Today’s episode features Christian Thibaudeau who is back for his third appearance on the podcast.

Christian is a world-renowned expert in strength training, but has gained recent attention particularly for his neurotyping system (read my review of it here), which trains athletes in accordance with their neurotransmitter levels and sensitivities. His original podcast with me on the topic is an important listen (if you haven’t listened to it already you should do that before you dive into this episode) and is also our most popular episode to date.  The neurotyping system is a true game changer, and Christian followed up his original talk with episode #99 which went in depth into competitive aspects of each neurotype, and how to approach competitive “chokers” from a neurotyping perspective.

Today’s episode is a two-headed monster of awesomeness when it comes to developing athletes.  The first half of this show, Christian goes in depth regarding early childhood (even down to the 0-2 year old range) and what experiences a child needs to have to optimize their chances of being a good athlete later on.  Christian also gives his take on the over-coached, over-speciailized epidemic that is plaguing youth sports today.

The second half of the show goes deep into specifically training the 2B and type 3 neurotypes (think those athletes with a “weaker” nervous system), and how to properly approach them from a speed, power and sport skill perspective.  Training athletes in the 1B and 2A categories, and even 1A are pretty straightforward, as modern power development methods such as French Contrast will easily improve abilities here. Athletes with less dopamine sensitivity have different needs, and there are other strategies that can prove useful here.  

Finally, Christian gives some insight on nutrition and neurotyping, as well as thoughts on training frequency.  

If you are interested in your own personal neurotype, there is a questionnaire for this now available on Thib Army.

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.  

View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage.

Key Points

Child athletic development, particularly from ages 0-2 and how neurology and neurotransmitters fit into this equation

Why great natural talent is often labeled as “uncoachable”

Recent developments in neurotyping, including training for the type 2B

“French Contrast replacements” for athletes who are not 1B and 2A Neurotypes

How to use the weightroom to improve sensory feedback in athletes for sport skill

How to train a team sport 2B in the weightroom who needs to gain speed

The effects of proteins and carbohydrates in different neurotypes prior to and after workouts

Ideas on training frequency in bodybuilding versus athletic performance

Christian Thibaudeau Quotes

“Modern parents castrate their child’s chance of being a great athlete before the first year of life is over”

“The foundation (of athleticism) is built in the first two years of life”

“(Child athletic development from age 0-2) depends on two main things, and the first one is movement skills…  that depends on the visual system, the vestibular system and the proprioceptive system, your hands and your feet.  The hardware for this system is laid out in the first 2 years of life.”

“The kid needs to see many different shapes, many different colors… three dimensional stuff”

“The vestibular system is where most kids are lacking because parents are lazy… it is developed when a kid has to adapt to rapidly changing positions in space”

“The hands and feet are the two main sensors when it comes to being in a relationshiop with an opponent or in space, so you need to touch as many different textures and shapes as possible, the feet need to be in contact with the floor as much as possible”