Today’s episode features coach, biomechanist and inventor, Adarian Barr. Adarian has been my primary mentor in the field of human performance over the last year and a half and has completely changed the way I view the majority of athletic movements. Through a greater awareness of what to watch and look for in athletic movements, to equaling (or bettering) things I did as an athlete in my early 20’s, to completely rewiring my approach to sprint and jump biomechanics, coach Barr’s work has been a complete game changer.
Adarian has experience coaching on a variety of levels, and has had a number of stops on the collegiate track and field circuit before his current work as a private coach and consultant. His methods are innovative, and he has the greatest awareness of various factors that go into a movement outcome that I’ve ever seen. Coach Barr has the ability to pick apart virtually any athletic feat into its core components, and then train those components with athletes of all levels.
On today’s podcast, we talk heavily about asymmetry in athletic performance. Not too long ago, coaches were talking about Usain Bolt’s asymmetrical stride, and then we just witnessed the longest long jump in the last 20 years, done by a 19 year old from Cuba with an asymmetrical run up and a very long last stride.
Knowing the principles behind the approach and the takeoff allows understanding and subsequent individualization of our athletes to their best performances. In this regards, we’ll be chatting asymmetry in regards to jumping and sprinting, as well as how it plays into plyometrics and timing. Adarian finishes things off with a conversation on training the foot, and how the foot is not as “weak” as we often think it to be.
Today’s episode is brought to you by SimpliFaster, supplier of high-end athletic development tools, such as the Freelap timing system, kBox, Sprint 1080, and more.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:35 — 69.5MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | JioSaavn | Podchaser | Gaana | Email | Deezer | Anghami | RSS
View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage.
Key Points:
- Thoughts on recent developments in the track and field world
- The importance of the “arm flap” movement (Rotational vs. Linear Movement)
- “Big-Step, Little-Step” rhythm
- Fundamental difference between big last step vs. little last step
- How to improve/construct your jumping approach
- The “Big-Little” Rhythm from a 3-point stance/sprint start/block set-up
- Importance of maintaining rhythm throughout a race
- Asymmetry in distance runners and field/court based sports
- The importance of rhythm in double leg jumps and single leg jumps
- Importance of timing in jumping
- How to integrate asymmetry and plyometrics
- Mistakes in training the foot
“The backside arm controls the impact of the front side leg”
“We need to stop saying bad technique, imperfect technique, incorrect technique.”
“Running is the base of every movement.”
“Exceptional athletes have exceptional timing.”
“Never train anyone how to stop.”
“If you’re trying to take up slack, you don’t want to do plyometric training.”
“Athletic posture takes up slack in the system.”
“A shortened muscle is the best muscle to work with.”
Show Notes:
Juan Miguel Echevarria Long Jump 8.83
More Adarian Barr Episodes:
64: Adarian Barr on Biomechanical Truths and Coaching Myths in Sprinting
132: Adarian Barr on Ground Impulse as a Biomechanical Lynchpin
Free Speed Training eBook - Velocity 101
Improving speed is one of the most popular topics in the athletic performance equation. Where there are many ideas and thoughts out there, as to particular training exercises, or setups, the more core aspects of speed training often go without mention. These include the fundamental aspects of what makes an athlete fast, specific sprint-power concepts, the relevance of "3D" motion, motor learning and more.
Velocity 101 will help you take a leap forward in understanding of what makes athletes fast, and how to train it effectively