Tag Archive for: Shot Put

Martin Bingisser

HMMR Podcast Episode 208: History in the desert (with Joe Kovacs)

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The most amazing performance at the recent World Athletics Championships didn’t take place on the track, it took place on the field. On his final attempt, shot putter Joe Kovacs summoned the best effort the world has seen in nearly 30 years. Not only was his performance historic, but the whole competition was as he edged out both of his top rivals by just one centimeter. Kovacs joins us on this week’s podcast to talk about the competition, the ups and downs he’s faced in the years leading up to his breakthrough, and the evolution of rotational shot put technique. Read more

Martin Bingisser

HMMR Podcast Episode 200: The faculty (with Angus Ross, Greg Gatz, and John Pryor)

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Vern Gambetta’s GAIN event brings together top practitioners from around the globe in a variety of fields. While the presentations are world-class, what makes it special is the side conversations that we strike up. We tried to recreate that on this week’s podcast by interviewing three faculty members live from GAIN: Angus Ross, Greg Gatz, and John Pryor. Read more

Martin Bingisser

Using time as a training variable

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When we pick up a barbell and perform a lift, we normally focus on just two things: the weight and the number of repetitions. These are undoubtedly key variables to use improving performance, but they miss a lot nuance that goes into getting better. A few years ago I was talking with former discus thrower Adam Kuehl about what other variables he feels are overlooked and his answer was quick: time. Read more

Martin Bingisser

A case study in holistic exercise design with Jean-Pierre Egger

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As Chris McCormick wrote about yesterday, strength coaches can contribute significantly to the development of an athlete’s mental skills. But doing so isn’t about making them work until they puke. It’s about preparation with purpose. Read more

Martin Bingisser

March 2019 in review: throwing

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For our March site theme, we turn our attention from jumping to throwing. This site started out focused on the throwing events in track and field: shot put, discus, javelin and the hammer throw. Over the past decade we have expanded the scope to cover training and coaching for a wide range of sports. But this month we returned to our roots by putting together 7 new articles, 4 new podcasts, and 2 new videos covering all 4 throwing events. Read more

Martin Bingisser

Why a technical philosophy is more important than a technical model

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Earlier this week Nick Garcia wrote about how we think too much about good technique rather than what style will fit an individual athlete. Looking at the final technique is trying to reverse engineer the problem. What we should be looking at is the philosophy that it all started with. One thing that top coaches have in common is that they understand the throw and have an idea of what forces they want to create. How that looks and what the athlete needs to do to achieve it might result in different technique, but the core idea is front and center. Read more

Nick Garcia

Technical models, good technique, and finding your style

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Around the throws world you hear people talking all the time about how this individual or that individual has “good technique.” What exactly does that mean? Read more

Nick Garcia

Proficiency through progressions

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Some coaches like to do things by feel. I’m not that type of coach. I’m a system guy. I like order and organization. In the weight room that means having a plan. And when I’m teaching technique it means having progressions. To me using progressions is like having a system. Read more

Martin Bingisser

HMMR Podcast Episode 186: Throw different

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Throughout 2018 we’ve had the chance to sit down and talk shop with some of the world’s top throwing coaches. To close out the year we’ve compiled six of our favorite highlights from our interviews with coaches like Dan Lange, Don Babbitt, John Frazier, Aretha Thurmond, and Mattias Jons, covering a variety of topics like coaching character, communication, individualizing technique, the biomechanics of throwing, and the champion’s mindset. Read more

Martin Bingisser

HMMR Podcast Episode 179: ThrowsTown USA (with John Frazier)

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Eugene might be TrackTown USA, but Los Angeles has a good claim to being ThrowsTown USA. Not only does Nick live there, but it is home to UCLA and USC, with two of the nation’s top throwing traditions. Five years John Frazier got a unique opportunity as a coach: he got to return to his alma matter UCLA to continue the school’s legendary tradition of throws dominance. Since then UCLA throwers have only gotten stronger and Frazier has solidified himself as one of the top shot put coaches in the country, routinely qualifying multiple athletes for the NCAA Championships. On this episode of the podcast we talk to coach Frazier about his experience starting out as a throwing at UCLA under Art Venegas, his evolution as a coach, and his approach to continuing the UCLA tradition. Read more