Just Fly Performance Podcast
The Just Fly Performance Podcast is dedicated to all aspects of athletic performance training, with an emphasis on speed and power development. Featured on the show are coaches and experts in the spectrum of sport performance, ranging from strength and conditioning, to track and field, to sport psychology. Hosted by Joel Smith, the Just Fly Performance Podcast brings you some of the best information on modern athletic performance available.

The Just Fly Performance Podcast is dedicated to all aspects of athletic performance training, with an emphasis on speed and power development. Featured on the show are coaches and experts in the spectrum of sport performance, ranging from strength and conditioning, to track and field, to sport psychology. Hosted by Joel Smith, the Just Fly Performance Podcast brings you some of the best information on modern athletic performance available.
Today’s podcast features Mike Bruno. Mike is the Assistant Director of Olympic Sports Performance at Clemson University. Mike has both a sports performance and massage therapy background, with an approach influenced heavily by Bill Hartman’s biomechanical model. He has worked with a wide variety of sports, including track and field, and currently oversees golf and tennis at Clemson.
Human movement is composed of more than just muscle and neural signals. It is also heavily influenced by athletes’ strategies to move pressure through their unique skeletal structures. By understanding the role of structure on speed and movement abilities, we can also better understand ideal training modalities and progressions for each athlete.
On today’s episode, Mike speaks on speed and power training through the lens of pressure management and skeletal structure. He talks about different structural archetypes and their needs in the weightroom, as well as how these archetypes lend to various performance outputs on the field of play (focusing on track speed and performance). With many anecdotes from the world of track and field, this episode draws numerous links between strength, speed and individual training factors.
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View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/)
Timestamps
2:01- Optimizing Athletic Performance through Biomechanics
8:19- Optimizing Speed Through Internal Body Dynamics
11:33- Dynamic Insights from Athlete Force Plate Analysis
16:48- Optimizing Jumping Performance with Pressure Techniques
25:34- Optimizing Athletic Performance Through Heavy Bilateral Squatting
27:47- Structural Analysis for Tailored Athletic Training Programs
30:09- Track and Field Performance Based on Pelvic Adaptations
39:21- Infrastructural Angles Influence Athletic Training Specialization
40:53- Structural Archetypes: Tailoring Training for Performance
48:18- Individual Structure Influence on Training Optimization
1:01:33- Enhanced Athletic Performance through Triphasic Training
1:09:03- Long-Term Physical Qualities Enhancement in Athletes
1:21:26- Managing Pressures and Gravity in Track Training
Quotes
(12:19) “(In a vertical jump) The faster they drop, the quicker it would pop up.” – Mike Bruno”
(14:04) “If you take it like five singles, bop, bop, bop, bop, bop is going to be different on the pelvic floor and give you a different output than a banded oscillatory squat.” – Mike Bruno”
(19:20) “The higher your VO2 max, the thinner your diaphragm, which I thought was a very interesting thing, but it lends on the like. Wrestlers are the highest. All they’re doing is pressurizing and they’re playing like hand fighting. That’s all they’re doing is being. Judo was the second one. Sprinters were the third one” – Mike Bruno
(31:34) “Your structure dictates quite literally everything.” – Mike Bruno
(37:06) “The fluid hit the top and it suspended them. So if you ever watch someone jump and they jump unbelievable, it looks like they just kind of get suspended up there. It’s like, oh, that’s the fluid hitting the top.” – Mike Bruno (00:37:19)”
(46:33) “One of the best things, you know, is if you don’t do complexes, especially with an indicator or something where you’re seeing the result, you miss the opportunity to get a lot of connections.” – Joel Smith
(1:00:40) “A lot of times in my setting, I have athletes that come in, they have their, their connective tissues too stiff and it doesn’t store at all. And so you’re like, you’re really powerful, but we can’t get into good positions on the track or we can’t…

Joel Smith, MS, CSCS is a NCAA Division I Strength Coach working in the PAC12 conference. He has been a track and field jumper and javelin thrower, track coach, strength coach, personal trainer, researcher, writer and lecturer in his 8 years in the professional field. His degrees in exercise science have been earned from Cedarville University in 2006 (BA) and Wisconsin LaCrosse (MS) in 2008. Prior to California, Joel was a track coach, strength coach and lecturer at Wilmington College of Ohio. During Joel’s coaching tenure at Wilmington, he guided 8 athletes to NCAA All-American performances including a national champion in the women’s 55m dash.
In 2011, Joel started Just Fly Sports in an effort to bring relevant training information to the everyday coach and athlete. Aside from the NSCA, Joel is certified through USA Track and Field and his hope is to bridge the gap between understandable theory and current coaching practice.
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Guests
A
- Aaron Cantor (1)
- Aaron Davis (1)
- Adam Feit (1)
- Adarian Barr (11)
- Alex Brooker (1)
- Alex Effer (3)
- Alex Kanellis (1)
- Alex Lee (2)
- Alex Natera (2)
- Andreas Behm (1)
- Andrew Cormier (1)
- Andrew Paul (2)
- Andrew Sheaff (2)
- András Hegyi (1)
- Andy Eggerth (1)
- Andy Ryland (2)
- Angus Bradley (3)
- Angus Ross (4)
- Anthony Blazevich (1)
- Austin Jochum (5)
B
- Bas Van Hooren (1)
- Ben Askren (1)
- Ben House (1)
- Ben Patrick (1)
- Bill Hartman (3)
- Bobby Stroupe (2)
- Bobby Whyte (3)
- Boo Schexnayder (4)
- Brady Volmering (3)
- Brandon Byrd (1)
- Bret Contreras (2)
- Brett Bartholomew (1)
- Bryan Mann (1)
C
- Cal Dietz (7)
- Calin Butterfield (1)
- Cameron Josse (5)
- Carl Valle (1)
- Carmen Pata (1)
- Chad Dennis (1)
- Charles St. John (1)
- Charlie Reid (1)
- Chong Xie (1)
- Chris Bramah (1)
- Chris Chamberlin (2)
- Chris Chase (1)
- Chris Kelly (1)
- Chris Korfist (8)
- Chris Scott (1)
- Christian Thibaudeau (9)
- Chris Wicus (2)
- Clifton Harski (1)
- Cody Bidlow (2)
- Cody Plofker (1)
- Colby Mamigonian (4)
- Collin Taylor (1)
- Conor Harris (1)
- Corey Peacock (1)
- Cory Schlesinger (2)
- Cory Walts (1)
- Curtis Taylor (1)
D
- Dan Cleather (1)
- Dan Fichter (6)
- Daniel Back (3)
- Daniel Bove (1)
- Daniel Chao (1)
- Daniel Martinez (1)
- Dan John (5)
- Danny Foley (1)
- Dan Pfaff (1)
- Dave Kerin (2)
- Dave O’Sullivan (1)
- David Donatucci (1)
- David Durand (1)
- David Grey (5)
- David Weck (3)
- Derek Evely (2)
- Derek Hansen (3)
- Devin Hayes (1)
- DJ Murakami (3)
- Donald Chu (1)
- Doug Kechijian (1)
- Dr. Chris Gaviglio (1)
E
- Eamonn Flanagan (2)
- Ebonie Rio (1)
- Edward Yu (1)
- Edythe Heus (1)
- Emily Splichal (2)
- Eric Cressey (1)
- Eric Guthrie (1)
- Erik Huddleston (2)
- Erik Korem (1)
- Ethan Reeve (1)
- Evan Peikon (1)
F
- Fergus Connolly (1)
- Flynn Disney (1)
- Frank Forencich (1)
G
- Gary Ward (3)
- Gavin MacMillan (1)
- Graeme Morris (2)
- Grant Fowler (2)
- Greg Potter (1)
H
- Helen Hall (2)
- Henk Kraaijenhof (3)
- Hunter Eisenhower (1)
- Håkan Andersson (1)
I
- Ian Markow (1)
J
- Jack Edwards (1)
- Jake Jensen (1)
- Jake Schuster (2)
- Jake Tuura (5)
- James Baker (1)
- James DiBiasio (1)
- James Smith (3)
- James Wild (2)
- Jamie Smith (Strength Culture) (2)
- Jarod Burton (2)
- Jason Feairheller (1)
- Jay DeMayo (2)
- JB Morin (4)
- Jeff Howser (2)
- Jeff Moyer (7)
- Jenn Pilotti (1)
- Jeremiah Flood (1)
- Jeremy Fischer (1)
- Jeremy Frisch (8)
- Jimson Lee (1)
- Joe DeFranco (1)
- Joel Reinhardt (3)
- Joel Smith (20)
- Johan Lahti (1)
- John Cronin (1)
- John Garrish (3)
- John Kiely (2)
- John Nelson (1)
- John Wagle (1)
- Jonas Dodoo (1)
- Jon Hinds (1)
- Jon Stea (1)
- Jorge Carvajal (1)
- Joseph Coyne (1)
- Joseph Dolcetti (1)
- Josh Hingst (1)
- Josh Hurlebaus (6)
- Julien Pineau (2)
- Justin Lima (1)
- Justin Moore (4)
- Jérome Simian (2)
K
- Katie St. Clair (3)
- Keegan Smith (1)
- Keenan Robinson (1)
- Keir Wenham-Flatt (3)
- Keith Baar (2)
- Ken Clark (2)
- Kevin Carr (1)
- Kevin Foster (2)
- Kevin Hollabaugh (1)
- Kevin Mulcahy (2)
- Kibwé Johnson (1)
- Kurt Hester (1)
- Kyle Dobbs (4)
- Kyle Paxton (1)
- Kyle Waugh (1)
L
- Lance Walker (1)
- Lee Taft (5)
- Leo Ryan (2)
- Liz Gleadle (1)
- Logan Christopher (4)
M
- Mandy Macri (1)
- Marc Bubbs (1)
- Mark Hoover (1)
- Mark McLaughlin (2)
- Mark Watts (1)
- Mark Wetzel (4)
- Mat Boulé (1)
- Matt Cooper (3)
- Matt Domney (1)
- Matt Gifford (1)
- Matt Jordan (1)
- Matt McInnes-Watson (1)
- Matt Thome (1)
- Matt Van Dyke (2)
- Max Aita (1)
- Max Schmarzo (2)
- Max Shank (1)
- Michael Boyle (2)
- Michael Bruno (1)
- Michael Camporini (1)
- Michael Yessis (2)
- Michael Zweifel (6)
- Michelle Boland (2)
- Miguel Aragoncillo (1)
- Mike Goss (1)
- Mike Guadango (2)
- Mike Kozak (2)
- Mike Robertson (1)
- Mike Salemi (1)
- Mike Sullivan (1)
- Mike T Nelson (2)
- Mike Young (1)
- Mladen Jovanović (1)
N
- Nick Davis (1)
- Nick DiMarco (2)
- Nick Garcia (1)
- Nick Serio (1)
- Nick Winkelman (2)
- Nicolai Morris (2)
P
- Pat Davidson (5)
- Patrick Coyne (1)
- Pat Trainor (1)
- Paul Cater (3)
- Perry Nickelston (1)
- Piotr Maruszewski (1)
Q
- Quinn Henoch (1)
R
- Rachel Balkovec (2)
- Rafe Kelley (5)
- Rana Reider (1)
- Randy Huntington (4)
- Rett Larson (1)
- Richard Aceves (1)
- Rich Burnett (1)
- Rick Brunner (1)
- Rick Franzblau (3)
- Rob Assise (5)
- Robbie Bourke (1)
- Rob Gray (2)
- Rocky Snyder (2)
- Roger Nelsen (7)
- Rolf Ohman (1)
- Romain Tourillon (1)
- Ron McKeefery (1)
- Ross Jeffs (2)
- Ryan Banta (3)
- Ryan Bracius (1)
- Ryan Foley (1)
- Ryan Horn (1)
- Ryan Jackson (1)
S
- Sam Portland (2)
- Sam Wuest (3)
- Scot Prohaska (1)
- Scott Leech (1)
- Scott Robinson (3)
- Scott Salwasser (5)
- Scott Thom (2)
- Seth Lintz (2)
- Shawn Myszka (1)
- Sheldon Dunlap (2)
- Simon Capon (2)
- Simon Hunt (1)
- Steffan Jones (4)
- Stephen Laflamme (1)
- Steve Fudge (1)
- Steven Kotler (1)
T
- Tim Anderson (3)
- Tim Richardt (1)
- Tim Riley (1)
- Tommy John (4)
- Tony Holler (3)
- Tony Villani (1)
- Tyler Yearby (2)
- Tyrone Edge (1)
- Ty Terrell (1)
V
- Vern Gambetta (2)
W
- Walt Cline (1)
- Will Ratelle (1)
Y
- Yosef Johnson (1)
Z
- Zach Even Esh (3)
- Zig Ziegler (1)