317: Q&A

Jordan Geist first made headlines in 2018 when he threw the senior shot put 70 feet as a teenager. This summer, he solidified his status as perhaps the top shot putter in the world. His path to the top, however, spanned eight years of plateaus, pivots into the hammer throw, and even building his own career as a coach before he fully broke through. On this week's podcast, Geist joins us to discuss his career journey, the lessons that shaped him, and a detailed breakdown of his own throwing technique. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2026/10/hmmr-podcast-episode-329-break-on-through-with-jordan-geist/ »  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources. More notes: This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. For more from Geist's coach Ryan Whiting, listen to our interview with him on HMMR Podcast 278. We also looked a bit more in detail about the benefits of throwing multiple events with Matt Denny on HMMR Podcast 309, who also achieved world-class results in both the hammer as well as the discus. Nick has looked at some of the impacts of the changing NCAA landscape in this article.

It's been a hell of a year so far in the world of throwing: a world recrod, historic marks, and much more just in the spring. Coach Don Babbitt joins us on this week's podcast as we look ahead to the US Olympic Trials and then the Paris Olympics. We take a look at insights that can be gained from the biomechanics of Mykolos Alekna, the development of Ethan Katzberg, the comeback of Kara Winger, and much more. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2024/06/hmmr-podcast-episode-318-throwing-insights-with-don-babbitt/ »  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources. More notes: This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. You can learn more about Babbitt's background from the University of Georgia webpage. HMMR Plus Members can watch Babbitt break down rotational shot put styles, technical development, and training methods in this 3.5 hour video lesson. Babbitt was also a guest on Episode 305 previewing last year's world championships, Episode 256 on throwing trends, Episode 170 on throwing biomechanics, and on Episode 116. And he sat down for a lengthy interview on individualization and other training topics back in 2012. Many of the other throwers mentioned on this episode have been past guests where they discussed their technique and training: Episode 309 with Matt Denny, Episode 283 with Kara Winger, Episode 308 about Ethan Katzberg with coach Dylan Armstrong, Episode 266 with Lance Deal, and Episode 195 with Adam Nelson.

On this week's episode we dig back into to the listener mailbag. Some of the topics we cover: overcoming competition anxiety, the truth behind range throwing, fixing technique, maintaining physical qualities, our favorite presenters, and even a special story about coaching Jeremy Allen White. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2024/05/hmmr-podcast-episode-317-qampa/ »  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources. More notes: This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. For more on range throwing read Jud Logan's original article, and our perspective on the reality of range throwing. Don Babbitt was listed as one of our favorite throws presenters in this episode. He presented Lesson 25: Rotational shot put master class (with Don Babbitt) in the HMMR Classroom and has been a guest on Episode 305, Episode 256, Episode 170, and Episode 116. Strength and transfer was also looked at in detail on GAINcast 276. You can hear us answer more questions on Episode 286, Episode 272, Episode 257, Episode 247, Episode 246, Episode 241, Episode 213, Episode 199, Episode 176, Episode 174, Episode 143, Episode 126 and Episode 89.

A lot of coaches like to talk about building individualized training plans, but more often that not their athlete's programs start looking all the same. Paul Solberg is a bit different. He's coaching some of the world's top throwers, and they take very different approaches to reach the same goal. He joins us on this week's podcast to share his process for understanding athletes, tailoring training plan, training intensities, building training blocks, and much more. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2024/04/hmmr-podcast-episode-316-individualizing-training-with-paul-solberg/ »  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources. More notes: This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. Solberg's former coach Asmund Martinsen was our guest on HMMR Podcast 268. Solberg is of course highly influenced by his background in the javelin throw and we've looked at the javlin throw in more detail on GAINcast 156 with Steve Backley and GAINcast 175 with javelin coach Mike Barber. More classical approaches to block periodization were discussed on Episode 28 with Tony Ciarelli. In the HMMR Classroom we've also touched on Bondarchuk's training philosophy in Video Lesson 1, periodization and planning trends in Video Lesson 3, specific strength for throwing in Video Lesson 9, and many other topics covered in this episode.

We often talk on the show about how coaches train their athletes. On this week's podcast we turn the tables and look at how coaches train themselves. Finding time to squeeze a workout in is not always easy, and neither is balancing age, family, and many other factors. Our friends Carissa Sain, David Maris, and Donie Fox join us to share their tips. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2024/03/hmmr-podcast-episode-315-how-the-coaches-train/ »  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources. More notes: This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. You can follow Fox on Instagram (@doniefox) and learn more about RTP Physio. He also contributes to HMMR Media. You can find his articles here. He was previously a guest on HMMR Podcast Episode 231 and GAINcast 261 and presented Video Lesson 34 in the HMMR Classroom on returning to plyometrics after injury. Carissa SAIN was a member of the roundtable on GAINcast 260. You can also find her on Instagram (@carissasain). You can follow Maris on Instagram (@david.maris.958). His Maris Sprint Podcast is a great listen on all things sprint. He is also a frequent contributor of articles to SimpliFaster. Several of the training ideas mentioned in this episode are discussed in more detail on the site, such as leg circuits in Video Lesson 13 and med ball routines on Video Lesson 5. Steve Myrland and Tracy Fober were both referenced and are site contributors and past guests on Episode 149, Episode 281, and Episode 125. Myrland has also contributed to HMMR Classroom GAIN Video 1, Video Lesson 12, Video Lesson 18, and Video Lesson 21.

At first glance, throwers and jumpers might seem like they live on opposite ends of the athletic spectrum, but they have more in common than you might think. Both even groups require athletes to produce immense amount of power in short bursts, focus on highly technical and specific training, and be patient over years of development. On this week's podcast world-class jumps coach Jeremy Fischer looks at some of the parallels between the event groups and their training. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2024/02/hmmr-podcast-episode-314-jump-around-with-jeremy-fischer/ »  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources. More notes: This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. Fischer was also a guest on HMMR Podcast 130 where he discussed about individualization in planning and GAINcast 242 where we looked in detail about programming. You can find Fischer on Instagram (@JeremyFHJ). He also has a lot of great training resources available for free on his webpage, Maximum Velocity Athletics. You can also learn more about the MVA Foundation. You can learn more about jumping on our jumping and sprinting on our topic page.

Success in the throws often comes down to being smarter. Smart enough to master the fundamentals of technique. Smart enough to understand and communicate with athletes. And smart enough to put everything together. On this week's podcast Colorado State coach Brian Bedard shares his approach to coaching smarter, including his lessons on leadership, communication, and technique. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2024/01/hmmr-podcast-episode-313-throwing-smarter-with-brian-bedard/ »  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources. More notes: This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. To learn more about throwing, visit our throwing resources page. For more about Bedard's background, you can read his profile from the Colorado State webpage. You can learn more from Bedard on Instagram (@throwing_smarter) and YouTube. In addition, he has put together a discus course with Casey Malone and Russ Winger. Some other throws coaches and influences were mentioned on the podcast, including Dave Wollman (guest on Episode 44) and Justin St. Clair (guest on Episode 105).

Cory Martin is best known as one of the best combo throwers of all time: 22 meters in the shot put and 75 meters in the hammer throw. He's also put together one of the best combo training programs around: combining the influences of his two coaches and mentors Jerry Clayton and John Smith. On this week's episode we take a look at both of those topics by exploring parallels between different throwing events, how to cross-train them, and how he's integrated difference influences into his own program. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/12/hmmr-podcast-episode-312-the-double-threat-with-cory-martin/ »  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources. More notes: This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. On December 29 and 30 we are hosting the 2023 HMMR Forum: 5 presentations, 6 coaches, and all free for HMMR Plus members. You can learn more about Cory Martin from the University of Louisville and follow him on Instagram at @cmart726. Our recent Episode 309 with Matty Denny explored similar topics of parallels between the discus and hammer throw. Cory Martin's 2 big mentors have both been on our podcasts: Jerry Clayton was on GAINcast 86 and John Smith was on Episode 285 and Episode 287. Take a look at Cory Martin's 22 meter throw from the front and back as well as him throwing 74 meters at the NCAA championships in the hammer.

On our last episode coach Rett Larson explained his approach to warming up, both the theory and practice. This week, we're sharing a bonus episode where we discuss our own approach to the warm up. As with the rest of our training program, the warmup is constantly evolving. We go in detail into the what and why we do now and how that has evolved over the last few years. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/12/hmmr-podcast-episode-311-the-warm-up-bonus-episode/ »  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources. More notes: This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. This bonus episode was inspired by our last Episode 310 on warming up with Rett Larson, as well has his article on the topic. For more on warm up strategies, visit the HMMR Classroom and watch Vern Gambetta's Warm Up DVD and HMMR Classroom Lesson 2: Warming up. Warming up has also been a podcast topic on HMMR Podcast 58 and GAINcast 147. More warm up ideas are included in Video Lesson 12: Mini-band exercises, as well as our member hangouts from July 2016 and December 2018. Additional articles on the site about warming up: The science of warming up by James de Lacey, Warm up to play, don't play to warm up by Steve Myrland, Warming up in a chaotic environment by Michael Bingaman, and A good warm up never gets old by Martin Bingisser.

For many strength coaches, the warmup is the best weapon they have. It's a dedicated time each day to work with athletes, whether they make it in the weight room or not. But to really get the most out of it, you have to have a plan to allow you to use the time effectively, build athlete buy in, and gain the confidence of the coaching staff. On this week's episode Rett Larson joins us to share his plan and philosophy of warming up based on his experience in the Olympic volleyball world. For more information on this topic, read the complete show notes at: https://www.hmmrmedia.com/2023/11/hmmr-podcast-episode-310-weaponizing-warmup-with-rett-larson/ »  Support the show: join HMMR PLUS to get full access to our coaching resources. More notes: This episode is brought to you by HMMR Plus. Become a member for full access to our videos, articles, and podcast archives. You can follow Larson on Instagram @Rettasaurus. We also referenced his Sportsmith article "Weaponizing your athlete's warm up: Make it work for you, your athletes and the head coach." For more on volleyball, listen to our recent GAINcast 275 with former US Olympic volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon. For more on warm up strategies, visit the HMMR Classroom and watch Vern Gambetta's Warm Up DVD and HMMR Classroom Lesson 2: Warming up. Warming up has also been a podcast topic on HMMR Podcast 58 and GAINcast 147. More warm up ideas are included in Video Lesson 12: Mini-band exercises, as well as our member hangouts from July 2016 and December 2018. Additional articles on the site about warming up: The science of warming up by James de Lacey, Warm up to play, don't play to warm up by Steve Myrland, Warming up in a chaotic environment by Michael Bingaman, and A good warm up never gets old by Martin Bingisser.