Listen Now

In part two of the Making Athletes Podcast series, episode 14, Wes Kennedy talks to Dan Edwardes about the various movements involved in parkour. “Parkour is any movement that helps you overcome the physical task you’re facing,” says Edwardes, explaining that it’s difficult to break it down too much, though there are “family groups of movements” that are used as huge collections for the movements. “For example, jumping is one area,” Edwardes says, which includes learning the jump itself, and as well as the different attributes for the jump. Another category is passement, or vaulting. “It basically means when you’re running and you encounter and obstacle that’s chest height or lower, and you clear it in one very smooth motion,” explains Edwardes. It’s about clearing an obstacle and keep running The last category that Edwardes discusses is swinging, be it from a branch, bar, piece of scaffold, or anything else, onto another object. “We do that in order to teach people really, in order to give them a rough idea of the areas of movement, so that as a coach, you know you’ve covered all ...

About Dan Edwardes Dan Edwardes is a coach, athlete, author, and speaker. He is the owner of Parkour Generations, a multinational company that teaches and educates people on the discipline of parkour. Edwardes spends his time adventuring, exploring, reading, writing, and remembering to breathe. In this Episode 2:52 -Pursuing health and longevity versus pursuing performance  [...]

In part two of Making Athletes podcast episode 13, host Wes Kennedy speaks with Scott Sonnon, founder of Tacfit, about the most common occupational injuries seen in tactical athletes, Mixed Modal Fitness competitors, and MMA athletes. In regards to tactical athletes, Sonnon says, “number one is the lower back.” This is due to the kit ergonomics, which, when sitting, will keep the mid-back from moving. Along with the lower body gear’s restrictions, “the perfect storm” is created. As the hips become immobile, the lower back will absorb the resistance from the weight of the kit. Even when the kit has been removed, the lower back will have already been trained to that movement. Sonnon says that many people believe that they have injured their back, when really the body has just created a split to protect the lower back from the mobility. As the lower back changes and becomes more mobile, Sonnon says that more injuries will...

About Scott Scott Sonnon is a martial arts expert, fitness coach, dyslexia advocate, and wellness speaker. He has worked with numerous UFC champions, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. He was inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 1999, and was voted one of the [...]

In this Episode 0:19 –Tests available to better understand gene expression 1:07 –Ways to change gene expression for the better 4:17 –Dangers that come with trying to alter genes 5:15 –Possibilities for an athlete if we could fully control genes 6:59 –Can we alter genes to live to 500? 8:37 –Final Advice Tests available to better understand gene expression In part two of Making Athletes podcast episode 12, host Wes Kennedy speaks with Shea Robison, author of Nexus of Epigenetics about the ability to alter our genetic expressions. Robison says that as far as he is aware, there isn’t any publically available ways to better understand the genetic expression of a person. “It’s just a matter of time before those become publically available,” says Robison. He does say that you can get test done in research labs, and that doctors may know how to do this soon, but he isn’t aware of anything available currently. Ways to change gene expression for the better Robison says that it is possible and that “it’s an interesting aspect to epigenetics.” He says that those listening to the podcast are already working to better alter their gene expressions, and that anything we do, from eating to exercise, will change gene expression. Aside from saying “healthy choices matter,” Robison felt that there wasn’t much he could say definitively about changing gene expression. He also reminds listeners that this could possibly affect...

About Shea Shea Robison is a doctoral candidate for political science at Idaho State University, and the author and producer of The Nexus of Epigenetics, where he raises awareness of epigenetics, as well as analyzing current research. He was a guest writer on epigenetics for Front Line Genomics magazine, which also features interviews and contributions from [...]

In part two of Making Athletes podcast episode 11, host Wes Kennedy speaks with Reed Davis, the founder of the Functional Diagnostic Nutritional Certification Course, about low testosterone and what can be done to improve it. Davis begins by saying that there could be an increase in fits of anger in men with an increased level of testosterone, but only if they took too much. Davis continues on by saying that there are “normal levels, and then maybe even high normal” both of which are good. You want lots of energy like a teenager, and this comes from having “good, solid testosterone levels.” Excessive testosterone will keep people in a “fight-flight mode” explains Davis, saying that this is why some teenagers go through fits of anger. You don’t want to go past the “healthy youthful levels” cautions Davis, saying that it can...

Reed Davis is a certified nutritional therapist and founder of the Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Certification Course. He has provided functional lab assessments—evaluating hormone levels, digestive and immune problems, detoxification issues and other related health problems—to more than 11,000 clients. Davis began his career in environmental law, where he studied the effects of the environment on [...]

About John Rusin John Rusin is known as the fitness industry’s physical therapist. He specializes in strength and condition, and in sports performance physical therapy. He has degrees in exercise science and physical therapy. Rusin has worked with athletes ranging from NFL to MLB players, to competitive power lifting and body builders. He has developed [...]

In part two of Elite Training Program’s podcast series, host Wes Kennedy speaks to John Rusin, the fitness industry’s physical therapist, about stability versus mobility. Rusin says that hands on Self Myofascial Release is all about treating mobility issues. Tissue extensibility dysfunctions primarily occur with how your tissues are elongating, especially when they are under tensional forces. There are times when stability issues occur that can cause problems down the line in the genetic chain, even though you may have awesome mobility. Rusin says that the best way to differentiate whether it’s a mobility or stability issue is to look at the neuromuscular developmental patterning. The first thing to do is to lie in a supine or prone position and see if you can turn between the two. Then, prop yourself onto your elbow from the prone position to create shoulder stability. From there you can move into a kneeling position on all fours, then to a half kneel, and a tall kneel. You should finally end up standing. Rusin explains that in each position, you should try to see if you have mobility before moving on. Once you know this, you can figure out exactly which area to address. The biggest misconception that Rusin comes across is...

About Joel Joel Jamieson is the creator of the BioForce HRV, and author of the accompanying book, The Ultimate Guide to HRV Training. He is one of the leading authorities for strength and conditioning for combat sports, as well as having worked extensively for organizations such as the Navy Seals. Jamieson is a contributing writer [...]

In part 2 of Elite Training Program’s podcast series, host Wes Kennedy talks to Carl Paoli, created of gymnasticsWOD.com about some of the biggest mistakes Paoli sees in athletes who are trying to gain control of their bodies. Paoli says that athletes who are not used to moving within certain planes of motion need to be patient, as these new movements may not come naturally to them. Paoli says that it is about taking the fundamentals and bringing them into play when developing your full body movement. In terms of practical thinking, start with something simple like trying to get from a lying position on the floor, to standing up. From there, he suggests that you play around with the various ways of getting off the floor, such as having your hands on your head, using only one leg, or having your hands behind your back. The goal, he says, is to find a discipline that has trained and practiced these movements for a long time. The most common injuries occurring in athletes who don’t follow a proper progression as they move through increasingly difficult moments Paoli jokes that when an athletes has trouble progressing through difficult movements that they end up with emotional depression. He says seriously, that knee, shoulder, and elbow injuries are the most common. In order to avoid injuries, it is important to...

About Carl Carl Paoli is the author of the book Freestyle, National gold medalists in gymnastics on the vault, and owner of NAKA Athletics in San Francisco. He trained and competed in Spain as an elite gymnast for over 15 years. He attended school for environmental science, genetic engineering, and coral reef ecology, before returning [...]

In part 2 of Elite Training Program’s podcast series, host Wes Kennedy sits down to speak with Kamal Patal, who works at examine.com, about what’s coming up in the next year for Examine. Patal says that they are looking to team up with more non-profit organizations. This will allow health care organizations to get their research directly. Sports dietician organizations would also be able to access the research, so that they may be able to further their careers. They are also looking into moving towards more food and nutrition research. Patal says that they are excited to see what research says about certain foods and diets. What are the effects that poor or unproven supplements can have on someone? Patal begins by saying that aside from wasting money on supplements that don’t work, people should be careful of supplements that should side effects later on. A while back, the government decided to enrich foods with folic acid so that mothers would be more likely to have a healthier baby, and would be less likely to encounter problems like a neural tube defect. Decades later, it was realized that because of enrichment of folic acid, certain cancer rates were increasing. This is not something that they would have been able to guess over time. The best way to be sure you’re going to avoid side effects is to...

Everything You Want to Know about Supplements! Examine.com is 4 years old, and is now the largest/most trusted unbiased resource on supplementation (over a million visits per day!). If you want the truth, these guys are the trusted company for it. Research Digest: This is for people who are really into nutrition. They contain a [...]

--> To get a discount on your purchase of the Marc Pro or Marc Pro Plus:
 http://www.marcpro.com/store Enter ETP for a great discount at checkout.

In Part Two of Elite Training Program’s podcast, host Wes Kennedy speaks with Gary Reinl, author of Iced: The Illusionary Treatment Option about devices that are similar to the MARC Pro device and how they are different, such as inflatable pants that continuously compress and relax to stimulate blood flow. Reinl says that while this type of device has a place, it is not a good tool to use for recovery. Reinl says that unlike devices that passively squeeze the skin, the MARC Pro causes stress that creates nitric oxide based with vasodilation, which increases the blood flow in. As this occurs, muscle activation around the lymphatic vessels, causing any waste to be removed. This process also occurs simultaneously as the stress causes Myokine to be produced and released in the muscle. This aids in tissue regeneration, inflammation, repair, and remodelling. This entire process is reliant upon muscle stress. The problem with inflatable pants, Reinl continues, is that they passively squeeze the skin; they do not reorganize and repair tissue. Nitric Oxide dilatation is not created to increase blood flow in, and lymphatic waste is not moved through the lymphatic vessels. While these types of devices do not aid in recovery, Reinl does say that they are useful when...

Kelly Starrett, also known as K-Star, is a coach, physical therapist, author, speaker and creator of mobilitywod.com. Author of the soon to be released book, Deskbound (which states that sitting is the new smoking), Kelly’s website, has won multiple awards, including Breaking Muscle’s Top Ten Fitness Blogs of 2011. He has been a guest lecturer [...]

Mike Kesthely is a firefighter-fitness competitor and owner of Dynamic Nutrition. His main goal is to demystify the entire process of nutritional fitness. Saying it is foundational for future success, Mike develops customized nutrition programs, tailored to the athlete’s person goals. He also spends a lot of time teaching people how to treat adrenal fatigue.  [...]

Doug Kaufmann, host of the popular TV show, Know the Cause, became interested in fungi after returning from Vietnam in 1971 as a US Navy Medical Corpsman attached to the 7th Marine Division. Kaufmann returned home in 1971 with strange symptoms he thought were related to food allergies.  He later discovered them to be fungal [...]