Bio:
The guy that paints the picture, James is the founder of OPEX (Formerly OPT) and The International Center for Fitness. When not coaching, he’s a full time husband, father and fitness athlete. His 20+ years of experience and service as a strength coach/technician, tireless practice on refining energy system work, nutritional and lifestyle balancing techniques and training of other coaches has made OPEX a sought after method of bringing fitness to a Higher Order.
James has found a desire and passion to understanding fitness through assessment, testing, research, programming and more. He has had many years experience as an athlete from early childhood into adulthood, from playing top level soccer, short and long distance running to CrossFit where he was crowned “The Fittest on Earth”, Winner of the 2007 CrossFit Games.
Websites and Social Media Links:
OPEX.com
OPEX Facebook
OPEX Instagram
OPEX YouTube
 
Books mentioned:
James Book Recommendations:Athletic Movement Skills
Skill Acquisition in Sport
Books mentioned by Robbie:
Special Strength Training Manual for CoachesHomo Deus
Resources mentioned:
OPEX CCP – Level 1
Podcasts mentioned:Uncharted Performance – Episode 88 – James Fitzgerald
 
Timeline:
0:00 – 2:42 – Robbie Intro and James gives up an update on what’s new
2:43 – 6:50 - Robbie asks James to expand on his recent knowledge series webinar presentation within the OPEX membership site, where James covered the topic of Maximum Physical Potential (MPP). Here James discusses the need to ask ourselves the following question: Is what we are prescribing in our program design allowing us, and/or our athletes/clients to be better able to – express MPP, recovery from MPP, and to developing the highest attainment of MPP?
6:51 – 10:30 - Robbie asks James to expand on the concept on how sport can actually inhibit someone from attaining their true MPP. Robbie also asks James to discuss why he wants to get functional fitness into the Olympics
10:31 – 12:43 - Robbie shares a quote from Yuri and Natalia Verkhoshanksy’s book – “Special Strength Training Manual for Coaches”, about how intensifying an athlete’s preparation too soon can be detrimental in the attainment of MPP
12:44 – 14:25 - James expands on Robbie’s quote from the Verkhoshanksy’s
14:26 – 15:04 - Robbie and James discuss why a literal interpretation of energy system development is flawed thinking
15:05 – 19:09 - Robbie asks James – Can an individual still gain the benefit from accumulation training if introduced into their training, if they have only ever followed an intensity model for most of their career?
19:10 – 21:21 - Robbie shares his personal thoughts of the previous question he asked James
21:22 – 25:54 - Robbie asks James – Should everyone seek to attain their MPP, if there are not an athlete?
25:55 – 38:24 - Robbie ask James to expand on the “storybook” of beginner vs the “storybook” of an advanced athlete
38:25 – 39:00 - Robbie ask James – what books is he currently reading?
39:00 – 39:55 - Robbie wraps up the show.