Dr. Donald Chu is a performance coach and physical therapist, as well as a legendary track and field coach at UC Hayward in the 1980s. He is currently Clinic Director of Athercare Fitness & Rehabilitation. Dr. Chu is one of the pioneers of research-supported plyometric training, and he has developed an extensive reputation in the field of sports rehabilitation and the areas of fitness and conditioning. He has been credited with bringing “plyometric training” to the attention of the athletic world through his application of theoretical knowledge into practical demonstrations.
Dr. Chu received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1974. He also holds a degree in physical therapy from Stanford and a master’s in kinesiology and physical education from CSU-Hayward. Dr. Chu has also served as the Director of Athletic Training & Rehabilitation at Stanford University. He holds certifications as an Athletic Trainer (ATC) from the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA). He has served on the Board of Directors for both organizations and is a past President of the NSCA. Currently, Dr. Chu is the President of the California State Board of Physical Therapy and serves as a public member on the Board of Interior Design for the State of California.
In this episode, Dr. Chu discusses quantifying and implementing plyometrics, jump training, Russian training methods, keystone workouts, and more. He gives us a unique insight into his career and the journey he has taken that led to his incredible success in developing jumping abilities in track and field athletes for decades.
In this podcast, Dr. Donald Chu and Joel discuss:
- His introduction to plyometrics as a young coach.
- His methods of utilizing the weight room with his jumpers.
- Periodization of plyometrics in his program.
- Benchmarks he uses to assess progress with his athletes.
- What he learned from the Russian training model.
- Single and double leg jumping.
Podcast total run time is 1:01:36.
Dr. Chu can be found at his website.
Keywords: track and field, jumping, plyometrics, power development
