The Adaptable Athlete Podcast

Javier Miller-Estrada
  • 5.0 (22)
  • FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Adaptable Athlete Podcast is a podcast for coaches and practitioners who want to learn more about modern approached to sport movement and skill acquisition; and who ultimately, want to help to their athletes become more adaptable.  Host, Javi Miller-Estrada engages in discussions with some of the absolute best sport coaches, trainers, and practitioners in the world. Coaches who are truly pushing the industry forward.

  1. What Happens When Coaching Philosophies Collide? | SMSC 2026 Preview

    9H AGO

    What Happens When Coaching Philosophies Collide? | SMSC 2026 Preview

    Send a text In this episode, Coach Jav sits down with Emergence co-founder Shawn Myszka to preview the 2026 Sport Movement Skill Conference (SMSC). They unpack this year’s theme — “Challenge Point” — and explain why the conference will feature debate-style matchups between leading voices from differing theoretical foundations. The conversation explores why now is the right time to bring contrasting coaching philosophies back to the table, how intellectual sparring can sharpen clarity, and what attendees can expect from both the debates and hands-on practical sessions. From matchups like Shawn Myszka vs. Tony Villani , Tyler Yearby vs. Jeff Moyer and Jav vs. Tony Holler, to practical sessions spanning MMA, baseball, team sport environments, and Olympic preparation, this year’s SMSC aims to challenge assumptions while fostering connection. The 9th Annual Sport Movement Skill Conference takes place June 5–6 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Don’t forget: The Modern Coach's Planner is now back in stock!!  Get it here     Resources Sport Movement Skill Conference 2026Certified Skill Acquisition Specialist (CSAS) InformationPodcast WebsiteEp. 110 with Shawn Support & Contact If you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review and share it with another coach or athlete who’d appreciate it.  You can reach Coach Jav on social media at @thecoachjav or by email at javier@emergentmvmt.com Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat! Twitter: @thecoachjav IG: @thecoachjav

    44 min
  2. 3 Mistakes I Made Applying Ecological Dynamics

    FEB 11

    3 Mistakes I Made Applying Ecological Dynamics

    Send a text In this episode of The Adaptable Athlete Podcast, Coach Jav breaks down three mistakes he made while applying ecological dynamics and the constraints-led approach in his coaching. From prioritizing drills over principles, to progressing athletes from decontextualized work instead of designing representative learning environments, to failing to give athletes ownership in the skill acquisition process, Coach Jav reflects on what changed — and why it matters for modern coaching. If you’re a coach exploring ecological dynamics, skill acquisition, or looking to move beyond traditional drill-based training, this episode offers a practical and honest look at what applying these concepts actually requires in real-world settings. This conversation touches on principles vs drills, contextual training design, scaling complexity, athlete feedback, and how to build adaptable performers. Resources & Links: The Modern Coach PlannerSport Movement Skill Conference 2026More Pod EpisodesWatch the show on Youtube Support & Contact If you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review and share it with another coach or athlete who’d appreciate it.  You can reach Coach Jav on social media at @thecoachjav or by email at javier@emergentmvmt.com Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat! Twitter: @thecoachjav IG: @thecoachjav

    21 min
  3. What Most Coaches Get Wrong About Agility

    JAN 28

    What Most Coaches Get Wrong About Agility

    Send a text In this episode, coach Jav breaks down the most common mistakes coaches make in agility training—and why many popular drills fail to transfer to sport. Inspired by a recent Six of the Best contribution with Sportsmith (Emergence Co-founder Shawn, Myszka was also featured), the the episode centers on a core problem: coaches often give athletes the answers instead of setting real problems to solve. Jav explains why repetition without context limits adaptability, why randomness alone isn’t enough, and how poor information sources—like verbal cues, lights, or inanimate objects—can disconnect training from competition. He closes with three practical shifts coaches can make immediately to design more effective, sport-relevant agility environments. This episode is for coaches who want to move beyond scripted drills and develop truly adaptable athletes. Don’t forget: The Modern Coach's Planner is now back in stock!!  https://thecoachjav.com/products/modern-coach-planner Support & Contact If you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review and share it with another coach or athlete who’d appreciate it.  You can reach Coach Jav on social media at @thecoachjav or by email at javier@emergentmvmt.com Resources & Links The podcast on YouTubeSportsmith The Adaptable Athlete Podcast:EmergenceCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat! Twitter: @thecoachjav IG: @thecoachjav

    19 min
  4. The Advanced Ecological Approach w/ Rob Gray

    JAN 14

    The Advanced Ecological Approach w/ Rob Gray

    Send a text The Modern Coach's Planner — built for coaches who think differently — Back! Order yours today at: https://thecoachjav.com/products/modern-coach-planner In this episode, coach Jav sits down with Rob Gray to explore what comes after the basics of ecological dynamics and the constraints-led approach. They discuss why “fundamentals first” thinking continues to persist in sport, how constraints can lose their effectiveness over time, and the difference between developing skill and maintaining it at higher levels of performance. Rob also shares practical insights from his work across multiple sports, including how to scale difficulty, design more representative practice environments, and avoid turning data into rigid technique prescriptions. This conversation is for coaches who are already experimenting with modern approaches and want to go deeper into how athletes actually adapt, learn, and perform. Don’t forget: The Modern Coach's Planner is now available for pre-order at https://thecoachjav.com/products/modern-coach-planner Support & Contact If you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review and share it with another coach or athlete who’d appreciate it.  You can reach Coach Jav on social media at @thecoachjav or by email at javier@emergentmvmt.com Resources & Links Rob Gray – The Advanced Ecological ApproachRob Gray’s websiteThe Adaptable Athlete Podcast:Emergence Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat! Twitter: @thecoachjav IG: @thecoachjav

    57 min
  5. The Mindset Behind Modern Jiu-Jitsu with Greg Souders & Deandre Corbe

    11/12/2025

    The Mindset Behind Modern Jiu-Jitsu with Greg Souders & Deandre Corbe

    Send a text The Modern Coach's Planner — built for coaches who think differently — is now available for pre-order. This is a limited run, and once these copies are gone, they’re gone. Order yours today at: https://thecoachjav.com/products/modern-coach-planner In this episode, Coach Jav sits down with Greg Souders, founder of Standard Jiu-Jitsu, and DeAndre Corbe, one of the top grapplers in the world — the 2024 ADCC West Coast Trials champion and a recent competitor in the Craig Jones Invitational. They explore how an ecological and constraints-led approach is transforming the way athletes learn and perform in Jiu-Jitsu. Over the past few years, ecological dynamics has exploded — and Greg has been one of the leading voices behind that shift, challenging traditional methods and helping coaches rethink what real skill development looks like. Together, Greg and DeAndre unpack the realities of modern coaching — from designing representative environments to building communication, trust, and autonomy between coach and athlete. This episode is a deep look at how modern Jiu-Jitsu is evolving, and what happens when the athlete–coach relationship becomes a true collaboration. Topics Discussed How Greg and DeAndre built their coach–athlete relationshipTransitioning from traditional to ecological Jiu-Jitsu trainingCommunication, trust, and autonomy in coachingManaging competition prep and recoveryWhy “control isn’t coaching” and how autonomy drives growthIf you’re a coach or practitioner interested in skill acquisition, practice design, and building adaptable athletes, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Don’t forget: The Modern Coach's Planner is now available for pre-order at https://thecoachjav.com/products/modern-coach-planner Support & Contact If you enjoyed today’s episode, leave a review and share it with another coach or athlete who’d appreciate it.  You can reach Coach Jav on social media at @thecoachjav or by email at javier@emergentmvmt.com . Resources and Links Standard Jiu-Jitsu: https://standardjiujitsu.comStandard Jiu-Jitsu on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standardjiujitsu?igsh=MWN5endrZTVud3RwMw==Greg Souders on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gdsouders?igsh=N2VtcjJyMXgwcW82DeAndre Corbe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deandre_corbe/Emergence – The Movement Academy: https://emergentmvmt.comEmergence on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergentmvmt?igsh=Y2JuMm53c3N0bjZhThe Adaptable Athlete Podcast Website:  theadaptableathlete.comCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat! Twitter: @thecoachjav IG: @thecoachjav

    1h 1m
  6. Skill Adaptation > Skill Acquisition

    10/30/2025

    Skill Adaptation > Skill Acquisition

    Send a text *Checkout the free practice guide at the end of the show notes! For decades, coaches and scientists have used the term skill acquisition — but what if that’s not what’s really happening? In this short episode, we dive into the idea that athletes don’t acquire skill — they adapt it. Inspired by our recent conversation with Duarte Araújo, this concept challenges the traditional view of skill as something stored or possessed, and instead reframes it as a continuous process shaped by the relationship between athlete and environment. We explore how this shift impacts coaching, learning, and even rehabilitation — from how an athlete adapts after injury, to how their movement evolves over time. Have any questions form the Episode? Hit me up on social @thecoachjav or send me an email at Javier@emergentmvmt.com Download your Free Practice Design Checklist! Episode Resources Episode 113 w/ DuarteDownload the Academic Papers from Duarte What Exactly Is Acquired During Skill Acquisition by Duarte Araújo & Keith DavidsEmergence Website Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat! Twitter: @thecoachjav IG: @thecoachjav

    11 min
  7. Why Athletes Don’t "Acquire" Skill—They Adapt it w/ Duarte Araújo

    10/22/2025

    Why Athletes Don’t "Acquire" Skill—They Adapt it w/ Duarte Araújo

    Send a text *Checkout the free practice guide at the end of the show notes! What is skill, really? And what if it’s not something athletes acquire — but something they continuously adapt? In this episode, Duarte Araújo joins us on the pod to unpack one of the most fundamental questions in sport: what does it truly mean to be skillful? Duarte breaks down why “acquisition” is the wrong metaphor, and how coaches can design environments that bring intelligence and creativity to the surface. Together, we explore: The difference between being and becoming in sport performanceWhy skill should be viewed as potential, not possessionHow intentionality, perceptual attunement, and calibration shape learningWhat cognizant action means — and why movement itself is intelligentHow coaches can design tasks that challenge athletes to find their own solutionsWhether you’re a coach, practitioner, or simply curious about how humans learn, this conversation reframes skill as an ongoing relationship between athlete and environment — not a product stored inside the brain. Have any questions form the Episode? Hit me up on social @thecoachjav or send me an email at Javier@emergentmvmt.com Download your Free Practice Design Checklist! Episode Resources Download the Academic Papers from Duarte Duarte on Research Gate Duarte on XCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat! Twitter: @thecoachjav IG: @thecoachjav

    57 min

  8. 10/08/2025

    What Is Metastability? Making Theory Practical w/ Alan Dunton

    Send a text *Checkout the free practice guide at the end of the show notes! Alan Dunton is a lecturer in Coaching Science and Skill Acquisition at Munster Technological University (MTU) in Cork, Ireland. A former Taekwondo athlete and coach, Alan has spent his career exploring how people learn, adapt, and perform skill under dynamic conditions. In this conversation, we unpack metastability — what it means, how to design for it, and why adaptability is the hallmark of expert performance. In This Episode: Alan’s background in Taekwondo and how it shaped his approach to coachingUnderstanding metastability: from theory to practical applicationExploration vs. stability — what do athletes really need?Designing training environments for adaptabilityThe launch of the new MSc in Skill Acquisition for Sport at MTUThis episode is heavy and theory AND applied information, and I know you will benefit from giving this a listen! Download your Free Practice Design Checklist! Referenced Links: Free Coaching Guide Download → Get it hereMTU MSc in Skill Acquisition for Sport → https://www.mtu.ieAlan Dunton on X → https://x.com/alanduntonEmergence → https://www.emergentmvmt.comThe Adaptable Athlete Podcast on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@thecoachjavCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat! Twitter: @thecoachjav IG: @thecoachjav

    59 min
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5
out of 5
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About

The Adaptable Athlete Podcast is a podcast for coaches and practitioners who want to learn more about modern approached to sport movement and skill acquisition; and who ultimately, want to help to their athletes become more adaptable.  Host, Javi Miller-Estrada engages in discussions with some of the absolute best sport coaches, trainers, and practitioners in the world. Coaches who are truly pushing the industry forward.

Information

  • Creator
    Javier Miller-Estrada
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Adaptable Athlete Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Adaptable Athlete Podcast

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