The Gap

Check us out on YouTube! https://youtu.be/Vp-P5hkR1go

Two of the most influential American javelin throwers of the modern era — Kara Winger and Ariana Ince — sit down to discuss the future of collegiate javelin and what it will take to elevate the event across the NCAA. In this episode of The Gap #118, we dive deep into the evolution of the javelin in the United States, the challenges young throwers face, and the opportunities that could redefine the sport for the next generation.Kara and Ariana break down how recruiting, coaching education, facilities, and competition structure all impact athlete development — plus the key technical foundations every college program should prioritize. From approach mechanics to power position clarity to staying healthy through high training loads, this conversation gives athletes, coaches, and parents a blueprint for long-term success.We also look at how the U.S. can close the gap with Europe, why javelin culture matters, and what future collegiate throwers need to understand about technique, training age, and sustainable progress. Whether you’re a high school recruit, a D1 thrower, or a coach trying to build a stronger program, this episode is packed with insights from two legends who’ve lived it.✅ Topics Covered:• The state of collegiate javelin in the U.S.• What NCAA programs need to improve• Technical pillars for long-term development• How to keep throwers healthy year-round• The difference between European & American systems• Kara Winger & Ariana Ince on building a true javelin culture• Training models that actually prepare athletes for the next level

Big Shout Out to Joe Frontier for hosting me on his "Podcast Throw Big Throw Far"

You can check them out here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/throw-big-throw-far-podcast/id1449291795https://open.spotify.com/show/7cb5VPldkRtgvu74QfXjaH?si=8687bb28c504440c

The javelin throw is one of the most technical, powerful, and beautiful events in track and field — yet in over half the United States, it’s still illegal at the high school level. In this episode of Throw BIG Throw FAR, host Joe Frontier sits down with Dan Labbadia, the founder of Jacked Javelin, to talk about his nationwide mission to get javelin legalized and accessible in all 50 states.Dan shares how he’s been leading the Jacked Javelin Movement, building resources for athletes and coaches, and connecting the throwing community across the country. From developing safe, cost-effective ways to introduce the event, to highlighting success stories from states that have recently reinstated it — this episode dives deep into how to bring javelin back where it belongs: on every high school track.Learn how states like Iowa, where athletes like Mike Stein grew up without access to high school javelin, still produce world-class throwers through creativity, resilience, and coaching innovation. Dan explains what’s holding some states back, and the actionable steps that athletes, parents, and coaches can take to start advocating locally.We also talk about the growth of javelin education online, how hybrid programs like Velocity are helping throwers around the world train smarter, and how javelin can become a gateway to athletic development, community, and opportunity in the U.S. If you’re a coach, thrower, or parent who believes javelin deserves its spot in every state — this conversation is for you. Together, we can raise awareness, unify the throwing community, and help the next generation of athletes discover the power of the javelin.

Watch us on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@TheGapPod

In this special episode, we dive into The Gap origin story — how two performance coaches from completely different worlds came together to create a podcast built on curiosity, experimentation, and the pursuit of elite performance.

Dan, known online as Jacked Javelin, and Brett, the mind behind Hitman Performance, share how their paths crossed, what sparked the idea for The Gap, and the mission behind it all — bridging the divide between training theory and real-world application.

🎙️ In this episode:

• How The Gap was born

• The story behind “Jacked Javelin” and “Hitman Performance”

• What they’ve learned from years of coaching and experimenting

• The vision for the future of athlete development

This is where it all started — two coaches chasing better answers and closing the gap between science and sport.

Check Us Out On YouTube: https://youtu.be/pyocDxLIpZ8

In this episode of The Gap, we sit down with Range of Strength to break down a truth most lifters never want to hear: Strength is useless if you can’t move well.

You can chase bigger numbers, heavier loads, and harder sessions — but without quality mobility, none of it transfers where it actually matters. Range of Strength explains why mobility is the foundation, not an accessory.

The positions you can’t access are the strengths you’ll never express. If your joints don’t move well, your technique breaks down, your power leaks, and your progress stalls long before your potential is reached.

This conversation exposes the hidden limiting factors behind strength plateaus and gives athletes a clear blueprint for reclaiming their movement, unlocking real performance, and finally bridging the gap between “gym strength” and usable strength.

Watch on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGapPod

Dr. Jarod Burton joins the show to break down how he’s approaching a full Achilles rupture without surgery — using principles of neurology, impulse training, and nervous system regulation. We dive into how the brain drives recovery, why traditional rehab often misses the mark, and what it truly means to train the nervous system instead of just the muscles.

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or therapist, this episode will challenge how you view injury, healing, and performance.

Topics include:

• Neurological control and tissue repair

• Impulse training methods for recovery

• The mental side of non-surgical rehab

• How to retrain the brain after trauma

Follow Dr. Burton’s journey @train__efficiently on Instagram as he rewires his body from the inside out.

Join Dan's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wannagetfast

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGapPod

Dan Fichter joins the show to dive deep into the world of Extreme Isometrics and how they can be used to enhance motor learning, coordination, and overall athletic performance. We break down the neurological principles behind isometric holds, how they influence the nervous system, and why they’re one of the most underrated tools for developing elite movement efficiency.

If you’re a coach, athlete, or anyone fascinated by the connection between strength and skill, this episode will change how you view training forever.

Topics include:

• The science of motor learning through isometrics

• Why “feeling” tension matters more than adding weight

• How Jay Schroeder’s methods shaped this approach

• Real-world application for athletes in every sport

Hope you enjoy!

Thanks for listening to the Gap!

Brady Volmering (aka DAC) is an outside the box thinker who approaches training through a very holistic style you might not often see. He is owner of DAC Performance and Health and has many clients return to play after a variety of injuries. Through impulses, depth drops, rebounds, and ISOs he does it all.

In this episode we go over:

- Training more than just the physical

- Lessons learned from Jay Schroeder

- Why minimal effective dose is flawed

- And so much more

Really enjoyed this talk and Brady's insight on both life and training. Hope you enjoy

Watch On Youtube! ⁠https://youtu.be/eN1yQlKwJT0

Nick DelBianco is the owner of Armswing academy where it's his mission to help volleyball athletes hit the ball harder while also staying injury free.In this episode we discuss:- Common injuries found in both javelin and volleyball- Is it overuse or underprepared?- Unique exercises to level up your arm care- Dangers of early specialization- and so much more

Buy Curtis Thompson's Book Here: https://a.co/d/6T6jc0z

Watch On YouTube: https://youtu.be/OQZmr0xNIGg

n this episode, we sit down with Curtis Thompson, one of the most accomplished American javelin throwers of all time — a 2x Olympian, NCAA Champion, and U.S. National Record holder contender. Curtis has represented the United States on the biggest stages in the world, but his journey goes far beyond the medals and distances.We dive deep into the realities of professional javelin throwing — the training, the mindset, the sacrifices, and what it truly takes to compete at the global level in one of track and field’s most demanding events. From growing up in New Jersey to becoming a U.S. Olympian, Curtis shares the full story of how he built himself into one of the most explosive throwers in America.

Check us out on YouTube! https://youtu.be/j-tlBWN_ct4

Sources Referenced:

https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/prevention-wellness/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-tommy-john-surgery#:~:text=More%20than%201%2C000%20professional%20pitchers,a%2029%25%20rise%20since%202016.

https://drchrisahmad.medium.com/why-is-the-game-of-baseball-demanding-a-better-tommy-john-surgery-a04c98204540

Before shutting down hitters in the NLCS and World Series with back-to-back shutouts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was seen working with a turbo javelin, dialing in mechanics that mirror elite throwing patterns seen in track and field athletes. This video breaks down how javelin training can translate to elite pitching performance, helping pitchers improve their arm path, sequencing, and force transfer — all while reducing unnecessary stress on the elbow and shoulder.As MLB pitching velocity continues to rise, so do the rates of Tommy John surgery across the league. We’re seeing more pitchers than ever hit upper-90s velocity, but at the cost of increased UCL strain and overuse injuries. This clip looks at how Yamamoto’s hybrid approach — combining javelin-based movement drills with high-level throwing mechanics — could represent the next evolution in pitcher training and arm health.If you’re a baseball player, pitching coach, or performance coach trying to understand the balance between velocity and longevity, this is a must-watch.💥 Key Topics Covered: • Yamamoto’s turbo javelin warm-up and its benefits for arm speed • How javelin training improves throwing mechanics for pitchers • Why Tommy John surgery is rising alongside average MLB velocity • How rotational sequencing and mobility affect both power and health