This weeks episode brought to you by the science backed, research supported, and overall exceptional Amino Acids over at The Amino Co. Why wait? Who doesn’t want to perform at their Peak level? Everyone’s idea of peak performance is different, but being at your peak simply means you are performing at your highest potential. Check out their awesome Performance blend Perform, it helps reduce fatigue, fosters muscle building and reduces muscle break down. Click on Amino CO and  Use Code FTG at checkout to save 30%. On this weeks episode I sat down with Homewood- Flossmoor's jumps Coach Rob Assise. Jumping can be a game changer when we employ it in an intelligent manner. Jumping can teach one how to have a positive relationship with the ground and if we make the ground our friend we can begin to interact with it in more intense and dynamic manners. Force production is the name of the game, we discuss Impulse and the different manners in which one can increase impulse. A natural flow begins to emerge that can be beneficial for teaching athletes how to produce force and build a positive relationship with the ground. One can increase impulse by a) spending more time on the ground b)producing higher peak force c) increase in RFD. Chaining together these three different variables can help build competency, intensity, and help build towards the display of force within the unique time constraints of a given athletic competition.  Coach Assise shares his intake process and how he examines a given athletes jump profile. I really like the rationale that he presents stating that he often likes to watch how athletes sprint. This makes a lot of sense as sprinting will force the athletes body  to choose what it deems to be most desirable under shortened time constraints for force production. Some athletes may be more hinge based, while other athletes may be more squatty in their movements, coach Assise shares that he likes to build around what athletes bring to the table. A common thread throughout the conversation is the need for individualization, especially when dealing with higher intensity jumps. Coach Assise shares that in his experience jumps tend to be much more variable than sprint programming. It's important to find a level of proficiency where an athlete can exhibit the desired intensity. Coach Assise, states that by identifying an athletes capabilities at a given intensity he can build back to more rudimentary skills that will help build the athletes jump profile.  From The Ground up.com (Sign up for bi monthly newsletter and see more detailed write ups for each episode) HF Jumps Twitter  HF Jumps Insta  Reevolition Athletics  Amino Co