John's BLOG
Coaching, jumps, sprints & more
Everything about jumping and sprinting and how to improve your performance
The number of questions I'm being asked through my youtube channel and Instagram page has began to increase and it's proving difficult to answer them all - particularly if people ask for me to take a look at their technique. I'll do what I can and in consequence I've started to make some videos that analyse the technique of some jumpers from around the world - so far I've looked at a long jumper from Egypt and two triple jumpers from the USA.
I also try to write responses to some of the questions posed on the YT channel in particular and also have attempted to answer some of these in a more VLOG style through specific videos on the YT channel. Below you'll find an answer to a question about plyometric training and the degree of knee bend vis a vis triple extension; Q: Hi I was just wondering when we do the drop jumps, should we extend our legs fully and go into triple extension (hips ankles and knees unlocked) after we land or should be just bounce up keeping the same knee and hip angle while reacting? Sakarumaster A: I do both variants with the guys in my group to a degree... however, the key is keeping the transition from the eccentric element of the jump to the concentric one minimal i.e. you need to move as quickly as possible between the stretch and reflex. If you bend the knees too much and lower and lift, the drop jump becomes more of a counter-movement jump. For the long jump and triple jumps, for example, the time spent between the eccentric and concentric elements of the jump/jumps needs to be minimised. However, particularly for the triple there is more flexion (bend) at the knee through the take-off phases, hence there being some variation as to degree of knee bend in training with plyos. Note though that the plyometric exercise will often determine the degree of knee bend, and as long at the athlete is not "lowering to go up as it" were and is maintaining (relatively) a stiff contact, then I believe this is fine. Contact times are slower for the step-jump phases compared to the long jump take-off, for example. It's the combination between lower degree of knee bend jumps; low height, very stiff contact drop jumps, straight leg hops, higher more degree of flexion drop jumps and similar bounds that will condition what's required. And to this we must add the need to do eccentric work i.e. drop & block landings to really create greater leg stiffness, elasticity and reactivity. I'd always go with stiffer over more compliant though as a rule of thumb. Tendons engage over a much smaller range of movement than muscles and create the tension, elasticity in the muscle, I believe by as much as 70% in terms and the shallower knee angle engages them particularly - another reason for keeping knee bend to a minimum. Here's a video that answers some questions posed through the channel on: eccentric training, sprint start and triple jump phase ratio
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2 Comments
V.J.Kannan
5/22/2018 05:14:42 am
A big sincere thank you for all your informative videos. My daughter does sprints as well as Long jump and triple. We are going away for a family holiday to Japan for 12 days. Are there any recommendations on what exercises we can continue doing while away from the track and sand pit. I’ve got some ideas but rather get it from the professional. She has a track meet when we get back to Singapore. It would be a shame if she loses speed or jump distance after putting in consistent effort over the months. Pls advice. Best regards.
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VJ Kannan
5/22/2018 07:56:07 am
Many thanks for your comments and I'm glad that what I'm producing here and through youtube is of assistance. The good thing is that you can maintain condition with less effort than is required to gain it. The key elements to focus on would be speed and power and you don't necessarily need a track... dry flat grass, a tennis court or similar or even a safe road (probably not too many of those in urban Japan) could serve as a training ground and there are also some indoor (even hotel hallway) options.
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