Why Drilling Doesn't Work & How to Measure Learning [Podcast Appearance]

In the heat of the Big Dan/Souders eco debate, I was interviewed on the Sweet Science of Fighting pod to talk about how to build skills live, transfer, performance vs. learning, & variability.

I’m a years-long fan of the Sweet Science of Fighting podcast. He’s an eco-adjacent strength and conditioning coach who does great work on how to apply repetition without repetition, variability, and other concepts to your S&C.

In this episode of the SSF podcast, we deviate from the conditioning to talk more about perceptual motor learning and skill in sport.

This was recorded right toward the end of the debate between Big Dan and Greg Souders, so I’m wired up and making pot shots.

Topics covered:

• The Instructional Industrial Complex

• Missing critical information in drills

• CLA and aliveness for skill acquisition

  • The limitations of positional sparring

• How to measure learning gains and transfer of learning

• Focus of attention, task focus, and scaling focuses

• CLA for striking

• Variable practice design and injury prevention

I was really on fire for this interview. I’m more concise and pointed than usual. And I address concepts in detail I haven’t addressed much publicly yet.

Please give it a listen, and support the SSF pod while you’re at it!