Physical Therapy

How has your background in martial arts impacted your coaching?

How Martial Arts Background Impacts Coaching and Injury Management

How has your background in martial arts impacted your coaching? So, I mean really it paved the path for me to be where I am now. I started coaching as a martial arts coach and eventually fell in love with sports performance and now rehab. And I think that really just showed me, one, how to communicate with athletes. It was my first exposure to working intensively with athletes and preparing them to compete at very high levels. And so whenever I went and took that to sport performance, it wasn't just the skill of martial arts, but the communication skills just from understanding what the goal is of high performance coaching. And so I think that that was a big piece. But also, as a martial artist, you can't always be feeling 100% when you compete. And that's true for a lot of athletes. And so managing injuries around competition is something that I think martial arts coaching prepared me well for. So whenever you have an injury and you still need to compete, right, because there's something on the line, there is an aspect of coaching where you have to pull back enough so that you can make some progress in your recovery, but you have to train hard enough that you are not ill-prepared for the task at hand for that competition. And so finding that sweet spot and weighing the pros and cons of rest and training to manage an injury is something that I think martial arts prepared me for well. And so ultimately, the integrity, the honor, the grit and indomitable spirit that martial arts teaches you carries over in a way that I want to help support all my athletes in those areas too.

My background in martial arts has enabled me to develop strong communication skills and an understanding of how to manage injuries during competition. It has also taught me the core values of integrity, honor, grit, and an indomitable spirit that I strive to instill in my athletes.

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My background in martial arts has greatly influenced my coaching journey. It provided the foundation for where I am today. Starting as a martial arts coach, I gained valuable experience in working closely with athletes and preparing them for high-level competition. This experience not only honed my martial arts skills but also taught me effective communication with athletes, which was crucial when I transitioned to sports performance coaching. Understanding the goals of high-performance coaching and being able to communicate effectively became key aspects of my coaching style.

Additionally, being a martial artist taught me that athletes often have to compete even when not feeling their best due to injuries or other factors. This skill of managing injuries around competition is something that martial arts coaching prepared me well for. Finding the balance between allowing athletes enough rest for recovery while still training adequately to be prepared for competition is a delicate task. Martial arts instilled in me the ability to navigate this fine line, weighing the pros and cons of rest and training.

Moreover, martial arts instilled values such as integrity, honor, grit, and an indomitable spirit within me. These qualities are essential not just in martial arts but also in supporting all my athletes in their athletic endeavors. Overall, my background in martial arts has had a profound impact on my coaching style and approach, shaping me into a coach who values effective communication, injury management, and the development of essential character traits in athletes.

What sets your coaching services apart from other fitness coaches?

Unlocking the Full Potential: The Unique Approach of Our Fitness Coaching Services

What sets your coaching services apart from other fitness coaches? So whenever an athlete comes to work with me, my goal is to help them create an identity shift. So I am looking at them as an entire person, not just an athlete or not just the weights they move or the speed that they perform at. I am looking at the whole person because ultimately, whenever we feel resistance in our training process or our results, there is often resistance in other parts of our life too that impact our ability to be the person that performs at the level we want. So if an athlete comes to a coach looking for a specific service or a specific goal rather, there are many different facets of that athlete's life that will contribute to that goal being their home environment, their beliefs about themselves, their relationship with their finances or work or significant others and family. And looking at all of those pieces and helping them be the best in those areas is also going to help them perform better on the field or in their sport. So taking that into consideration, I think that a big piece of what's missing from a lot of fitness coaching is that full approach to everything. Not everyone is going to be able to perform what is optimal, but rather looking at what is optimal for them and their lifestyle. On top of that, just being a doctor of physical therapy and having an extensive background in sports performance at the elite level is huge for my coaching services. I know that most coaches online have online certifications and lack some of that more in-depth experience with the human movement system. That combination of things really sets me apart.

What sets my coaching services apart from other fitness coaches is that I look at the whole person and not just the physical aspects. I use my experience as a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Sports Performance Coach to help athletes reach their goals.

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What sets my coaching services apart from other fitness coaches is my focus on helping athletes create an identity shift. I view my clients as whole individuals, considering not just their athletic performance but also other aspects of their lives that may impact their training and results. I believe that resistance in training or results often stems from resistance in other areas of life. By addressing these factors such as home environment, beliefs, relationships, and finances, I can help athletes perform better on the field or in their sport. Many fitness coaches may overlook this holistic approach and fail to consider what is optimal for each individual's unique lifestyle. Furthermore, my background as a doctor of physical therapy and extensive experience in sports performance at the elite level contribute to the expertise I bring to coaching. While many coaches may have online certifications, they often lack the depth of experience with the human movement system that I possess. It's this combination of factors that truly sets me apart from others in the industry.

What are the pros and cons of having a big ego in the gym?

The Pros and Cons of a Big Ego in the Gym: Delusions of Grandeur or Motivational Fuel?

What are the pros and cons of having a big ego in the gym? There's not many pros, but I suppose one of them is that when you have a big ego, it can drive you to compete really hard, and when you are pushing the limits of what you are capable of, having that ego-driven competition can be helpful and push you to do things that you might not have otherwise tried. It can motivate a lot of people. Outside of that, a pro can be that when you have a big ego and it drives some of your decision making, especially if you are trying to compete, there is always someone better at the sport who is going to perform faster, stronger, whatever, and eventually you are going to get humbled. Having a big ego can lead to that hard lesson learned that can teach humility, which has tons of value. Outside of that, having a big ego in the gym, the cons are so much more than the pros. You're going to miss more lifts, you're going to accumulate more fatigue than is necessary, you're going to make poor decisions and potentially injure yourself at higher rates because of those poor decisions, as well as when you have a big ego, you're less likely to be willing and open to learn from other people who might be able to help you become a better athlete, but if you have a big ego, you'll never know. Finally, if you have a big ego, you're just not being the most well-rounded person that you can be and humility is a blessing. Being able to take a step back and recognize all the areas that there are to improve and be open to everyone is always going to be better than being ego-driven.

Having a big ego in the gym can help motivate and push you to compete, but it also can lead to missed lifts, fatigue, poor decision-making, injury, and a lack of humility.

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The pros of having a big ego in the gym are limited. One potential benefit is that it can drive intense competition and push you to exceed your limits. It may provide motivation for some individuals. Another advantage is that a big ego can eventually lead to humbling experiences when facing competitors who are better, teaching valuable lessons in humility.

On the other hand, the cons of having a big ego in the gym outweigh the pros. You are more likely to miss lifts, accumulate unnecessary fatigue, and make poor decisions that could result in injury. A big ego can also hinder your willingness to learn from others who could help you improve as an athlete. By having a big ego, you limit your ability to become a well-rounded individual, as humility allows for recognizing areas of improvement and being open to everyone's input. In conclusion, being ego-driven is not conducive to overall growth in the gym or as a person.

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Physician disclaimer

Dr. Mitchell Tanner, PT, DPT, CSCS answers your Physical Therapy questions. See all the advice Dr. Mitchell Tanner, PT, DPT, CSCS has and get answers to your own Physical Therapy questions.

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Hi, I’m Mitch! I’m a PT, and strength coach based out of Miami, Florida! Currently I work for Old Bull Athletics as a clinician and performance coach. Additionally I teach a CSCS prep course at the university level with Gifted Education, and I have my own online fitness coaching business.

My background started at the University of South Carolina, where I studied exercise science and got to do sport science with their D1 athletics programs. Additionally I facilitated the creation of Apex Athletic Performance’s sport biomechanics lab during this time.

I have my doctorate in physical therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina. During this time, I got experience working with EXOS and professional athletes. I also have experience working with the University of Florida’s running medicine staff.

Personally, my sport background includes competing in martial arts as a junior at the national and international levels. Currently, my sport focus is on powerlifting and general athletic development. 

On my page you can expect a biopsychosocial approach to fitness and rehab, as well as a pragmatic view of the current evidence.