TOBU Fitness Podcast

How can ultimate frisbee players train harder, reduce injuries, and perform at their highest level?In this episode, I sit down with Kouhei Kobayashi (Koba), a doctoral athletic training student at the University of Florida and former athletic trainer in Japan's professional B.League basketball. We dive into the science behind injury prevention, load management, neuromuscular training, and athletic performance. We discuss how these principles directly apply to ultimate frisbee.Whether you're preparing for club season, college nationals, WFDF tournaments, or simply trying to stay healthy throughout the year, this conversation is packed with practical strategies you can start using immediately.In this episode you'll learn:🏃 Why "injury prevention" doesn't mean training less📈 How load management helps ultimate players avoid overuse injuries💪 The importance of building a high chronic workload safely🔥 Why preseason training is critical for peak performance🧠 How session RPE can help you monitor training load⚖️ Neuromuscular training for stronger ankles and knees🥏 The best pre-game activation routine for ultimate frisbee😴 How sleep, nutrition, and recovery affect performance🏥 What athletic trainers actually do behind the scenesIf you're an ultimate frisbee player, coach, athletic trainer, strength coach, or sports science enthusiast, this episode will give you evidence-based strategies to improve performance while lowering injury risk.Resources Mentioned:Kouhei's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kkoba.atc.pro?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==TOBU Fitness Links: https://linktr.ee/tobufitness?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=c1281490-a252-44d5-9c24-d73fb078ae7cApply for 1-on-1 Coaching: https://www.tobufitness.com/contact

Are you actually hydrated or just waterlogged? In this episode, Justin sits down with Ben Payson, founder of Heat Hydration and competitive ultimate frisbee player, to break down everything athletes get wrong about electrolytes. From why water alone isn't enough during intense play, to the science behind nitric oxide and blood flow for heat management, Ben covers the full picture. They dig into electrolyte preloading strategies, how to read supplement labels, the truth about sugar-heavy sports drinks, and why sodium and potassium ratios matter more than most athletes realize. Whether you're prepping for a tournament weekend or just trying to stop cramping mid-game, this episode gives you a practical, no-fluff playbook for optimizing hydration from the inside out.Heat Hydration: https://www.heathydration.com/(Use Code TOBU15 for 15% off)Heat Hydration Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heat.hydration/TOBU Fitness 1-on-1 coaching: https://www.tobufitness.com/contact

Most ultimate frisbee players are conditioning wrong and it’s holding back their performance.In this episode, we break down how to actually train conditioning for ultimate frisbee using a smarter system built around aerobic base, anaerobic conditioning, work capacity, and deceleration training.You’ll learn why ultimate is not a running sport but a change of direction sport, how to build an aerobic base for tournament weekends, and how to improve conditioning without ruining your speed or performance.We cover the biggest conditioning mistakes ultimate players make, including overusing intervals, ignoring deceleration training, and trying to make conditioning workouts look like the game.We also explain the inverse relationship between overload and specificity, and how to structure your training in season vs offseason using a high low model.If you want to improve your conditioning for ultimate frisbee and perform better late in games and tournaments, this episode gives you a complete framework.1-on-1 Coaching: https://www.tobufitness.com/contactSelf-Toss Throwing Drill: https://youtu.be/0mDxuroPcuc

In this episode, Justin Shelby breaks down the training questions ultimate frisbee players struggle with the most. He explains how to properly balance skill development and athletic training, why there is no universal ratio, and how athletes should identify their true limiting factors. The conversation explores what players should actually focus on during the off season, including building general strength, addressing specific weaknesses, and preparing the body for the demands of a competitive season.Justin dives into one of the biggest issues in ultimate: injuries linked to overtraining. He reframes common misconceptions around “bad exercises” and instead highlights the mismatch between load and capacity, sudden workload spikes, and the hidden role of fatigue. Practical strategies are discussed for managing weekly intensity, improving resilience, and avoiding the performance plateaus caused by chronic exhaustion.Apply for 1-on-1 Coaching: https://www.tobufitness.com/contactTOBU Fitness Links: https://linktr.ee/tobufitness?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=82c090d3-a686-4daf-b3dc-2320709f45ec

In this Tobu Fitness Podcast episode, Justin sits down with Cam Brock from the Indianapolis Alleycats and Manny Eckert from Seattle Sockeye for one of the deepest conversations on high level ultimate. Cam breaks down his season with the Atlanta Hustle including team culture, training habits, and what he learned from competing in the pro environment. He explains why he chose to return to the Alleycats next season and what his goals are for his game as a veteran cutter. We dig into how Cam improved his cutting through footwork work, strength training, timing practice, film study, and specific resources that helped him restructure how he moves on the field. Manny and Cam then go into a long unfiltered conversation about pro ultimate compared to elite club, the pace of play, the differences in spacing and roles, how players can prepare for the jump, and how both scenes push the sport forward. This episode is packed with insight for players who want better cutting mechanics, smarter training, and a clearer view of the pro and club landscape.TOBU Fitness Coaching: https://www.tobufitness.com/TOBU Fitness Links: https://linktr.ee/tobufitness?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=e11b8bf7-cab5-4535-b03b-d60a08ae4668📈 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more interviews, training tips, and ultimate frisbee content.