Reverse Engineering Performance with Mike Niklos

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Plates and Pancakes, Steven sits down with Mike Niklos to unpack what it really means to coach movement, not just lifts.Mike breaks down his philosophy of reverse engineering performance—starting with the end goal and building athletes backward from there. The conversation dives into how great coaches identify deficits using KPIs, why technique should be a byproduct of intent, and how to balance precision with real-world application across high school, college, and pro athletes.They also get into the realities of coaching in today’s environment: managing multi-sport athletes, developing resilience in high-pressure systems, and teaching athletes how to handle failure without losing confidence. Mike shares how communication—not just programming—is often the difference-maker in long-term development.The episode closes with a raw discussion on injury, accountability, and the often-blurred lines between strength coaches, sport coaches, and medical staff—highlighted by a real-world javelin case that raises tough but necessary questions.If you want to connect data, movement, and real performance—this episode delivers.https://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email [email protected]://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch