LEO Training: Strength & Conditioning | Endurance | Health | Performance | Injury Prevention | Joe DeLeo

In Episode 048, I had the opportunity to interview Sue Falsone. Sue is a pioneer in the rehabilitation field and we cover some very important ground discussing the shoulder and cervical thoracic junction - two key areas that are either not functionally properly or prone to injury.

Sue Falsone was born in Buffalo, NY. She received her bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Daemen College in Amherst, New York. She continued her education by earning a master's degree in human movement science, with a concentration in sports medicine, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sue has presented at state, national and international level conferences in areas focusing on pillar strength, integration of physical therapy and performance training, and comprehensive kinetic chain assessment and rehabilitation. She's a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy (SCS), a certified athletic trainer (ATC), certified orthopedic manual therapist for the spine (COMT) and a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Sue worked at Athletes' Performance for 13 years, last serving as the Vice President of Performance Physical Therapy and Team Sport. She worked with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 6 years, last serving as head athletic trainer and physical therapist. She holds the distinction of being the first female head athletic trainer in any of the four major sports in the United States (MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA).

She served as Head of Athletic Training and Sport Performance with US Soccer's Men's National Team.

She was named a Distinguished Alumni at Daemen College and has been inducted into her high school's Athletic Hall of Fame (Kenmore West).

Her philosophy includes looking at the athlete as a whole person, working with the entire body to create an optimal environment for healing and performance training.

Structure & Function is a consulting and education business for healthcare clinicians, as well as a consulting company for the athlete. Custom courses as well as business advisory are available.Sports medicine department organization is also an area of consult, building a team to be on the same page in the best interest of the organization and the athlete. Physical therapy, movement evaluation and restoration and performance enhancement are also available for the elite and professional athlete, on an individual basis.

Here is what you will learn in this episode:

• Sue's background and why she was interested in pursuing the rehabilitative field as a career
• The Shoulder & Cervical Thoracic Junction
• Structure vs. Function - how they effect one another
• Sleeping posture and postural education
• Considerations for program design and looking at offsetting dysfunctional compensations with reps and sets
• Pavel Kolar - "Old System" vs. "New System" | Flexion vs. Extension
• Considerations for rowers and baseball players
• and much more.

• Sue Falsone (Website)
• Sue Falsone (Instagram)
• Structure & Function (Instagram)
• Structure & Function (Facebook)
• The Shoulder DVD
• The Cervical Thoracic Junction DVD

Cole Summers is a Senior SFG with StrongFirst. Cole's coaching history includes people from all walks of life and abilities, and he has also been a strength coach for Team Canada Women's National Volleyball Team, National Boxing Team members, Pro boxers, Olympic Hockey Team members, NHL and WHA Pro Team Champions, Manitoba Rugby Union, University of Winnipeg Women's Volleyball Team, University of Manitoba Women's Basketball team, and University of Manitoba track. He is based in Winnipeg, Canada.

Since 2005 Cole has been been guided and supported by world famous Dr. Mauro Di Pasquale. Mauro is a scientific genius, MD, and author. He is a former World Champion, North American, many times Canadian National Champion Powerlifter. I follow and highly recommend Dr. Di Pasquale's books "Metabolic Diet", "Anabolic Solutions", and "Radical Diet". His guidance was and continues to be life changing for me and many champion athletes and ordinary folk.

I am personally very fortunate and grateful to have met Cole in person. He was the Team Leader for my team during my StrongFirst SFG I and he had a tremendous impact on me and how I carry myself as a professional.

Here is what you will learn in this episode:

• Cole's family lineage and coming from a long line of hockey players
• Sociological and Cultural changes from the 1970's to present day for men and women
• Teaching women's self-defense beginning in the 1970's
• Training high school athletes - what's the starting point for them?
• Do No Harm
• The Front Lever - Progressions and Training Recommendations
• and much more!

• The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker
• Randy Lahaie's Blog
• Peyton Quinn's books on Self Defense | Bouncer's Guide to Barroom Brawling and Real Fighting
• Marc MacYoung Bibliography
• StrongFirst Open Day in Canada with Senior SFG Cole Summers

Below are some additional comments and remarks from Cole Summers that he sent me after the interview was recorded and requested they be included for you the reader and listener. Enjoy!

"Many of the StrongFirst Leadership, Masters, Seniors and Team Leaders are highly qualified and internationally respected martial arts instructors. These are people I hold in high esteem. I am honoured to call them my friends and I highly recommend people learn from them.

For example, I spent several summers assisting at John Engum's martial arts survival camp in Detroit Lakes, MN. StrongFirst Leadership Instructors there included Dr. Ricardo Nieves and Dr. Prentiss Rhodes. I was fortunate to take 2 of Peter Lakatos' Krav Maga seminars at John Engum's Academy of Taekwondo in Brainerd, MN.

This past May, I trained in Prague with Pavel Macek of KB5 and Practical Hung Kyun.

I've attended StrongFirst Certifications at Steve Milles' Five Points Academy in New York City. I got to witness great fighters training and coaching there.

I recommend any books from StrongFirst and they can be found here.

My favorite exercises are the overhead press and the front lever. The first time I remember pressing a barbell overhead was in Mahtomedi, MN when I was 13 years old. Over the decades that followed I barbell pressed in my basement, at the lake, and in various gyms. I also enjoyed one arm pressing a 70-100 lb dumbbell overhead while standing on a small cliff overlooking the beautiful lake in NW Ontario where the family cabins are located. I purchased many kettlebells for my school and home after Pavel reintroduced kettlebells to the west in 2001. The overhead kettlebell press quickly became my lift of choice. It is also for many, like myself, the most shoulder friendly of the three. The front lever is meditative for me as I mentioned. However, in my experience, the exercise that gives the most bang for the buck...by far... is the kettlebell swing!

I regularly use it with people of all ages and backgrounds...high school kids,doctors,nurses,athletic therapists, chiropractors, lawyers, engineers, police officers, musicians, singers, martial artists, hockey, basketball, volleyball, football players and more. After a winter (or several years) of training with me, which includes thousands of swings, my rugby players, male and female, are far quicker and they can repeat this quickness again and again. This is noticeable by everyone at the rugby park and especially their opponents!

The other big bang mainstay in my coaching is the get-up. Several of my high school kids including members of our multiple Provincial Champion varsity basketball team(s) could perform get ups with the Beast 48kg kettlebell. I feel this helped them in many ways including easily ripping the ball from their opponent when fighting for it overhead."

Mark Allen is a 6x Ironman World Champion and was the first person to ever win the ITU Olympic Distance World Champion in 1989 in Avignon France. He is also a 10-Time Undefeated Champion of the Nice International Triathlon to name a few of his historic racing accomplishments. In 2012 he was voted "The Greatest Endurance Athlete of All Time" in a worldwide poll conducted by ESPN.

Mark trained and competed during an era where technology was not as prevalent as it is today. Smartphones did not exist yet and heart rate monitor technology was still in its infancy. Equipment and gear was also very different compared to today's carbon fiber frames used for triathlon bikes as well as the actual gear worn by the athletes.

Mark details two of his greatest races and what he was going through mentally and emotionally during his 1989 race against Dave Scott and in 1995 when he made up 13.5 minutes to win his final Ironman World Championship at the age of 37. We spend a large portion of this interview discussing the importance of the mental side to training and racing.

Here is what you will learn in this interview:

• Mark's collegiate career as a swimmer and what sparked his interest in triathlon
• Training in an era where technology was not as widely available as it is today
• The importance of developing an aerobic foundation and being able to race aerobically
• Why strength training is critical for endurance athletes
• Dealing with the noise in your mind when training and racing and how to "quiet your mind"
• Fit Soul Fit Body
• Brant Secunda
• Timothy Noakes
• Approaching training as a practice
• The Art of Competition and specific quotes

• Mark Allen Coaching
• Mark Allen Coaching (Facebook)
• Mark Allen Coaching (Twitter)
• Fit Soul-Fit Body
• Fit Soul-Fit Body Seminars
• The Art of Competition
• Timothy Noakes

In this interview I had the opportunity to sit down with Senior SFG, Pavel Macek. Pavel lives in the Czech Republic and runs a gym called KB5. He has also been a student of martial arts for the majority of his life and continues to practice currently. He began studying Judo initially and then segued into the chinese martial art of Practical Hung Kyun. He also is responsible for running StrongFirst Czech Republic.

Here is what you will learn in this episode:

• Pavel's background in martial arts and journey to coaching, strength training, and StrongFirst
• Physical education in school and the impact it had on him as an adult
• How reading the Naked Warrior changed his perspective on training and tied into martial arts
• Using Easy Strength as a blueprint for youth students
• "Untying the chair"
• Why the first 3 months with a new student are critical and integrating students into group classes
• "The tool does not matter, the principles behind them are most important."
• and much more!

It's easy to review the show and it helps the show grow and reach a new audience. If you enjoyed this episode please take a moment and drop a review in iTunes or Stitcher. Thank you!

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• KB5 Gym
• StrongFirst Czech Republic
• A Comprehensive 3 Month Plan for Beginner Group Lessons
• Easy Strength
• Simplex Strength
• Practical Hung Kyun

This is a very special interview with Dean Somerset. Dean and Tony Gentilcore just released a brand new product this week called "The Complete Shoulder and Hip Blueprint". This is a 11+ hour course that is worth 1.1 CEU's through the NSCA. Dean and Tony have put together a phenomenal resource and I've been personally following both their blogs for quite some time. Their experience, insight, and results speak for themselves so I encourage you to check out their new product and their respective websites.

Note: In the interest of transparency it is important to note that I am not receiving anything for mentioning this product. I've followed Tony and Dean's work for a long and it's allowed me to help others and I am paying it forward. Simple as that.

Dean is a personal trainer, author, and international public speaker whose main area of expertise is injury and medical dysfunction management through optimally designed exercise programs. Dean's credentials include:

• BSc. Kinesiology – University of Alberta
• Certified Exercise Physiologist - Canadian Society of Exercise Physiologists
• Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist - National Strength & Conditioning Association
• Medical Exercise Specialist - American Academy of Health, Rehabilitation & Fitness Professionals

Dean has carved a niche for himself by working with individuals who have exited physical therapy and rehab. These individuals are cleared medically to return to work or sports but still may have some underlying dysfunctions or pain that needs to be addressed. Enter Dean!

Dean has written, spoken, and taught extensively regarding the hip and its structure and function. Here is what you will learn in this interview:

• Dean's background and journey into the health and fitness industry
• How his experience as an athlete shaped his career
• Why the hip is a major driver for the knee and low back
• Why training the hip and improving its strength and function can be a catch all to total body improvements
• The transference of the athletic ready stance
• FAI - Femor0acetabular impingement
• How FAI effects the hips and foot position
• What happens when the feet are in a fixed position like in a rowing shell or ergometer
• The Complete Shoulder and Hip Blueprint - what you will learn and why you should invest in this product!

It's easy to review the show and it helps the show grow and reach a new audience. If you enjoyed this episode please take a moment and drop a review in iTunes or Stitcher. Thank you!

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• Dean Somerset
• Tony Gentilcore
• The Complete Shoulder and Hip Blueprint
• Eric Cressey
• Dr. Stuart McGill
• Shoulder Strategies and Hip Helpers Part 1
• 5 Common Hip Training Mistakes

Andrew Read has been in health & fitness industry for over 15 years. He is the owner and operator of Read Performance Training located in Victoria, Australia. He is a former Master RKC and currently teaches for Functional Movement Systems.

Andrew's facility is like walking into a time machine. It pays homage to the Turner Halls of the late 19th Century. Movement and health is the focus. Every person who trains at Read Performance Training undergoes a Functional Movement Screen.

Andrew has a tremendous amount of experience and some of his accomplishments include:

• Master RKC (Russian Kettlebell Certified instructor – the only Australian ever promoted to this level).
• Certified Kettlebell Functional Movement Specialist
• Certified Indian Club Specialist
• National Director Primal Move
• Qualified Olympic and Power Coach through the Australian Weightlifting Federation
• Ironman Triathlete
• Author for – Blitz, Ultrafit, Inside MMA, International Kickboxer, Oxygen and Breaking Muscle.
• Lectured in Australia, USA, China and Korea.

Here is what you will learn in this episode:

• Andrew's background and training in Australia
• The approach at RPT
• Writing the book Beast Tamer
• The Tabata Study
• Aerobic vs. Anaerobic training and how this leads to burning fat vs. burning sugar
• 8-7-4-3-2
• and much more!

It's easy to review the show and it helps the show grow and reach a new audience. If you enjoyed this episode please take a moment and drop a review in iTunes or Stitcher. Thank you!

SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW THE SHOW IN iTUNES

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• ReadPT
• Instagram
• Facebook
• 8-7-4-3-2
• How to lift weights faster for maximum effect
• Talking Tabata
• 70% x 80/20
• Beast Tamer
• Charles Staley
• Ian King
• Charles Poliquin
• Paul Chek
• Joel Jamieson

C. Shante Cofield grew up in Summit, New Jersey, where she was a 4-year varsity athlete, playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. During her sophomore year of high school, Shante tore her ACL, MCL, and meniscus, thus introducing her to the world of physical therapy. Shante successfully rehabilitated her knee and went on to play four years of Division I collegiate soccer at Georgetown University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Health Science.

Wishing to combine her passion for movement and health into a career, Shante continued her educational pursuits at New York University, graduating with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) and earning her certification as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). Shante used her time at NYU to focus on sports medicine and orthopedic rehabilitation and further developed her orthopedic skills via numerous continuing education courses, later becoming a certified Functional Movement Screen (FMS) provider and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) provider. Always thirsty for knowledge, Shante then went on to become a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), demonstrating advanced clinical reasoning, skills, and experience. With a strong clinical foundation, Shante then began looking for ways to better round out her skill set, delving into the world of sports performance. Shante earned her Crossfit Level I Trainer Certification (CF-L1), along with the title of Certified RockDoc after successfully completely both Functional Movement Taping I and II (FMT I, II).

In 2011, Shante expanded her skill set and underwent extensive one-on-one training from private practice owner and pelvic floor specialist, Ann Duffy, MPT. With a desire to be able to treat the entire human body, Shante received training in the treatment of the multitude of female and male pelvic floor pathologies, including but not limited to incontinence, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and pain with intercourse.

A firm believer in the mantra of practicing what one preaches, Shante maintains an active lifestyle as an avid runner and fitness enthusiast. She has completed 2 marathons, is an experienced rock climber, and is a member of CrossFit718.

With her unique skill-set, Shante has experience treating individuals of all ages and levels of functionality, be it the post-partum mother with pelvic floor dysfunction or the elite athlete hoping to set a personal record.

Here's what you will learn in this episode:

• Shante's background and journey from soccer to PT School
• Her approach to physical therapy and treatment
• Who's influenced her
• RockTape and why it's NOT just a taping seminar, it's a movement seminar!
• Why the area that hurts is rarely the dysfunctional one
• Regional Interdependence and Regional Independence
• FRC, Joint by Joint Approach
• Passive vs. Active Range of Motion
• Using tension in a parasympathetic state
• Ankle and Foot Biomechanics
• Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
• Why you must impart stability concurrently with mobility for long term adaptation
• and much more

• The Movement Maestro (Website)
• The Movement Maestro (Instagram)
• The Movement Maestro (Facebook)
• Pelvic Guru

Danny Sawaya has been a professional in the Fitness and Nutrition field for 17 years. After earning a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Arizona, he conducted research and taught nutritional sciences at the University. He is a StrongFirst Team Leader, as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA. Danny underwent all of his Russian kettlebell training with Pavel Tsatsouline the man who brought kettlebell training to the United States. Danny has worked with strength coaching staff of San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks teaching proper kettlebell form and technique. He has also had the privilege of being the strength coach to Canadian Olympic Mountain Biker and Pan Am Gold Medalist Emily Batty. He has also worked with USA Olympic Team Mountain Biker Chloe Woodruff. Danny is the NASA Powerlifting National Record holder for Submasters 181 lbs weight class. He has also broadened his athletic endeavors to the endurance sports and is currently training for the Oceanside 70.3 IronMan in April 2017. Danny is no longer taking on new clientele as he is focusing all of his attention on developing the programs and the team at Evolution Fitness.

Here's what you will learn in this episode:

• Danny's background and journey to being a trainer and starting Evolution Fitness
• What is Powerlifting?
• Transitioning to endurance sports and the changes Danny underwent
• Core values of a gym
• Why you want to lift lighter and with speed in mind vs. grinding reps out
• "It's all easy until it gets heavy"
• Setting goals and aligning them with clients values
• and much more!

• Evolution Fitness
• Tucson Kettlebell
• Evolution Fitness (Facebook)
• Tucson Barbell Club (Instagram)
• Blog: The Parallels of Strength and Endurance Sports
• Blog: CORE Values: Why and Who We Are

In Episode 040 of the LEO Training Podcast I interview Mitchell Sadowsky. Mitch Sadowsky is the Director of Golf Fitness at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, FL, working with professional and amateur golfers and athletes on functional, strength and speed training. A member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Mitch is a Level 3 Fitness certified member of the Titleist Performance Institute, and holds certifications as an SFG Kettlebell Instructor, USA Weightlifting Level 2 Advanced Lifting Coach, Sports Performance Specialist, and holds certificates in Functional Movement Systems and Active Isolated Stretching. Some of Mitch's clients have included PGA touring professionals Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell, European Tour players Maarten Lafeber and Gary Boyd, and Canadian Tour player Charlie Bull.

In addition to Mitch's role as the Director of Golf Fitness at Lake Nona, he is also owner and president of Mitch11 Strength & Performance. As a part of that role, he works directly as the strength coach for Olympia High School Golf, Florida MOJO Volleyball club, and the Eckerd College Indoor and Sand Volleyball programs.

Mitch attended Ball State University receiving his Bachelors of Arts (1998) and Master's of Science (2000) while competing for the Men's Volleyball Team. Serving as Team Captain during his senior campaign, Mitch played in three Final Four championships while competing at Ball State.

Here's what you will learn in this interview:

• Mitch's background
• What to assess for and screen in a golfer
• Considerations for rotational athletes
• Thoughts on programming and why we don't want to be sport specific!
• Working with different demographics: highschool vs. mid 20's vs. middle age athlete
• Charlie Weingroff and Training = Rehab 3
• PlanStrong
• Athletic Development vs. fitness/conditioning
• Training, travel, and competing
• How many reps are too many?
• The similarities between volleyball and golf - "the whipping mechanism"
• Thoughts on TPI Screen, SFMA, and FMS
• Deceleration = Control and why this is critical for an athlete!
• and much more!

Mitch 11 Strength (Website)

Mitch Sadowsky (Instagram)

In Episode 039 of the LEO Training Podcast I interview LIFT CEO Chris Blyth. Chris sits down and takes us through his career as a personal trainer and how he came identified some problems in the health and industry that LIFT is addressing. This is a great look into how the advent of technology is helping trainers reach clients in new and exciting ways but also providing a platform that utilizes current technology to provide a better teaching and learning experience for students and trainers.

Here is what you will learn in this episode:

• Chris's journey from trainer to entrepreneur
• Some of the problems that trainers typically face due to clients and fluctuations in business during the seasons
• What is LIFT?
• How can LIFT be an alternative source of income for trainers?
• What makes LIFT different than other platforms out there and how can it help students/clients learn proper and safe lifting technique effectively?
• How the experience works for trainers and students/clients?
• and much more!

LIFT Session (Website)

LIFT Session (Facebook)