June 03, 2026

#74: Have We Been Training Athletes All Wrong? – with Chong Xie

52 minutes

On this week’s episode of The Ultimate Assist, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers sit down with fascia researcher and movement specialist Chong Xie to explore a provocative question:Have we spent decades training the human body the wrong way? While most athletes focus on muscles, strength, and conditioning, Chong argues that the true key to performance lies in an often-overlooked system that surrounds every muscle, nerve, organ, and bone in the body: fascia. Drawing from years of research and clinical work, Chong explains why foot function, fascia health, and force transmission may be more important than traditional strength training when it comes to:

Speed and explosiveness
Vertical jump performance
Injury prevention
Chronic pain
Athletic longevity
Balance and coordination
Recovery and rehabilitation

The conversation explores why some elite athletes seem naturally gifted, how barefoot training may unlock untapped athletic potential, why many Achilles injuries are preventable, and how the connection between the feet and glutes may influence everything from sprinting speed to lower back pain. They also discuss:

The surprising role of fascia in the nervous system
Why more stretching isn’t always better
The myths surrounding strength training
How fascia remodeling may help certain chronic conditions
Why modern footwear could be limiting athletic development

Whether you’re an elite athlete, weekend warrior, coach, or someone simply looking to move and feel better, this episode challenges conventional wisdom and offers a completely different perspective on human performance.🎙️ Episode #74: Have We Been Training Athletes All Wrong? – with Chong XieAvailable on Rumble, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

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