The Minimum Effective Dose

Should we lift overhead? Tune in for an in-depth discussion on overhead mobility and our opinions on if we (and our clients) should lift overhead... and why. This episode is all about overhead lifting and we discuss topics such as: How neurology plays a role in posture Why posture is actually an adaptation The importance of breathing when it comes to mobility The role of the cervical spine and the brachial plexus A simple approach to improve overhead mobility If you are looking for a brain dump on overhead mobility and find yourself asking the question "Should we lift overhead?" as you design programs, don’t miss this episode! Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

Aging is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean we cannot live a long and healthy life. If you've ever wondered about training and aging... it's a process. There are various aspects to consider when discussing the aging process. In this episode we talk about appropriate strength and conditioning when it comes to training and aging. The Minimum Effective Dose hosts discuss the importance of mobility, exercise selection and cardiovascular health as it relates to training and aging. They also discuss the importance of effort, stress and adaptation, consistency and much more. If you are committed to staying strong and healthy as you age, or you're coaching aging clients, don’t miss this episode. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

We're revisiting Prilepin's Chart in this episode all about the science of strength training. We are going to talk about sets, reps and percentages using Prilepin's Chart which has been a staple in the world of strength training for decades. Brett and Mike cover topics including: Percentage based lifting Sets and rep schemes Real life application Examples of how to apply Prilepin's Chart If you are a fan of strength, you don’t want to miss this episode where we take a deep dive into the science of strength training. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

This episode is all about those aha moments - the game changing moments in our careers. You know the ones I’m talking about. Someone says something in a conversation or shares a new way of doing something that resonates deeply or you attend a course where you completely change the way you look at the way you coach or how you want to move about this world. You don’t want to miss Brett and Mike discuss topics such as: The importance of neurology and how is has impacted each of our thought processes How Gray Cook revolutionized the industry via looking at global movement pattern How the basic principles of strength training carry over to various implements and modalities If you want to see what systems and individuals had the largest impact on the MED cohosts careers, you don’t want to miss this episode. We'd love to hear from you about the game changing moments in your careers as well. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

What makes you an expert? We're switching things up today and you'll get to hear some interesting insight on what both Brett and Mike believe makes you an expert in something. Sure, we know there are the basics, such as having a high degree of skill or being someone who is sought out in their given field, but what else makes you an expert? There’s so much more to that question! When it comes to being an expert at something, there are a lot more similarities than differences regardless of what profession you're in. If you want to learn more, don’t miss this episode! Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

Here we go again. It’s time to answer the biggest and baddest training questions from listeners - you! As always, thanks for tuning in to the Minimum Effective Dose Podcast. We love hearing from you and appreciate your comments, questions and feedback so we can better help you improve as a coach. It’s fun to answer new and different training questions and also those about life, leadership, mentoring and more. These episodes keep us on our toes. In training questions from the mailbag part 2, we cover your questions including: How can you develop a niche in training? What can you do to manage imposter syndrome? When coaching kettlebell training - should you start with grinds or ballistics? Who are our role models as gym owners ? This was fun to record and you will get to hear a little different side of Brett and Mike as they discuss these various topics you want to know more about. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

It's easy to get stuck in a silo as a coach - to become the kettlebell guy or the barbell gal. In this episode we talk about how to combine training modalities to help get your clients better results. Blending modalities, the art and science of creating a training program via combining and implementing exercises with barbells, kettlebells, bodyweight exercises and more, can be confusing and overwhelming. In this episode, we dig a bit deeper and give you some high-level details on how to combine training modalities and also share some applicable insight you can start using immediately with your athletes and students. If you really want to see our thought process on how to combine training modalities, don't miss this episode. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

In this episode, we talk about timing the hinge, plus all things hinging - specifically folding, timing, and force. We also go over why tempo and speed matter for power and athletic development. Brett and Mike have taught thousands of people how to hip hinge in all types of environments. They have taught clients to hinge in the weight room, outside and often with a kettlebell in hand. The ability to produce force and absorb force efficiently through your hips is probably the most vital component of building a powerful athlete. The individuals who can do this more efficiently than others generally are healthier and perform better in physical competition. If you want to learn the subtleties about teaching the hinge, don’t miss this episode. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

In this episode, we’re trying something completely new and we're calling it training questions from the mail bag. A lot of our listeners are active on the Strongfirst forum and we reached out to find out what questions coaches have on all things training related. In this episode, we answer questions from you - our listeners - covering topics including: The overall benefits of kettlebell training The difference between exercising and skill acquisition How to maintain a healthy relationship with exercise Tips to stay consistent with your training when you don’t want to (yeah, even coaches struggle with this) This was a fun episode! We loved having the opportunity to speak about our experiences to help support other coaches and athletes. Don’t miss this episode and please feel free to reach out with your questions for our next training questions from the mail bag episode. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

In this episode we're talk about programming for the snatch test. We revisit old programs and offer new insight. If you aren’t familiar with the snatch test, it’s very simple - not easy. The goal of the snatch test is to perform 100 kettlebell snatches in five minutes or less. The weight of the kettlebell used ranges anywhere from 10k to 32k or higher, depending on age, weight and goals. In this episode, Mike and Brett discuss various aspects of programming for the snatch test such as: How mobility impacts skill acquisition Programming considerations The importance of understanding your baseline knowledge How to prepare for the test and the certification weekend If you want to learn something new about the snatch test, you're preparing for it yourself or you're helping your clients get ready for the big weekend, don’t miss this episode Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

If you work with athletes, you most likely (and hopefully!) understand the importance of single leg training. Here are a few common problems when it comes to trainers actually executing single leg training with their clients: A lack of progressions Limited knowledge of when, where and how to use these exercises Inability to coach single leg movements exceptionally well Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered and we talk about the importance of single like training and everything that goes along with incorporating these exercises successfully including: Mobility Stability Teaching progressions Variations And much more! Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

This episode is all about tendons. We're going to get a little bit more nerdy than we usually do here on the Minimum Effective Dose. Brett and Mike cover various topics about tendons including: Rehabilitation Stress and adaptation Performance And much more! If you’re curious about what tendons do and how to train them, this is a perfect episode of you. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

You've probably wondered about yoga for athletes. Is it good? Bad? Does it depend? Like many things, it does depend. You'll want to consider why you're adding yoga into your training program instead of assuming that yoga is a catch-all and will benefit everyone. In this episode, Brett and Mike discuss the topic of yoga for athletes in detail. For some athletes, yoga is wonderful! If you are training a lot and you want something to help take you down a notch, remove yourself from the wired state, down regulate your nervous system, help you focus on your breath, etc. yoga may complement your training quite well. For others, it’s a bad idea. If you take someone who is hypermobile and get them really great at yoga, they may not have control over their range of motion and it could potentially event make them slower and inhibit force production. If you're curious about the pros and cons of yoga for athletes, tune in and get ready to learn. Please note: at the end of the episode Brett mentions Bikram yoga when he meant to say Iyengar. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

Years ago, Gray Cook and Mike Boyle changed the fitness industry with their idea of the joint by joint approach to training. Here's a fun story from Mike Boyle himself about how this approach came to life. In this episode we're revisiting the joint by joint approach to training, a simple concept that revolutionized the training industry and literally changed the trajectory of thousands of coaches all over the world. We love this approach to training and find there are so many layers to peel back when you truly want to understand how the body functions from a movement standpoint. If you enjoy learning more about movement and function or you’re looking for some new insight on the joint by joint approach to training, you don’t want to miss this episode. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

We're back and since it's a huge time for New Years Resolutions, that's where we're starting off this season! Whether you are a "New Year, New You" resolution die-hard or you're simply looking to implement some changes to improve your health, relationships, or career, we've got your back. If you’re really going to make a change, you need a game plan and it needs to be a realistic one. If you want some real-world advice on how to make lasting changes in your life, don’t miss this episode. Welcome to season 4 of the MED podcast with Mike Perry and co-host, Brett Jones. This season, join Brett Jones, StrongFirst Director of Education and Functional Movement Systems Advisory Board member, and Mike Perry, co-owner of Skill of Strength, Lead instructor at Functional Movement Systems and Senior SFG at Strongfirst, as they share their life experiences and insight on all things health and fitness related. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

It's almost December and it's time for the year in review! This episode will be the last one of 2023. Your hosts, Brett Jones and Mike Perry, are taking some time off over the holidays, but don’t worry! A new season will start in January, 2024. If you've been enjoying the podcast and want to get to know these two a bit better, don’t miss this final episode of season 3. Oh, and if you have a few minutes, we'd love for you to review the podcast and share your favorite episode on social media or with your friends! Enjoy the holidays and we'll chat with you in 2024! Welcome to season 3 of the MED podcast with Mike Perry and co-host, Brett Jones. This season, join Brett Jones, StrongFirst Director of Education and Functional Movement Systems Advisory Board member, and Mike Perry, co-owner of Skill of Strength, Lead instructor at Functional Movement Systems and Senior SFG at Strongfirst, as they share their life experiences and insight on all things health and fitness related. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

In today's episode we continued our recent discussion on programming variables. We're talking about density in this one! Training density is the ability to complete a certain amount of work (sets/reps) in a specific amount of time. In this episode we dive into: How does density apply to training? What are some ways to change density from a practical standpoint? How can changing density alter the desired adaptations? If you want to learn more about programming variables, specifically density, don’t miss this! Link to PubMed study on Acute Mechanical, Neuromuscular, and Metabolic Responses to Different Set Configurations in Resistance Training. Welcome to season 3 of the MED podcast with Mike Perry and co-host, Brett Jones. This season, join Brett Jones, StrongFirst Director of Education and Functional Movement Systems Advisory Board member, and Mike Perry, co-owner of Skill of Strength, Lead instructor at Functional Movement Systems and Senior SFG at Strongfirst, as they share their life experiences and insight on all things health and fitness related. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

Volume is one of many variables you can modify with when putting together training programs. Volume can be described as a number of working repetitions performed over time. Seems simple, right? Yes and no. Programming volume is an art and a science and to be successful you need to combine science, art, empirical evidence and common sense. If you are having a tough time understanding how to properly program volume, you don’t want to miss this episode. Welcome to season 3 of the MED podcast with Mike Perry and co-host, Brett Jones. This season, join Brett Jones, StrongFirst Director of Education and Functional Movement Systems Advisory Board member, and Mike Perry, co-owner of Skill of Strength, Lead instructor at Functional Movement Systems and Senior SFG at Strongfirst, as they share their life experiences and insight on all things health and fitness related. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

Sometimes the best way to learn is to let the weight become the teacher. Don't worry - we aren't saying you should take a brand new weight lifter, throw a barbell on their back and see how it goes. (And, yes, we have heard of coaches who do that!) So what's the best way to progress people from an exercise standpoint? Start with Bodyweight weight training. Once you become proficient with your bodyweight, add an external load. From there, choose your favorite implements to make things heavier. In theory, that makes perfect sense. In reality, it's not always the case . There are certain exercises that will allow your students/clients to acquire skill in a much quicker fashion if they start with an external load. If you want to hear more about when it's appropriate to let the weight become the teacher when you're programming and coaching, don’t miss this episode. Welcome to season 3 of the MED podcast with Mike Perry and co-host, Brett Jones. This season, join Brett Jones, StrongFirst Director of Education and Functional Movement Systems Advisory Board member, and Mike Perry, co-owner of Skill of Strength, Lead instructor at Functional Movement Systems and Senior SFG at Strongfirst, as they share their life experiences and insight on all things health and fitness related. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.

In this episode we dive pretty darn deep into programming the TGU, Windmill and Bent Press exercises. The Turkish Get Up (TGU), Windmill and Bent Press exercises can be incredibly impactful when applied and programmed correctly. Unfortunately, most people, even coaches, don’t know how to fit all the pieces together properly. Brett and Mike discuss the nuances of each of these kettlebell exercises and provide years of observations and insight when it comes to programming the TGU, Windmill and Bent Press. If you want to become better at coaching at these effective kettlebell lifts, don’t miss this episode. Welcome to season 3 of the MED podcast with Mike Perry and co-host, Brett Jones. This season, join Brett Jones, StrongFirst Director of Education and Functional Movement Systems Advisory Board member, and Mike Perry, co-owner of Skill of Strength, Lead instructor at Functional Movement Systems and Senior SFG at Strongfirst, as they share their life experiences and insight on all things health and fitness related. Connect with Mike and Skill of Strength: Mike Perry on Instagram Mike Perry on Facebook Skill of Strength: Skill of Strength Website Skill of Strength Instagram Skill of Strength Facebook Skill of Strength YouTube Connect with Brett Jones: Brett Jones on Instagram Brett Jones on Facebook Please make sure to share the episodes that motivate you and move you in the right direction.