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 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.

How can individuals maintain their motivation and momentum when pursuing long-term fitness goals?

Mastering Motivation and Momentum: Secrets to Long-Term Fitness Success

How can individuals maintain their motivation and momentum when pursuing long-term fitness goals? So long-term goals, it is totally normal to have dips in motivation, but you can minimize that by understanding the real reason why you care about your goal. So if you have a goal of losing 20 pounds, well, why is that a goal for you? Why is that important? Is it because you want to look better? Okay, well, why do you want to look better? Why is that something that you value? And continuing to ask why until you are unable to really gives you a full, robust understanding of what is the true motivation behind your goal, especially when the motivation to lose weight slows down, especially if you have dips in your progress towards that goal. You want to understand the real driving factor of why that's important to you and reflect back on that when times get tough. As far as maintaining momentum, I always recommend the never miss twice rule. So if you are working towards your goal and you're trying to eat healthier and you have a meal that is not in alignment with your goal, then you want to make sure that the next one you are back on track. Never miss twice because every moment you have a new decision to make. And so using the never miss twice rule, make sure that you don't get into a habit of getting further and further away and that you recognize your ability to change that situation in the next moment. So if you miss one workout because you're really busy, make it a super important goal of you not to miss the next one. So never missing twice helps you make sure that you don't dig yourself into a rut that gets harder to get out of. Even if there are valleys and peaks, there are smaller valleys and peaks and it's easier to maintain that forward progress.

To maintain motivation and momentum when pursuing long-term fitness goals, understand the real reason why you care about your goal and use the Never Miss Twice rule. This means if you miss one workout, make sure that you don't miss the next one so you don't dig yourself into a rut. This will help ensure smaller valleys and Peaks in your progress which makes it easier to maintain forward progress.

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To maintain motivation and momentum when pursuing long-term fitness goals, it's normal to experience dips in motivation. However, you can minimize this by understanding the true reason behind your goal. For example, if your goal is to lose 20 pounds, ask yourself why that matters to you. Dig deeper and continue asking why until you have a robust understanding of your true motivation. This understanding will help you stay focused and reflect on your reasons when faced with challenges or setbacks.

In terms of maintaining momentum, I recommend following the never miss twice rule. If you have a meal or workout that doesn't align with your goals, make sure the next one does. Each moment presents a new decision, so by not missing twice, you prevent yourself from falling into a habit of getting further away from your goals. For instance, if you miss one workout due to busyness, make it a priority to not miss the next one. This rule helps you avoid getting stuck in a rut and makes it easier to maintain forward progress despite small valleys and peaks along the way.

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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.