Episode 145: Dr. Michael Yessis - Soviet Sports Training System, Special Strength Training, and 1x20

2017-11-12

This episodes guest is Dr. Michael Yessis. Dr. Yessis received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and his B.S. and M.S. from City University of New York. He is president of Sports Training, Inc., a diverse sports and fitness company. Dr. Yessis is also Professor Emeritus at California State University, Fullerton, where he was a multi-sports specialist in biomechanics (technique analysis) and sports conditioning and training. Dr. Yessis has served as training and technique consultant to...

This episodes guest is Dr. Michael Yessis.

Dr. Yessis received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and his B.S. and M.S. from City University of New York. He is president of Sports Training, Inc., a diverse sports and fitness company. Dr. Yessis is also Professor Emeritus at California State University, Fullerton, where he was a multi-sports specialist in biomechanics (technique analysis) and sports conditioning and training.

Dr. Yessis has served as training and technique consultant to several Olympic and professional sports teams. He has also trained hundreds of athletes in different sports and developed unique specialized strength exercises that duplicate what takes place in execution of the game skills. By doing these exercises athletes improve skill technique and the physical qualities (strength) specific to the technique. By doing these exercises athletes improve their performance on the field very quickly.

Dr. Yessis is considered this country’s foremost expert on sports technique. Dr. Yessis has written 17 books in the sports and fitness field including Biomechanics and Kinesiology of Exercise, Build A Better Athlete, Sports: Is It All B.S.?, and his latest, The Revolutionary 1x20RM Strength Training Program.

In addition, he completed four renowned DVDs; Exercise Mastery, Specialized Strength and Explosive Exercises for the Quarterback, Specialized Strength and Explosive Exercises for Baseball and Specialized Strength and Explosive Exercises for Softball, as well as the CD books Explosive Tennis: The Forehand, and Explosive Tennis: The Backhand.

On this episode Wil and I discussed:

Doc's background
How difficult was it for Doc to grow up in America with Russian parents during the Cold War
The Soviet sports training system and the influences of anabolic steriods
The coaching education system within the Soviet sports system
We talk about that in order to to be a great specialist you will first and also concurrently need to be a great generalist. This is a common trend I see with all masters of a specific craft. The stronger and more diverse one's general base, be that in the attainment of a physical capacity or of knowledge, the greater the mastery over the specific domain. Speciality is built off a general base. The greater the general base the greater the mastery of the speciality.
Doc's Influences
Doc's Training Philosophy - Skill execution is King!
How Doc differentiates between a physical capacity issue vs a skill issue
The roles of general strength and special strength training means over the course an athletes career and development
Doc gives us a detail description of the 1x20 method and how he came to formulate it
Doc discusses the criteria he uses in developing his prescription for special strength exercises
Doc talks about how he likes to program and organize the training process
Doc tell us about the biggest lessons his has learned over his career and life
What is Doc's current daily rituals and routines?
Doc's top advice and resources to all the listeners
And Finally - If Doc could invite 5 people to dinner, dead or alive, who would he invite and why?