The goal is to stay in the game long enough for development to compound. Quotes from Reinis Krēgers "Good coaching has some mystery because we are not robots" "Kids should fall in love with the movement and the sport before anything else" "Constraints are the key word in my training method and philosophy" "Track and field without play is a dry and bad solution for long term success" "There is no such thing as a training methodology, it is the relationship between the coach and the athlete" "Sudden increases in load were always the trigger for my Achilles problems" "You want gradual and consistent work if you want the tissues to adapt" "Sleep enough and rest after good training, that is one of the most important things I tell young athletes" About Reinis Krēgers Reinis Krēgers is a Latvian track and physical preparation coach known for blending classical sprint mechanics with modern movement ecology. With a background in athletics and physical education, Reinis has built a reputation for developing athletes who are not only fast, but exceptionally coordinated, elastic, and adaptable across environments. Drawing from European sprint traditions, plyometric culture, and cutting-edge motor-learning principles, Reinis emphasizes rhythm, posture, and natural force expression before “numbers.” His training sessions regularly weave together technical sprint development, multi-planar strength, and exploratory movement tasks, giving athletes the bandwidth to become resilient movers rather than rigid specialists. Reinis works across youth, club, and competitive settings, helping sprinters, jumpers, and team-sport athletes gain speed, power, and physical literacy. His coaching is marked by clarity, intentionality, and an ability to meet athletes where they are, building them from foundational movement quality toward high-performance execution. Whether on the track or in the PE hall, Reinis’ mission is the same: develop confident, capable movers who understand their bodies, enjoy the process, and carry a lifelong relationship with athleticism.

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• 490: Austin Jochum on Engineering an Elite Training Stimulus

  Today’s guest is Austin Jochum. Austin Jochum is the founder of Jochum Strength, a former All-Conference safety turned performance coach known for playful, movement-rich training. He blends strength, speed, and adaptability to help athletes build real-world capability and enjoy the process. So often, coaches inadvertently play by the formal “rules” of coaching, through substantial instruction, within smaller boxes of training. Gameplay and sport itself are the ultimate example of task-based stimulation, chaos, and problem-solving, and the more we learn from it, the more effective our training can become. In this episode, Austin Jochum and I explore how coaching transforms when you trade rigid cues for play, stimulus, and athlete-driven learning. We dig into why intent and novelty matter, how to “win the day” without chasing constant PRs, and the power of environments that let athletes self-organize. Austin speaks on his recent dive into improving his Olympic lifting, and subsequent improvement in explosive athletic power, along with the masculine and feminine nature of the snatch and clean and jerk, respectively. Finally, Austin also breaks down the JST Olympics—his team-based approach that’s exploding motivation, competition, and performance in the gym. Today’s episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength and LILA Exogen wearable resistance. Use the code “justfly20” for 20% off any Lila Exogen wearable resistance training, including the popular Exogen Calf Sleeves. For this offer, head to Lilateam.com Use code “justfly10” for 10% off the Vert Trainer View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) 0:00 – Austin’s background, wrestling influence, and early training lens 8:12 – How wrestling shaped his coaching, problem-solving, and creativity 14:30 – Working with movement constraints, unpredictability, and the “maze” idea 22:40 – Why he prioritizes exploration over instruction 31:18 – Building athletic bandwidth through games and environmental design 38:01 – Touch on wrestling in training and contact-oriented movement 45:10 – Heavy rope training, rhythm, and full-body sequencing 52:46 – Hiring coaches and building culture inside his gym 1:01:37 – Athlete intuitiveness, imitation, and imitation-driven learning 1:10:55 – Recovery methods, cold exposure, and principles behind them 1:18:42 – Breathing mechanics, sensory awareness, and relaxation 1:24:52 – Tempo, rhythm, and “feel” in athletic movement 1:30:48 – Coaching philosophy and where Austin is heading next Actionable Takeaways 8:12 – Use problem-solving sports to shape athletic intelligence Wrestling taught Austin to read bodies, adapt instantly, and explore solutions without external cues. Add low-level grappling or tagging games to build instinctive reaction. Favor tasks where athletes solve problems on their own rather than through constant cueing. Let athletes “feel” leverage, pressure, and timing instead of explaining it. 14:30 – Build constraints that shape behavior instead of commanding technique Austin’s “maze” concept uses environment and rules to funnel athletes into better movement patterns. Use boundaries, footwork boxes, or timing rules to nudge athletes into desired solutions. Ask “what would make the athlete naturally move better?” instead of “how do I cue it?” Encourage unpredictable tasks that force athletes to explore and adapt. 22:40 – Exploration outperforms instruction for long-term development Austin finds that athletes learn faster when they discover solutions. Give them space to experiment before layering instruction. Adjust one variable at a time and let athletes reorganize around it. Use questions (“What did you feel? What would you try next?”) to guide reflection. 31:18 – Games expand movement bandwidth Austin uses play-based drills to build coordination, elasticity, and adaptability. Rotate games: tag, dodgeball variations, reactive pursuit, to challenge perception-action loops. Use small-sided tasks to increase decision density without overthinking. Keep the focus on fun: fun increases intent and frees up movement quality. 38:01 – Use wrestling-inspired drills for strength without rigidity Wrestling movements gave Austin strong connective tissue without bulky lifting. Use partner-resistance tasks for whole-body strength and tension awareness. Build isometrics out of wrestling positions for joint integrity. Allow controlled chaos; body contact builds stabilizing capacity. 45:10 – Heavy rope work for rhythm, sequencing, and tissue tolerance Austin relies on heavy rope patterns for global coordination. Use ropes to sync hands, feet, hips, and breath. Program flowing, continuous patterns to teach timing and smooth force transfer. Start with simple rhythms, then build patterns that cross midline. 52:46 – Culture and community determine training success Austin emphasizes hiring people who share curiosity and a growth mindset. Build environments where coaches model exploration, not perfection. Encourage shared training, shared learning, and open dialogue. Make the gym a place where athletes feel safe to try new things. 1:01:37 – Encourage imitation and athlete-led learning Austin sees imitation as a primary learning driver. Let athletes watch each other and imitate good movers. Create partner structures where athletes observe and mirror. Limit over-coaching so imitation can self-organize movement. 1:10:55 – Use recovery tools to teach regulation, not toughness Cold exposure and breathing work are about awareness and control. Focus on downregulation, not chasing extreme discomfort. Teach athletes how to relax under stress through controlled exposures. Keep recovery practices consistent and simple. 1:18:42 – Breathing for awareness and movement refinement Austin uses breath as a sensory anchor for better movement feel. Teach nasal breathing during warmups to increase internal awareness. Pair breath with movement tasks to improve timing and relaxation. Explore slow breathing to reduce unnecessary tension. 1:24:52 – Rhythm and tempo drive better movement than force Austin believes rhythm is the “glue” of athleticism. Use music, metronomes, or rhythmic cues to build flow. Train movements at different tempos to expand adaptability. Emphasize smoothness over force output when teaching skills. 1:30:48 – Stay curious and evolve your practice Austin’s philosophy centers around lifelong learning. Revisit old drills with new perspectives. Explore different disciplines (dance, wrestling, martial arts). Let your own training experiment inform your coaching. Quotes from Austin Jochum “Wrestling taught me to solve problems in real time. You can’t fake instinct in that environment.” “When you build the right constraint, you don’t have to coach as much. The environment does the teaching.” “Exploration gives athletes ownership. They learn the lesson at a deeper level.” “Games create bandwidth. The more options you give the athlete, the more adaptable they become.” “Wrestling positions gave me strength that the weight room couldn’t.” “Ropes taught me rhythm and timing. They connect the whole body.” “Culture is the system. If the environment is right, the training takes care of itself.” “I want athletes to imitate great movement, not memorize cues.” “Cold exposure isn’t toughness. It’s learning how to regulate yourself under stress.” “Breathing is awareness. It gives you access to better movement.” “Rhythm is the missing piece in performance. Smooth beats strong.” “The more curious I am, the better my athletes get.” About Austin Jochum Austin Jochum is the founder of Jochum Strength, a performance coach known for blending old-school grit with modern movement science. A former University of St. Thomas football player and All-Conference safety, Austin built his philosophy around “training the human first,” emphasizing play, adaptability, and athletic expression over rigid templates. His coaching blends strength, speed, breathwork, and movement variability, creating athletes who are not just powerful—but resilient and skillful in chaotic environments. Through his in-person gym in Minnesota, online programs, and the Jochum Strength Podcast, Austin has become a leading voice in community-driven athletic development, helping athletes and everyday movers reconnect with their bodies, build real-world ability, and enjoy the process.

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• 489: Bill Smart on Isometrics, Flywheels, and Elastic Power Development

  Today’s guest is Bill Smart. Bill is a sport scientist and physical preparation coach specializing in elite fight-sports performance. As the founder of Smarter Performance and the Strength & Conditioning lead for the CORE MMA team, Bill integrates cutting-edge evidence with real-world high-performance systems to enable combat athletes to show up on fight day in optimal physiological condition. Much of the conversation in sports performance hinges on speed and power development, or conditioning, as a stand-alone conversation. Sport itself is dynamic and combines elements of speed, strength, and endurance in a dynamic space. Training should follow the same considerations to be truly alive and effective. In the episode, Bill shares his journey from cycling and rowing to combat sports. He discusses how long isometric holds develop both physical and mental resilience, and their implementation in his programming. The conversation dives into muscle-oxygen dynamics, integrating ISOs with conditioning, and how testing shapes his approach. Bill also explores flywheel eccentrics, fascicle-length development, and why sprinting is a key element for maintaining elastic power in elite fighters. Today’s episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength and the Just Fly Sports Online Courses 30-50% off all courses until December 1, 2025. (https://justflysports.thinkific.com) Use code “justfly10” for 10% off the Vert Trainer Use code “justfly20” for 20% off of LILA Exogen Wearable resistance gear at www.lilateam.com View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) Timestamps 0:00 – Bill’s coaching journey and early mentors 6:04 – The importance of movement observation and intuition 11:35 – Why athletes plateau and how to identify limiting factors 20:42 – Strength training principles that actually transfer 30:01 – Using movement variability and play in training 40:36 – Coaching communication and creating connection 52:09 – The role of curiosity and creativity in coaching longevity 1:00:55 – Key lessons from years of coaching experience Actionable Takeaways 6:04 – Movement observation and intuition Bill emphasizes that the best coaches develop a trained eye for movement by observing, not just testing. Watch athletes move in multiple contexts before prescribing anything. Look for how they transition between patterns, not only the end positions. Use video less for judgment and more for curiosity. What is the athlete trying to do? 11:35 – Identifying limiting factors Athletes plateau when coaches overemphasize one metric or capacity while ignoring the real constraint. Look beyond the weight room; technical or psychological factors often drive plateaus. Use minimal testing data to narrow focus rather than justify complexity. Sometimes the limiting factor is overcoaching. Let athletes fail and self-correct. 20:42 – Strength that transfers Transfer happens when strength work complements, not competes with, the sport’s rhythm and intent. Prioritize strength that preserves elasticity and timing rather than just force output. Rotate exercises often enough to keep athletes adaptive, but not so often that they lose rhythm. Load movement patterns, not just muscles. Treat every lift as coordination under resistance. 30:01 – Variability and play in training Bill describes play as a teaching tool that restores creativity and problem-solving in athletes. Use small games, uneven surfaces, or timing constraints to build adaptable movers. Variability should be purposeful. Expand coordination bandwidth without losing technical intent. Schedule “uncoached” time in sessions where athletes explore movement freely. 40:36 – Coaching communication and connection Great coaching depends on trust and empathy before information transfer. Deliver feedback as collaboration, not correction; frame cues as shared problem-solving. Match your communication tone to the athlete's readiness and personality. Be consistent and calm under pressure; emotional stability is contagious. 52:09 – Curiosity and creativity for coaching longevity Curiosity keeps coaching sustainable; creativity prevents burnout. Study outside your lane: music, design, or art can refine pattern recognition. Avoid rigid “systems” that turn coaching into mechanical input-output. Revisit old training ideas with a new lens instead of constantly chasing novelty. 1:00:55 – Key lessons and philosophy Bill’s long-term perspective is about developing people, not just performers. Build a coaching environment where learning continues on both sides. Focus on long-term process rather than short-term validation. Great coaching is about alignment between words, actions, and values. Quotes from Bill Smart “Observation is the beginning of understanding movement. You can’t coach what you don’t actually see.” “If you only measure outputs, you’ll miss what’s driving them.” “Strength is coordination under resistance; not just how much you can move, but how well you move it.” “When training becomes too predictable, athletes stop learning.” “Variability isn’t chaos; it’s guided exploration.” “The best cues invite the athlete to think, not to obey.” “Play keeps creativity alive. You can’t teach adaptability if everything is scripted.” “Curiosity is what keeps good coaches from becoming stale.” “Connection has to come before correction.” “The longer I coach, the more I realize that athletes teach me just as much as I teach them.” About Bill Smart Bill Smart is a sport scientist and physical preparation coach specialising in elite fight-sports performance. As the founder of Smarter Performance and the Strength & Conditioning lead for the CORE MMA team, Bill integrates cutting-edge evidence with real-world high-performance systems to enable combat athletes to show up on fight day in optimal physiological condition.

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• 488: Sam Elsner on Rewiring Athletic Performance and Movement Learning

  Today’s guest is Sam Elsner. Sam is a former NCAA Division III national champion thrower turned motor learning writer and educator. He’s the author of The Play Advantage and creator of the Substack CALIBRATE, where he explores how humans learn movement through play, perception, and environment design. Sam brings a rare blend of elite athletic experience and deep skill-acquisition insight to help coaches and athletes move beyond drills toward true adaptability and creativity in sport. As athletic performance is largely driven by weight-lifting. It digs into maximal strength and force-related outcomes in such excess that all other elements of athleticism are negated. Skill learning and high velocity movement are the wellspring of sporting success. As such, having a balanced understanding of the training equation is critical for the long-term interest of the athlete. On today’s podcast, Sam and I dive into how athletes truly learn to move. Sam traces his journey from WIAC throws circles to Cal Dietz’s weight room, why a rigid “triphasic for everyone” phase backfired with a soccer team, and how ecological dynamics and a constraints-led lens reshaped his coaching. Together we unpack the strength–skill interplay, 1×20 “slow-cook” gains versus block periodization, the value of autonomous, creative training application. We touch on youth development, culture, and team ecology, plus where pros are experimenting with these ideas. This episode is loaded with both philosophy of training and skill learning, along with practical takeaways in program design. Today’s episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength. Use the code “justfly20” for 20% off any Lila Exogen wearable resistance training, including the popular Exogen Calf Sleeves. For this offer, head to Lilateam.com Use code “justfly10” for 10% off the Vert Trainer View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) Timestamps 1:18 - Early training experiences and triphasic background 5:44 - Implementing triphasic as a young coach 11:22 - The failure of rigid block periodization 17:49 - Vertical integration and maintaining all qualities 24:58 - Discovery of the ecological dynamics lens 29:57 - Why skill learning changed his view of strength 35:43 - 1x20 as a slow cooking strength framework 43:15 - Autonomy and stance/position freedom in the weight room 52:38 - Culture, environment, and how athletes learn 1:00:43 - Highlight play examples and perception-action 1:14:23 - Constraint-led models in team sport settings 1:20:55 - Where to find Sam’s work Actionable Takeaways 5:44 - Learning from early programming mistakes Rigid triphasic blocks without speed and skill work led to slower, less adaptable athletes. Keep speed, power, and reactive work present year-round in some capacity. Avoid assuming what works for one context transfers straight across to another. 17:49 - Vertical integration instead of siloed periodization Train multiple physical qualities year-round with shifting emphasis rather than isolating one block at a time. This prevents athletes from losing speed while developing strength, or vice versa. Small doses across the year keep qualities alive and connected. 24:58 - Skill learning must reflect the chaos of sport Sport is unpredictable, not robotic. Training should reflect that uncertainty. Use varied environments, movement options, and constraints instead of perfect reps. Skill emerges from exploration, not memorization. 35:43 - 1x20 for strength that supports skill 1x20 builds strength while leaving room for sprinting, jumping, and skill work. The last few reps in a 1x20 set still hit high effort without excessive nervous system cost. Use stance and tempo variations to match individual structure. 43:15 - Autonomy inside the weight room Allow athletes to choose stance width, bar position, and grip style within a lift. This respects anatomical differences and promotes ownership. Autonomy increases buy-in and self-organization. 52:38 - Culture shapes movement outcomes The environment athletes train in determines how they move and learn. If culture only rewards load and intensity, adaptability is lost. Design environments that reward exploration and awareness, not just output. 1:00:43 - Highlight plays reflect attunement, not force Elite athletic feats arise from pattern recognition and perception-action coupling. You cannot coach highlight movement through force metrics alone. Create rich movement histories rather than perfecting single patterns. Quotes "Sport is chaotic and uncertain. If your training isn’t reflecting that, you’re training for something else." "Strength is only useful if you can actually express it in the environment that matters." "1x20 gave me room to train speed and jumping instead of spending all my adaptation on heavy lifting." "We lose athleticism when we isolate qualities instead of integrating them." "Autonomy in the weight room lets athletes organize movement in ways that fit their structure." "Block periodization made my athletes slower because they lost access to the other physical qualities." "Those highlight plays happen because the athlete is attuned to the information in the moment, not because they calculated force." "Environment determines behavior. The culture you’re in shapes how you train and how you move." "Skill is shaped by varied experiences, not perfect repetitions." "The goal is to keep qualities alive, not build one at the expense of another." About Sam Elsner Sam Elsner is a former NCAA Division III national champion thrower from the University of Wisconsin-Stout who has transitioned into a leading voice in motor learning and skill acquisition. A six-time All-American and 2018 discus champion, Sam brings a deep, first-hand understanding of performance and training into his current work, exploring how athletes truly learn movement rather than just repeat drills. Now writing the popular Substack CALIBRATE and authoring The Play Advantage, Sam bridges neuroscience, ecological dynamics, and lived athletic experience to help coaches and performers unlock adaptability, creativity, and “feel” in sport. His work reframes coaching from rote technique toward curiosity, environment design, and the art of human learning in motion.

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