What Is Metastability? Making Theory Practical w/ Alan Dunton

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Alan Dunton is a lecturer in Coaching Science and Skill Acquisition at Munster Technological University (MTU) in Cork, Ireland. A former Taekwondo athlete and coach, Alan has spent his career exploring how people learn, adapt, and perform skill under dynamic conditions. In this conversation, we unpack metastability — what it means, how to design for it, and why adaptability is the hallmark of expert performance.

In This Episode:

• Alan’s background in Taekwondo and how it shaped his approach to coaching
• Understanding metastability: from theory to practical application
• Exploration vs. stability — what do athletes really need?
• Designing training environments for adaptability
• The launch of the new MSc in Skill Acquisition for Sport at MTU

This episode is heavy and theory AND applied information, and I know you will benefit from giving this a listen!

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Referenced Links:

• Free Coaching Guide Download → Get it here
• MTU MSc in Skill Acquisition for Sport → https://www.mtu.ie
• Alan Dunton on X → https://x.com/alandunton
• Emergence → https://www.emergentmvmt.com
• The Adaptable Athlete Podcast on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@thecoachjav

Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io

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