Joel Smith Q&A on Reactive Strength, Intuitive Athleticism and Swim Performance Methods

Today’s episode is a Q&A podcast with Joel Smith. Questions on this episode revolve around swim training, sprint training, plyometrics, and specific training means for athletic development. Much of my philosophy has gone towards motor learning and how athletes can intuitively learn explosive sport skills, that not only gets results, but is also sustainable over time.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Lost Empire Herbs, TeamBuildr and the Plyomat.

TeamBuildr is an online software for coaches and trainers. Use the code “JUSTFLY” for a free 30 day trial of the TeamBuildr software at https://teambuildr.com.

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Timestamps and Main Points

2:11– Explosive Athletic Training with Plyometrics

7:25– Retracting the Thorax for Effective Swimming

17:56– Enhancing Energy Recovery through Breathwork Techniques

24:07– Adjusting High Intensity Training for Sustainability

32:23– Exploring Foot Positions and Pressures for Single Leg Jumping

37:24– Constraints-led Approach in High Jump Training

39:50– Explosive Skills and Athletic Movement Enhancement

44:20– Optimizing Performance through Body-Mind Activation

56:39– Avoiding Impingement with Alternative Squat and Deadlift Variations

59:27– Optimizing Sports Performance through Specific Joint Angles

1:07:21– Enhancing Weightlifting Performance through Neural Activity

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Questions

Best plyometrics to prepare for training them again after a long layoff?
What’s your approach in terms of S&C for swimming?
Besides endurance, are there elements of swimming that translate to running mechanics?
Top 5 best training modalities on recovery days?
Training wisdom for training vertical jump after 40?
Has your training changed since turning 40?
Best way to organize a workout for a quad dominant athlete vs hip dominant?
How do you improve an athlete who can’t bring in speed into there 1 foot dunk?
Top 3 tips to get better at high jump?
What’s the one thing you would program to progress with a track athlete from 7th-12th grade?
Top 5 isometrics to do pre-court session?
Thoughts on an open palm vs closed for sprinting?
How to peak for 100m as a muscular driven sprinter in track sprint work?
Does maintaining a strength for a sprinter in season matter?

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Show Notes

Marv Marinovich Water Training
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUb1V7hBUMY

Transcript

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About Joel Smith

Joel Smith is the founder of Just Fly Sports and is a sports performance and track coach in Cincinnati, Ohio. Joel hosts the Just Fly Performance Podcast, has authored several books and coaches in both the high school and private sector.

Joel was a strength coach for 8 years at UC Berkeley, working with the Swim teams and post-graduate professional swimmers, as well as tennis, water polo, and track and field. A track coach of 17 years, Joel coached for the Diablo Valley Track and Field Club for 7 years, and also has 6 years of experience coaching on the collegiate level, working at Wilmington College, and the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse. He is currently coaching high jump at Milford High School.

Joel has coached 4 national champions, multiple All-Americans, and NCAA record holders in track and field. In the realm of strength and conditioning, his programs have assisted 5 athletes to Olympic berths that produced 9 medals and a world record performance at Rio in 2016.