Cuba is the only country in the world which has at least 10 triple jumpers over the 17m, so the training quality is high. The Cubans work really hard at power, technique, reaction, distance, coordination and the most important, rhythm. Rhythm is the most important thing for all triple jumpers, when you lose it, it will takes time to get back again to your level.
The Americans work hard on power and speed, and the majority of the athletes are power jumpers. Power jumpers have pros and cons. Pros- if you are a strong athlete and can keep the speed between the jumps, just with a little bit of balance you can achieve a good distance. Cons-because the technique is bad, the jumper start to get injury problems and this results in reducing the average life of the athlete to as little as 4 years as a triple jumper, instead of the expected 10 years as a professional. I have to recognize, however, that mentally the American jumpers are the strongest athletes in the world.
Europe has different styles and techniques and I can recognize just by seeing an athlete jump, which country he comes from. European athletes work hard with speed, leg power, technique and rhythm, but the majority of the European countries don`t work on the basis of triple jump. They work really well with the plyometric exercises, but I don`t see any coach combine special circuit weight for Long and Triple jump in combination with plyometrics and then speed. Also they don`t work with special hurdle exercises to improve body position, reaction and distance.
Neither do I see any work on what I call fiber exercise. Fiber exercises are special triple jump exercises to improve the reaction on the ground. Also I don`t see any long jump or triple jump drill on the sand, special exercises uphill, downhill in combination with speed drills etc.
I think that we have a lot of long/triple jump talent in Europe and America, and we can do more to develop this discipline. At the same time, it’s up to athlete to take the first step and take this discipline seriously.
With this in mind, I am planning to organize a series afternoon training workshops for athletes who are interested in improving their technique.
This will be a special opportunity to benefit from my extensive professional experience coaching internationally over the past 23 years. The workshop is open to both UK athletes, and athletes from abroad who may want to combine the workshop with a trip to London. ( 1-1 coaching can also be available –contact me for more details and pricing)
The first workshop will focus on a special hurdle exercise designed to improve body position, technique and rhythm for long and triple jump, and is aimed at both male and female athletes.
The venue will be Battersea Park Athletics Track in London, the date options are the afternoon of Sat 8th, or Sat 15th August, 1-5pm and the price is £45 for 4 hours tuition.
If you would like to register for the workshop, please send me an email to panicoach@gmail.com with your details.
