A Quest for Wisdom - Exploring the Thoughts & Philosophy of Brooks Johnson
Early Sunday morning on May 1, 2011 I happened upon the teachings of Coach Brooks Johnson via his wonderful blog entitled Spikes & Flats. Spikes & Flats is one of the greatest coaching blogs in existence. I was on a late night quest for wisdom, and I found it by reading every post that Brooks Johnson had on his blog. I thought so much of his blog, that I created my first Chirpstory and commented that "the internet is a wonderful place to explore, so much wisdom, if you're ready to receive it."
My intent in writing this blog on Brooks Johnson is to get you to explore his blog, Spikes & Flats, especially if you're a coach. If you click on the highlighted Chirpstory link, you're sure to find subjects that will interest you. For example, in the first blog post I highlighted, Johnson talks about his Pet Peeves - Refocus vs. Focusing:
"While I am on the topic of pet peeves, let me share another one that is mental and psychologically centered. Coaches and athletes constantly talk about the need to 'focus'. To a degree this is necessary, but in actual competitive situations, it is more critical that athlete and coach have the ability to 'refocus.' Very rarely will things go according to the manner and mode we have been told we need to focus on in order to optimize results. All too often 'stuff happens' that requires a last minute, second, or nano-second modification or adjustment . I have seen great athletes make these changes and adjustments, and less flexible and adaptive athletes cave in and falter. The same can, unfortunately, be said for coaches as well."
Who is Brooks Johnson? The article. "Q&A with Olympic sprint coach Brooks Johnson," gives you a brief bio, and the following comments about Brooks are from his most recent protégé, 110m hurdler and American record-holder David Oliver:
"Coach Johnson is very special. First of all, he has a thorough knowledge of every event in track and field. He’s been around so long, he knows exactly what to look for — who to do and not to do."
"But just on a personal level, he’s taught me so much about life. I didn’t really have a great connection with my father, so he’s the first male who’s taught me and molded me to be a man and a professional athlete. He tells you everything straight-up, no sugar coating. He’s elevated my career to heights I never thought were possible."
Brooks Johnson was the head coach at Stanford University (1979-92), California Polytechnic State University (1993-96) and High Performance Division Chair for USA Track & Field.
"Johnson was a talented high school track athlete in Plymouth, Massachusetts who later competed for Tufts University. After graduation, he earned a law degree at University of Chicago, which led to a job with the State Department, working for the Governmental Affairs Institute. Meanwhile, he found time to coach athletes of every level, national-class athletes, as well as high school competitors. Johnson eventually taught and coached track and football at St. Albans School in Washington, DC, where he worked with high school discus thrower and future Vice President Al Gore."
"Johnson’s first collegiate coaching experience came at the University of Florida in 1975, where he served as an assistant track coach. When fellow USTFCCCA Hall of Famer Payton Jordan retired from Stanford in 1979, Johnson accepted the head coaching position there. While coaching the Cardinal, Johnson worked with such talented athletes as PattiSue Plumer and Ceci (Hopp) St. Geme. He left Stanford for Cal Poly in 1993, and in 1996, he retired from collegiate coaching to concentrate on his work with elite-level athletes."
"Johnson worked with his first Olympian in 1960, 110m hurdles Silver Medalist Willie May, and has coached an athlete at every Olympics since 1968. He was the 1984 Olympic Team women’s head coach and served as a relay coach for the 2008 Olympic Team."
Click on Chirpstory link or scroll down the page to find a Brooks Johnson topic/blog that might interest you:
- Brooks Johnson's blog is 1 of the greatest coaching blogs in existence-Talks about his Pet Peeves-Refocus v. Focusing: http://bit.ly/kY8cPV
- Sometimes U just happen on a great blog-Read about Brooks Johnson's theories on barefoot training & googled: http://spikesandflats.com/blog/
- Barefoot Running: http://bit.ly/lqTGsy
- Brooks Johnson on "Why athletes cheat" http://bit.ly/jeS53y "At the end of the day, what the elite performer is seeking is control."
- Brooks Johnson http://bit.ly/jF3AGp talking about Wilbur Ross. Wilbur Ross is one of the greatest hurdling coaches ever. My dad, Clarence "Big House" Gaines hired him to coach physical education and Track & Field at Winston-Salem Teachers College, now WSSU.
- The symphony of the hurdles. Brooks Johnson http://bit.ly/jF3AGp talking about Wilbur Ross & Israel “Cachao” Lopez. Wonderful Post!
- Brooks Johnson mentions Lolo Jones in post about the 100/110 meter hurdles being the most technical event in T & F: http://bit.ly/jOKMsM
- Brooks Johnson talks about John Carlos & 1968 Black Power Salute: http://bit.ly/kqmZsn
- Another incredible story about John Carlos that happened at the 1972 Olympics, which I attended as a 13 year old: http://bit.ly/ipogvz
- Another great John Carlos story that may be even better than the first two that I linked: http://bit.ly/ipogvz
- I remember this incident (two American sprinters missed their qualifying rounds) from the 1972 Olympic games. Thanks for setting the record straight Coach Johnson: http://bit.ly/mkO6yf
- Brooks Johnson remembers Wayne Collett: http://bit.ly/m22Up6 I saw Wayne win his silver medal live in 1972 at the Munich Olympics. My wife was mentored by Wayne Collett early in her law career at the LA County District Attorney's Office.
- Brooks Johnson on Usain Bolt & how unique he is as an athlete who performs at the outer limits of human performance: http://bit.ly/krVhfY
- Stride Length vs. Stride Rate a discussion by Brooks Johnson in regards to Usain Bolt http://bit.ly/ivTnun
- Psychology of Athletes: Brooks Johnson thinks all Olympic athletes he's ever coached have had a screw loose: http://bit.ly/mkO6yf
- What type of athlete are you? What type of athlete do U coach - Goal Oriented or Task Oriented: http://bit.ly/let5go Brooks Johnson on Failures' Secrets
- Great Brooks Johnson quote: "Coaches need to be coaches and teachers, and in order to do that effectively there needs to be a certain physical and psychological distance between coach and athlete. In order to make the mental decisions necessary to maximize training and competitive results, there has to be a certain delineation and separation." http://bit.ly/kY8cPV
- John Wooden considered self a teacher 1st, then a coach. Brooks Johnson's post distinguishes between teachers/coaches/trainers: http://bit.ly/m2ybEh
- Brooks Johnson, a great track coach who loves jazz, talks about how jazz has influenced his coaching style: http://bit.ly/mlobU7
- Brooks Johnson on the symbiosis between art & athletics http://bit.ly/l8sjp2 with a mention of this Robert Frank photo http://bit.ly/kwcyj5
- Another great post by Brooks Johnson with references to Miles Davis & discussions about the psyche of an athlete: http://bit.ly/lva7LL
- Brooks Johnson discusses the delayed reward/gratification aspect of TEACHING/COACHING: http://bit.ly/jOKMsM A post all teachers should like.
- Olympic Gaming -Another great story from Brooks Johnson involving Flo Jo -Valerie Brisco Hooks -Bobby Kersee & others http://bit.ly/mTHw0t
- Found another great blog - Doc for Jocks - Pursuing vs. demanding perfection/excellence: http://bit.ly/mPJhc2
StackTV - link to 6 videos featuring Brooks Johnson - Subjects:
Link to Jimson Lee Interview with Brooks Johnson -
MY OTHER CHIRPSTORIES
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