#46 - The gimmicks of the Gram - Coach Jon Mackey returns to discuss agility ladders and other questionable training tools.

The Primal MMA Coaching Podcast

Today I chat with Irish National Kickboxing Coach Jon Mackey about the role of training tools in striking sports. We'll explore whether these tools actually support skill acquisition and debunk some of the popular training gimmicks that are flooding social media.

Coach Mackey brings not only an extensive coaching experience, but his academic perspective as a PhD is skill acq candidate.
Jon gives his thoughts on the effectiveness of tools like noodles, ladders, flashing lights, and frisbees for improving athletic performance. He'll explain why these tools may not be as beneficial as they're often portrayed and offer alternative strategies for developing the skills and conditioning necessary to excel in striking sports.

Whether you utilize these tools or have wondered how effective they might be, hopefully this convo will help challenge the conventional wisdom and leave you with a better understanding of what most likely works and what most likely doesn't when it comes to training tools and equipment.

Chapters

1. Training Tools and Skill Transfer in Martial Arts Coaching (00:00:00)

2. Skill Transfer and Decision-Making in Sports (00:09:08)

3. Kinematics and Gaze Behavior in Movement (00:23:42)

4. Perceptual Cognitive Training in Combat Sports (00:33:02)

5. Importance of Contextual Footwork in Combat (00:40:18)

6. Agility and Perturbations in Combat Sports (00:50:13)

7. Pad Work Limitations in Training (00:54:11)

8. Exploring Head Movement in Boxing (01:08:05)

9. Hand Coordination Skills and Training Methods (01:21:46)

10. Culture of Learning and Engagement (01:28:42)

11. Kickboxing Coach Discusses Future Competitions (01:42:52)