Entries by Ian King

Huddle #58 – Chat with Stunt Actor Heather Burridge

Ten years ago almost to the day a young athlete by the name of Heather Burridge was brought to see me by her parents, seeking guidance to overcome a chronic injury.  At that time Heather was pursuing throws in track & field and netball. During the next few years working with Heather, I noticed this […]

The English rose and a coaching challenge

On the 11th March 2023 in his first year and 4th game as head coach of the English national men’s rugby union team, Stephen Borthwick set a record. But not the kind of record anyone would want or celebrate. At the spiritual home of English rugby, Twickenham, his team was beaten 10 – 53 by […]

What’s missing? The repetitive boom and bust cycle of fitness business models

It looks like the Australian originated, global fitness franchise F45 is getting very wobbly at the business end. Can’t say I’m surprised, but it’s disappointing. Disappointing for those who have chosen to  put their careers, businesses, and money into this path. Some background to boom and bust. The fledging fitness industry was very young in […]

Understanding Plyometrics – A guide for athletes & coaches

Introduction The popularity of the training method commonly known as ‘plyometric training’ is evident in nearly all sports, and at all levels of competition today.  We have travelled from a time during the seventies and early eighties of limited awareness and open scepticism, to a time during the late eighties and early nineties where athletes […]

Huddle #57 – 10 Things about the Get Buffed!™ Series

I was training athletes to run, swim, cycle, row, ski, skate and so on, faster! And we achieved these goals but at the same time a strange thing was happening. They were getting buffed! Not in a Mr Universe way, but in a way that got the attention of lots of people. And they were […]

The origin and intent of Speed of Movement (SOM) and Time Under Tension (TUT)

Introduction I began my professional journey training athletes in 1980, and in the 1980s was also personally involved in competitive strength sports.  At that time there were a number of burning questions I had about training including questions about optimal speed of movement in strength exercises I was not satisfied conducting the speed of movement […]

Huddle #56 – Chat with KSI Coach Lee ‘Doc’ Docherty

Lee ‘Doc’ Docherty is a KSI Coach currently studying Level 2 who has been involved in the game of soccer his whole life, playing and coaching at various levels throughout the world. Upon leaving the British Army, Doc has dedicated himself to coaching soccer players of all ages, helping players reach their fullest potential both […]

The athlete and boiling water – how the lessons are lost

There is an old fable that a frog in water where the temperature is being slowly raised will not jump out of the water, as the changes to their detriment are slow. Compared to a frog suddenly placed in boiling that may realize this is not a healthy place to be. It appears to me […]

A lament for the late arrivals

In the modern history of athletic preparation, there has been growing consideration for physical preparation. What the Americans call ‘strength & conditioning’. It may not be accurate to suggest that physical preparation is a new concept. The interpretation of the stories of the Greek athlete Milo of Croton from 6th BC gives support to a […]

Still hamstrung, after all these years

The story goes that back in about the 1970s two high level bodybuilders agreed to a sprint race, and during that sprint race they both tore hamstrings. This story entertained many, however I took a more serious lesson from it. Combined with my observations of the shift in posture from the 1960s to the 1970s […]