Jess is an incredible person! This episode is packed with so much knowledge, from talking about the struggles women face in sport and this field and conversely what kind of mindset you need to have if you're a women in this field. 

Jess gave a lot of great incite on how to prepare the human body basketball, starting with the feet and moving up the body. How important reactive strength is for sport and especially a sport like basketball. 

We talked about how to create a culture that breeds progress as well as an environment that welcomes everyone in the weight room, this is a huge topic. Jess works super hard on creating the culture and environment she has in her gym as well as what comes with her when she trains anywhere.

Make sure to check her out on IG and check out her app if you want to train with her!
IG - https://www.instagram.com/coachjrperformance/
App - https://my.playbookapp.io/jess-racz

We often times glorify the Kobe Bryant's and Michael Jordans for the shear amount of work they put in, early days and long nights, an obsessive dedication to the game. That's all well and good but they worked up to that point, as well as having great genetics, but also they prioritize their recovery just as much as their actual work. 

There's a reason Lebron James is the most durable athlete of all time, theres a reason he hasn't had a career ending/threatening injury or even season ending at that, there's a reason he spends $1.5 million on the likes of a sleep therapist, chef/nutritionists, strength and performance coaches that understand proper programming. 

It starts with the big rocks: sleep, nutrition, proper programming. If those things are impeccable than no thera-gun, normatec, cryotherapy or any other recovery modality will help you. Those just act as bandaids over a massive wound, once your sleep is good, nutrition is solid and your programming is there THEN you can play around with the sexy and cool recovery modalities. 

I talk about the importance of all those above and some ways to improve the three big rocks and further optimize them.

I briefly met Danny in October last year for the PDC in Miami, since then I've been following him on Instagram and youtube and he's a great follow. He's a great trainer, entrepreneur and person. 

Danny is the owner and founder of "Danny Cooper Basketball" which has grown a solid name for itself, he interned under Drew Hanlen for 7 weeks which helped really skyrocket his business and confidence as a trainer. 

He and I talk about training, being a trainer while also being a college athlete, how juggling the two has helped him tremendously. Being the only senior and a captain of his team this year has helped him improve and understand what exactly being a leader is for him. 

Make sure to go check him out and follow everything he's got going on: 
https://www.instagram.com/dcoopbball/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aMAHL9kgoxMrNkW8oQQ8w

In this episode I took the opportunity to capitalize on topics discussed with recent guests (Coleman Ep. 3 & Tyler Ep. 5), those topics were things the games-based approach, constraints, variability, blocked practice and random practice and types of learning. 

At the root of all that is motor learning and skill acquisition, I go over what exactly motor learning is and the science behind it. If we actually look at the science and understand what motor learning is then the traditional approach to training simply isn't getting us better, the games-based approach is. 

I talk about the science but keep it very consumable, as well as giving some example of how we can apply these approaches and concepts. I hope the way I explain this stuff is easy enough to consume and that you're able to takeaway some key things and apply them to your own sessions

References and resources:
Skill acquisition (good entry article): https://www.scienceforsport.com/skill-acquisition/
Great video with Kyle Newell on motor learning: https://trainugly.com/portfolio/specificity-improving-the-learning-process-with/ 
Great resource for all things motor learning: https://thelearnerlab.com/train-ugly/
Rob Gray website: https://perceptionaction.com/
Way of champions podcast with Rob Gray: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/250-rob-gray-phd-how-to-teach-movement-improve-skill/id1223779199?i=1000544561093
Mastery Hoops: https://www.masteryhoops.com/

People to know:
Nikolai Bernstein
Rob Gray
Kyle Newell
Carol Dweck 
Dr. Elizabeth and Robert Bjork

Tyler is an incredible mind in the training space, in my opinion him and Coleman Ayers are on the brink of something huge in the field. He's at the forefront of a much needed and very necessary shift in the training world.

Tyler breakdowns his training philosophies (games-based/constraints-led approach), why he believes in what he does so much, why it makes sense, and how to apply it as well. What's great about Tyler is that he always has his receipts ready, he doesn't just do things to do them. His craft is backed by a lot of science, and it shows.

At 23 he's done a great job in this community, he opened his own gym in Lowell Mass (TJL Training) a couple years ago now which he's been training out of as well as creating a solid following on social media. He has multiple programs and an online academy for those interested. He helped put on, in my opinion, the biggest conference within the basketball world back in October in Miami. The second conference will be this April 2 & 3, along with that he has even more in the works. He hasn't grazed the surface yet, I'm beyond happy to have a relationship with him and to have gotten him on the podcast.

He puts out so much free content that's really game changing between his instagram and youtube, for even more (and at more depth) check out him and Colemans platform 'Mastery Hoops' which I'll link below.  

Tyler's stuff:
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/TylerLeclerc
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tjltraining/
Mastery Hoops - https://www.masteryhoops.com/

Episode 4 means a lot to me because Bryton is a really good friend of mine and he and I have talked about doing a podcast for years, so to be able to create a podcast and get him on is big. 

Bryton is an exceptional athlete and an even better person, he kept it real and was very open about his battles with mental health, the role that sports played regarding his mental health and so much more. 

Since he was in fifth grade he dealt with injuries, and not just busted ankles but torn ACLs, we talk about the physiological aspect of rehab and what an injury like that does to a young hooper so dedicated to a sport. We breakdown what exactly body language is and how it can be very misinterpreted as well as mental toughness.

Bryton and I left you guys some of the things and coping mechanisms we've used and or tried dealing with mental illness and just some great general advice for any listening not just trainer and athlete but anyone.  

It was great to chop it up with my guy Coleman, he's an incredible mind in the performance and basketball industry pushing for a necessary change within this field. Through his innovation, creativity, application and more he's the pioneer of a new aged training format that meshes both on-court skill development and strength and conditioning. Coleman is a science-based guy who backs up everything he says with literature.

At only 23, yes you read that right, Coleman has managed to create multiple thriving businesses in Byanymeansbasketball being his original brand and business to then co-founding him and Tyler Leclerc's online platform "Mastery Hoops" which gives so many trainers, coaches and players access to all the possible information you could need. He also has his own gym in Miami Lakes Florida, "Detail Miami". Not to mention a massive social media presence on youtube, instagram and more which he funnels in information to constantly @byanymeansbasketball. 

If you're unfamiliar with Coleman then take a minute to check him out, a good place to start is his IG @byanymeansbasketball. Here are the links to his platforms and more:

Mastery Hoops Platform: https://www.masteryhoops.com/
E-Book: https://www.masteryhoops.com/ebook.html
Attention to Detail Podcast (Colemans Podcast): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/attention-to-detail-the-podcast/id1547502821
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ByAnyMeansBasketball

Atencio and I met in 2018 at Southern Maine Community College, he and I played on the team that year. Atencio is someone I'm lucky to call a friend, he kept it real this episode talking about his process getting recruited into college, his experience at the college level having played at a community college then division 3 then working his way on to a professional roster in Armenia. There's a lot of great takeaways from this episode so tune in to the whole thing!!

What's up everyone!! I appreciate you so much for tuning in.

For the first episode I talk a little about myself, and a glimpse into my journey to where I am today. What performance means to me, and the goals/format of the podcast going forward.

I love any kind of feedback, constructive or not I'm all ears. 

If you haven't already, please follow me on IG & TikTok @tc.performance_. That's where I post the bulk of my content, other platforms will of course be this podcast as well as getting on youtube soon. 

If possible please leave a rating, review and share the show! It helps out a lot, my goal is to reach as many people as possible. Helping anyone I can, networking with as many as possible, growing myself and much much more. You sharing and leaving a rating will help more than you realize.

As always thank you for your support.