Episode #21 - Max Schmarzo: Strong By Science

Max is a sport scientist and athlete, who currently works within the Applied Sports Science department at Stanford. Max is also the co-author, along with Matt Van Dyke, of the new book - Applied Principles of Optimal Power Development. This book outline all things power development, and has caused a ton of good thought and discussion into theories and application of power development. 
In this episode, Max discusses some of the details of this book, the benefits of isometric training, how coaches can profile different qualities in their athletes, and how he'd go about training for vertical jump in a perfect world. This is a great episode and Max goes into some deep discussion that will have your mind shaking!

Favorite Quotes: 

• ​"Improve transfer of kinetic energy by doing more continuous or extensive plyometrics. We get really good at doing a single depth jump or hurdle hop - but continuous bounds, jumps help improve an athletes ability to transfer energy"
• "Start with low volume when you begin more extensive plyometrics - don't sacrifice GCT and quality"
• "I like to have people ramp-up for 2-seconds, and then hold for 4-6-seconds, and then ramp down for 2-seconds on explosive isometrics"
• "Early RFD is predicated neural and tendon aspects"
• "Late RFD is predicated contractile properties of the muscle themselves" 
• "The stiffer a tendon is, the less compliant it is and the more readily available it is to produce motion"
• "Muscle slack is the speed at which you can make a tendon taut, so it can transmit force onto the bone"
• "The sooner a tendon can become stiff, the quicker it can transfer/transmit force - which is why it may be important for early RFD"
• "The qualities that dictate a squat jump differ from the qualities that dictate a CMJ and thus the CMJ may not be a good indicator of early RFD"
• "Long muscle length isometrics tend to cause different hypertrophic adaptations"
• Short muscle length isometrics tend to cause more local strength adaptations"

Books:

• Science and Practice of Strength Training - Vladimir Zatsiorsky
• Supertraining - Yuri Verkhoshansky
• Applied Principles of Optimal Power Development - Max Schmarzo & Matt Van Dyke
• Strength and Conditioning: A Biomechanical Approach - Gavin Moir
• Special Strength Training: A Manual For Coaches - Yuri Verkhoshansky

 Dinner:

• Yuri Verkhoshansky
• Max Schmarzo
• Family

Social Media:

• Twitter - @strong_science
• Instagram - @strong_by_science
• Website - strongbyscience.net