I am 48 years old, a 2 time Olympian and multiple World Record Holder in the javelin. I am still competing and am on track to qualify for my 8th Olympic Trials in 2012 when I will be 50 – honestly.
My main focus in my throwing is doing standing throws – which is very unusal for a javelin thrower. The last few years I have been working on a new technique that can generate a lot more power and accelerate my arm and release speed.
This video captures my standing throw and the 4 key positions:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Roald62
I believe this technique can be used by baseball pitchers with the same or even greater benefits.
I would like to hear from any coaches or players out there as to what they think?FYI: I was clocked at 100mph with a baseball back in 1985 when I was 23 and I have never had a single injury in my entire life in my shoulder or elbow!


Rookie
December 16, 2010


April 27, 2008

Roald,
I remember watching you in the news during the last Olypmpics. You are an inspiration! Thanks for posting here. Maybe with this video we can start to collaborate on throwing velocity mechanics.
Brent Pourciau

April 27, 2008



Rookie
December 16, 2010

Brent,
thank you so much for welcoming me to your site and being reseptive.
Your insight of throwing mechanics and analysis is incredible. I listened to both the video comparison of Jim and I and also the interview you did with him. Very interesting. There are so many things I want to say and respond to.
Rather than making this one long post I think it would be better to address/ talk about things one by one so you and others can interact.
I love the 3 X commentary.
Just so you know I don't push off my right leg for several reasons: Even though I am doing a standing throw it still needs to relate back to the javelin throw off of a run up. When a javelin thrower lands on the right foot to throw ( right hander ) the javelin off of a runup you must not react off of the right leg. It is called a “soft step”. One lands on the right foot /leg but the function is to maintain / hold speed and body position until the left foot/leg comes into contact the ground. I guess you could say the right leg is almost passive until the throw begins. I hadn't really thought about this before. In my standing throw I don't push off the right leg as a pitcher does because of this. I wrap, let my weight shift and move forward to my left foot / leg / side as I would off of a run up. Unlike a pitcher a javelin thrower is running / moving into the throwing position. If a javelin thrower tried to react / push off of their right leg into the throw they would push their body / torso upwards and forward and out of the power position to throw far.
Does that make sense?

April 27, 2008

Roald,
That makes a lot of sense because Javilin throwers do not have a momentum issue once the right leg lands because of the running start. Pitchers, because they are starting in a stationary position, must generate as much momentum as possible into the front foot from that stationary position. This is why 3X is so effective. This means Pitchers and Javilin throwers are most similar at front foot strike. Front foot meaning when the left leg lands.
Can you give us an idea of what main components of velocity do you focus on when throwing the javilin?
Thanks!
Brent


Rookie
December 16, 2010

When I throw the javelin whether from a stand or an approach I focus on relaxed accelration, getting the longest pull possible, creating multiple torques throughout my body that are then released in sequence to create optimum speed of release on the javelin.
The way I can best describe it is like lining up some dominos – standing on their edge – the dominos vary in size going from small to big and then small again. When you push the small domino it knocks the next bigger one and onto the bigger, the biggest and then back down again to the smallest: Each domino represents part of the body: ankle, knee, hip, torso, shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers.
Does that make sense?

April 27, 2008

Yes, I call it throwing from the ground up. You accelerate your momentum through the kinetic chain, building torque in your joints to assist momentum. The ultimate goal is to transfer all that energy into the ball or javilin. What separates athletes is their ability to perform this complex movement consistently and the physical makeup to enhance their performance.
Can you tell us more about your training program?


Rookie
December 16, 2010

Without getting into specifics I can say this about my training phiosophy and training routine:
Keep it simple, be consitant and listen to your body.
As far as my training goes – “Volume and Repetition” are the foundation of any program I have done. It has helped me overcome the physical limitations of having Spina Bifida through today as I deal with a body that is 16 months shy of turning 50!
I recently calculated that within the last year I have thrown over 2 million throws in my life time! At my peak in the mid '80s I was throwing a 6lb medicine 10,000 times per workout and doing that 3 times per week. Here is one article about from Track and Field News in 1985:
http://roaldbradstock.com/ta/1…..y1985.html
Now I realize I went to the extreme but I wanted to see just how far I could go physically and mentally. Nowadays I do a much more modest number of between 600 to 800 throws with a 1kg med ball. And that is on top of throwing javelins and golf balls twice a week – 35 javelin / 45 golf ball throw per session.
I also throw year round. The longest I have ever gone without throwing is about 11 days!
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