Functional Path Training: Perry O’Brien

Functional Path Training

The Functional Path is a path that had been traveled many times before but had fallen out of use in favor of smoother paved roads that promised faster and easier results. Seeking to follow and better define the functional path is a continuing journey, fortunately it is a journey that many have traveled before. Functional Path training is getting back to the basics of movement. It is learning to tune into the body and it’s inherent wisdom to produce rhythmic flowing movement.

4/23/07

Perry O’Brien

I just found that Perry O’Brien died at age 75.He was one of my heroes. This guy was a real pioneer several counts. He was the first man to throw 60 feet in the shot put. He revolutionized the technique of the event by starting with his back to the direction of the throw executing what is now called the O’Brien technique. He was one of the first athletes to systematically use weight training to improve his performance. This guy was a competitor. I got to help officiate the shot put competition my senior year in high school at the Santa Barbara Easter Relays, that was a lesson in how to compete. He also was a good enough athlete to lead off the sprint relay when he was in college at USC. Reading his obituary certainly brought back a flood of memories of the glory days of Track & Field

2 Comments:

At 4/23/07, 1:31 PM, Anonymous said...: Parry O'Brien indeed a pioneer. He revolutionized the "O'Brien glide" as an accepted way to throw the 16 pound shot put.

TC
At 4/24/07, 8:49 AM, Anonymous said...: I just heard that he died at a swim meet. He apparently became a competitive swimmer after having to give up shot putting because of joint pain. He truly was a life long athlete.

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About Me

Name: Vern Gambetta

Location: Florida, United States

Vern is currently is the Director of Gambetta Sports Training Systems. He has been the a conditioning coach for several teams in Major League Soccer as well as the conditioning consultant to the US Men’s World Cup Soccer team. Vern is the former Director of Conditioning for the Chicago White Sox and Director of Athletic Development for the New York Mets. Vern is recognized internationally as an expert in training and conditioning for sport having worked with world class athletes and teams in a wide variety of sports. He is a popular speaker and writer on conditioning topics having lectured and conducted clinics in Canada, Japan, Australia and Europe. Vern's coaching experience spans 36 years at all levels of competition. Vern has authored six books and over one hundred articles related to coaching and sport performance in a variety of sports. He received his BA from Fresno State University and his teaching credential with a coaching minor from University of California Santa Barbara. Vern obtained his MA in Education with an emphasis in physical education from Stanford University.

Functional Path Training

4/23/07

Perry O’Brien

2 Comments:

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