Another day of grueling testing in Florida.
by Kevin Owens / @Waiting4Godunk
I was a little sad as I raced across the IMG campus to cover Tuesday’s Trigger Point Therapy session. Sad because I knew this would be my last day in Bradenton, and also a little upset that I had spilled hot coffee down my arm in route to the gym. Our group would be concluding its coverage of IMG and Under Armour’s Combine 360 Global Training Symposium today, so I needed to make sure I could experience Tuesday’s early morning session.
Trigger Point Therapy is muscle tissue preparation workout which targets six specific areas of your body. It was designed by Cassidy Phillips, to help prevent injury and enhance athletic performance. I arrived at the gym in time to see the entire group of trainer/participants engaged in this session. Using several different devices the muscles were able to be rolled and stretched. Upon completion, these athletes were ready for day two.
While the group started their second session of the Combine Challenge Workout, I met up with Corey Stenstrup, a Performance Specialist from IMG. He took me through a workout that focused on my two 
biggest weaknesses, balance and muscle mobility. Throughout the workout I was able to ask the extremely knowledgeable Stenstrup different questions about this specific workout.
As a basketball trainer myself, I gained a great deal of information from this discussion. Information about how the body works on a basketball court, and how to strengthen the important muscles needed. We also talked about the mental approach to training. How the trainee needs to be fully engaged in the workout. How as a trainer, workouts can’t be a dreadful experience for the athlete. There needs to be a balance of both performance and excitement.
After I limped out of the gym, both hips and abs in pain, I made my way over to the IMG training room to get fit for my Armour Bite. This was an exciting process filled with moldings, drool and me nearly choking to death on my own salvia. I exited the office with two exquisite moldings of my choppers. Once my prototype arrives I will write a story about my performance enhancing Armour Bite.
We were then taken by Stenstrup to have our body fat measured in the IMG “Bod Pod”. This was my first time getting my body fat measured without those prongs that pinch your skin. I am quite happy that machines like this are now being used. To begin the process I gave Corey my height (I had been measured the day before. I am officially 6-10 without shoes) and stepped onto the scale to have my weight measured. After all these factors were registered by the computer I stepped into the Bod Pod.
Now the Bod Pod is not that big. It is an egg shaped canister that creates a vacuum of calibrated air. Once that measurement is taken, I sardined myself into the Star Warsesque escape pod to begin the test. The machine then compares my density to the calibrated density and comes up with my body fat. Mine was 12.3 percent, again not to bad for a tall drink of water like myself.
Finally we finished off the day by watching United States track star, Monica Hargrove perform the same test we participated in yesterday. Looking at Monica, I knew that her scores would blow mine out of the water. Not only was she one of the top athletes in the world, but her body was solid muscle. It was an interesting perspective to have performed the test then watch an amazing athlete like Monica perform. Makes you realize what remarkable shape these athletes are in.
It was then time to depart for the airport and head back to Philadelphia. Leaving this incredible facility would be tough. This was my first experience as a reporter and it was coming to an end. I’ll be heading back home to an uncertain future. However I will bring with me the memories. The fun I had with my “crew”. The hard work and dedication I saw first hand at IMG. The hospitality I received from everyone on campus. And finally the ringing in my ears of Jeff Dillman, Head of Physical Conditioning’s catch phrase, YEA YEA YEA YEA YEEEAAAA! Thank you Under Armour. Thank you IMG. I’m going to miss you Florida.
Kevin Owens is a veteran of overseas professional basketball who also writes for Waiting For Godunk and Hugging Harold Reynolds. You can also catch him on Twitter @Waiting4Godunk.
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