Stop Chasing Shapes

Stop Chasing Shapes

In this episode of Rethinking Biomechanics, we’re back after a long break and apparently ready to stir the pot. The big theme: stop taking movement conversations personally. If someone critiques a drill, a shape, or a training idea, that doesn’t have to be an attack. It can simply be an invitation to rethink. We talk about why so much of the performance world gets stuck “painting by numbers”: chasing positions, copying drills, pursuing strength for the sake of strength, and trying to force athletes into shapes that may have nothing to do with how they actually move best. Movement is not about hitting the perfect pose. It’s about understanding how the body organizes itself through rotations, levers, timing, and ease. That led us into a bigger conversation about efficiency. Coaches often try to make things harder. But the best movers usually find a way to make things easier. Easier works. We also talk about femur pitch, why drills don’t always transfer, upcoming projects, Jen’s new book Spinal Intelligence, and our upcoming NSCA talk on asymmetry. Listen in if you’re ready to stop painting by numbers and start rethinking movement. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com [https://letmeintroduceyou.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Go Play: Escaping Fitness Categories

Season 3, Episode 2 of Let Me Introduce You dives into the boxes we put movement (and ourselves) in—performance, aesthetics, “I just like to move,” and health. We tease apart how these categories can help, how they can trap us, and why the best training plan might simply be… to play. In this one, Jen admits she’s more “flip upside down” than “athlete,” and Adarian counters that athletics is just movement—an expression like dance. We talk access (why people do what they can reach), competition (maybe it’s just the desire to be noticed), and why gyms should feel like playgrounds instead of rule books. Also inside: the origin story of Adarian’s simple fitness app idea, and Jen’s quick tip about using the heel and pelvis to make step-ups click. Takeaway: stop pigeonholing yourself. Walk into the gym and explore. Try the barbell. Toss the med ball. Mess up. Learn. Repeat. Movement can be free—and fun. Hit play, share with a friend who’s stuck in a “program or bust” mindset, and tell us what category you’ve outgrown. 🎧 P.S. If you’re loving the show, subscribe and leave a quick note—yes, we read them! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com [https://letmeintroduceyou.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

LMIY Season 3 Episode 1

In this episode, Jenn and Adarian discuss disillusionment in the training and coaching industry. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com [https://letmeintroduceyou.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Learning to Fall: The Key to Moving with Ease

We're back with a fresh episode of Let Me Introduce You, and this time, we're talking about something that happens to everyone—but most of us are taught to avoid at all costs: falling. Falling is more than a mishap. It’s an essential element of movement. In this episode, we (Jenn and Adarian) dive headfirst into why falling is foundational to athleticism, fluidity, and everyday movement. From running to breakdancing, from judo to jumping jacks, we explore how falling initiates action, redirects momentum, and enhances performance when understood—not feared. Here are a few highlights: * What falling really is: It’s not just leaning forward or collapsing. True falling involves a loss of ground contact, a shift in the torso, and often—if you’re moving well—an intentional interception by a limb. * The role of the torso: Forget the hips. It’s the torso that truly initiates forward movement. Whether you're sprinting like a cheetah or dancing on one hand, torso control determines flow. * Running, reimagined: We talk about how the torso’s fall drives sprinting, the misunderstood role of the heel strike, and how the swing leg helps the stance leg. * Falling in sport and art: Martial artists, dancers, and top athletes don’t resist the fall—they embrace and direct it. * Fall prevention tips: Adarian shares the number one fall prevention strategy (hint: it’s not shuffling your feet). * Jenn’s clinic revelations: What changed when Jenn stopped “stepping on oranges” and started yawing her femurs? She went from vertical bounce to horizontal zoom—and learned a thing or two about how fast she could go. We even touch on reflexes, stumble recovery, explosive movements like push-ups and throws, and why learning how to fall might be the most valuable skill you can develop. We’ll return to this topic in an upcoming Part Two, because there’s still so much more to explore—including how falling relates to different kinds of rotation, injury risk, and agility in later life. As always, thank you for listening. And remember: Learn to fall. Move better. Fall less. 🎧 Listen to the episode here (insert podcast link) — Events Mentioned: * July: SoCal/LA Plannar Plate Workshop * September: Seattle—likely with a part two on falling! * January: Vegas * February: Florida (TBD) * Website is back online [https://www.rethinkingbiomechanics.com] Got questions or thoughts about falling, movement, or upcoming events? Reply to this post or hit us up on social. And if you haven’t yet, grab a copy of Let Me Introduce You [https://www.amazon.com/Let-Introduce-You-threesomes-movement/dp/B0BSMGMG8S/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35JWNH195GG1H&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wn85CHdYZdRRFyRpsnOc9A.SffTFN_gazIBwdhVSEUC0k6dNjE04XEVYpp8IqAw6DY&dib_tag=se&keywords=let+me+introduce+you+adarian+barr&qid=1749776193&sprefix=let+me+introduce+you+adarian+barr%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1]—the book that started it all. —Jenn & Adarian This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com [https://letmeintroduceyou.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Let Me Introduce You: Rehabilitation from Death, Sumo Strategies & System Thinking

In one of the most profound and eye-opening episodes of Let Me Introduce You, Adarian Barr shares the story of his literal return from the edge—surviving eight heart restarts and 45 minutes of chest compressions after a massive cardiac arrest. What follows is an intimate, thoughtful exploration of rehabilitating after death, what it means to truly understand the system of the body, and how conventional wisdom often misses the mark. 🎙️ This Episode Covers: * Why core strength is overrated (and what really matters) * Recovery through walking, coordination, and the Helix Point system * Lessons from the emergency room and blood work that everyone should know * The power and agility of sumo wrestlers—and what they reveal about real athleticism * Eating for the system versus eating in isolation * Why “specialists” miss the bigger picture of health, rehab, and movement 💡 Big Takeaways: * Movement matters—but not in the way you’ve been taught. * Systems thinking can save your life—literally. * Blood work isn’t just for the sick—it’s a baseline everyone should track. 📅 Upcoming: Adarian and Jenn will be teaching in Seattle June 6–7 [https://lu.ma/home]and Adarian is teaching in L.A. in July. Also, the long-awaited Helix Point is coming this January! 🎧 Listen now to gain insight on life, recovery, and redefining what it means to move well—even after the unthinkable. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letmeintroduceyou.substack.com [https://letmeintroduceyou.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]