Blog Archives - CHALLENGER STRENGTH

Muscles & Management Podcast

Muscles and Management takes an in depth look at all things training and business.

Gerry DeFilippo is a gym owner from northern New Jersey with a business degree in management from Rutgers University. He started his gym/sports performance business during his last semester of business school and almost three years later he runs the day-to-day business aspects of Challenger Strength as well as heading the strength training.

This podcast will take on any and all topics in both strength training, personal fitness and business and welcome the perspective of some of the best coaches and business minds in the industry. Whether you are an aspiring gym owner, athlete or coach you will enjoy all aspects of this podcast as we dive into the "ins and outs," of the sports performance industry as well as what it takes to excel in business.

Episode #117 Business, The "Basics," and Building Strength with Tony Gentilcore

9/30/2020

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/5628064

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode Gerry welcomes on world-renowned strength coach and businessman Tony Gentilcore.

Tony has trained both athletes and general fitness clients for almost two decades while having a hand in the co-founding and early years of Cressey Sports Performance as well as his own successful training studio, Core, in Massachusetts.

The conversation begins with a look at Tony’s ascension through the industry, his experience co-founding Cressey Sports Performance and what he learned in that time and in venturing out on his own thereafter.

From there, he talks about COVID-19 and the impact it has had on the fitness industry, the perils of misunderstanding sport specificity, sticking to the basics in strength training and way, way more.

For a refreshing, genuine perspective on various areas of strength and conditioning you definitely won’t want to miss this episode!

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode Timestamps

3:20 - Julian’s Nutrition Tip
9:10 - Dealing with Covid
19:20 - Small Gym Atmosphere & Gym Composition
24:15 - Tony’s Background & Clients
27:40 - Dealing with Clients That Get in Their Own Way
32:25 - Dealing with Parents
44:33 - Shifting to Gen Pop Vs. Athletes
50:45 - The Grind of Moving Up
53:48 - Defining When You’ve “Made It”
1:00:00 - Avoiding the “Change Just to Change” Mentality

Episode #116 Meathead Monday: Q&A (Pre-game Warm-ups, Balancing a Minimum Effective Dose Mentality While Pushing Athletes, Drop-step vs. Crossover Step and More!)

9/28/2020

In this episode, Gerry discusses a variety of topics inspired by the latest questions in his DMs.

To start, the conversation tackles the importance of a good warm-up structure and what you can look to do both when you first arrive to the field before a game as well as what you should do right before game-time.

From there, Gerry discusses both objective AND subjective factors that are at play with minimum-effective dose and what you can look for when it comes to deciding when it is "okay," or necessary to push athletes a bit more with intensity and volume.

Then, the conversation finishes with specifics of the drop-step and how to break-in in the private sector as a coach!

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode #115 Mastering Speed Training with Team-Sport Athletes with Mike Whiteman

9/23/2020

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/5528581

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode, Gerry welcomes on strength and speed specialist Mike Whiteman.

To start, Mike discusses how he dealt with COVID-19 and came up with ways to train his athletes and help them continue making improvements in their performance.

From there, the conversation turns to training speed for multiple sports and team-sport athletes, the basics of acceleration and top-speed and finding the line between quality and perfection.

To finish, Mike discusses coaching plyometrics and Velocity based training as well as building quality movements with large groups of athletes.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode Timestamps

2:30 - Julian’s Nutrition Tip
7:00 - Dealing with COVID
11:55 - Being Resourceful During This Time
13:48 - Mike’s Journey
19:30 - Working with multiple sports
26:50 - Programming: Speed & Acceleration
31:10 - Finding the Line between quality and perfection
42:30 - The most successful way to get athletes in the correct positions
58:10 - The difficulties of working with multiple athletes
1:00:40 - Plyometrics
1:10:30 - Going Over Mike’s Tweets (Change of Direction, Agility, Rep Amounts)
1:20:00 - Mike’s Socials

Episode #115 Mastering Speed Training with Team-Sport Athletes with Mike Whiteman

9/23/2020

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/5528581

Episode #114 Meathead Monday: Q&A (Overcoming Isometrics, In-Season Training Guidelines and Training without Experience)

9/21/2020

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/5526451

In this episode Gerry gives you insight and information on some more important topics in strength and conditioning and business.

To start, Gerry discusses his frustration with people who try to narrow the complexities of injuries or other diverse topics into one "fix," or "cause," and their tendency to market off their own bulletproof solution.

From there, he gives his breakdown on overcoming isometrics, how he utilizes them and his thoughts on utilizing them for speed and jump training, contrast training and in-season training.

Then, the conversation shits towards guidelines for in-season training, training inexperienced athletes and how to improve force application in speed movements.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode #113 Metrics, Measurement and How Measurement Technology is Changing Sports and Strength and Conditioning with Tyler Scuttaro of Pocket Radar

9/16/2020

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/5424964

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode Gerry welcomes on Tyler Scatturo of "Pocket Radar," to discuss the evolving landscape of technology and metric measurement in sports and sports performance!

Episode Timestamps

1:50 - Julian Nutrition Tip
5:15 - Tyler’s Start with Pocket Radar
8:40 - Early Goals and Vision for Pocket Radar
11:45 - Evolution of Radar Technology and Culture
16:00 - Getting People to Trust the Product
20:20 - Transition from a Secondary Product to the Go to Product
27:25 - Social Media Push for Promoting Yourself as an Athlete
34:15 - Social Media Goals
37:45 - Sprint Measuring
39:38 - Future of Pocket Radar
43:09 - Tyler’s Final Thoughts

Episode #112 Meathead Monday: Q&A (Proper Structure to Build Strength Movements, Lessons Learned to Help Young Strength Coaches and The Importance of Reasoning in Decision Making)

9/14/2020

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/5424187

Muscles and Management is back after a week off and Gerry is answering some of your questions from his DMs!

To start, Gerry discusses strength training and the idea of working up to heavier loads and lower reps to expose an athlete's nervous system to demands that require further recruitment of motor units. This will not only help drive up their overall weight lifted, but provide value in overall improvement of force output.

From there, the conversation gets real as Gerry talks about some self-doubt he dealt with this past week and how important it is to compare yourself to the top standard of the industry so you always continue to improve your knowledge and abilities. How can this mindset help build respect and a following for a young coach if paired with a steadfast effort to post quality content backed with thought provoking reasoning.

To finish, Gerry discusses cleans and burpees and how application is inevitably king, but that he may NEVER agree that a particular barbell lift is indeed BETTER for a team-sport athlete in terms of enhancing their speed, power and on-field ability.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode #111 Navigating "In-Season," Training and How to Prioritize Strength and Speed with Kevin Cronin

9/9/2020

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/238054/5357956

In this episode, Gerry welcomes on UMass Lowell Head Sports Performance Coach Kevin Cronin to discuss some key topics in sports performance and strength and conditioning.

To start, Kevin details his career journey through the college ranks and how a move back to the east coast and "internship," under Mike Boyle lead to his current position at UMass. Kevin discusses what he learned from Mike in his brief time at MBSC and what it is like to be an intern after spending years of working at a high level as a coach. If you are in the field or looking to get into it you will not want to miss this!

From there, the conversation turns to two key topics in strength training. How to handle "in-season," training and when you should shift focus away from strength training and more towards speed and power training. Additionally, Kevin discusses anti-rotational training and core stability as it pertains to rotational power and ability.

All that and more on this episode of Muscles and Management!

Episode #110 Decision Based Programming Based on Individual Needs and Pitching Development with Lennon Richards

9/2/2020

*SHOW TIMESTAMPS FEATURED AT THE END*

In this episode, Gerry welcomes on Baseball Development Group Director of Pitching, Lennon Richards.

Episode Timestamps:

2:52 - Julian's Nutrition Tip
6:58 - Current Work Lennon Is Working On
11:40 - Process of Teaching
12:40 - Getting Job in Private Sector
15:15 - Working with Steve ______
20:30 - Throwing Distance for Drills
28:20 - Having a Curveball and a Slider
37:20 - Changing Arm Action of Big League Pitchers
41:25 - Weighted Balls
45:10 - Using Technology, Coaching
52:15 - Lennon’s Final Thoughts