Bergman tests new training methods as he reaches Dave Schultz freestyle finals
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by Joe Mehling, USA Wrestling
J.D. Bergman of the New York AC secures a fall against David Zabriskie in the Dave Schultz Memorial International semifinals at 97 kg. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com
Two-time World Team member J.D. Bergman of the New York AC advanced to the finals of the 18th Annual Dave Schultz Memorial after pinning David Zabriskie in 1:21 in the semifinals at 97 kg/213 lbs. on Friday morning at the Olympic Training Center.
Bergman has already qualified for the Olympic Trials in April, so he did not need to enter this event. Bergman said he is using the tournament as a case study to see where he is at in his training.
“This is a test for me,” Bergman said. “This is a test to see where I am at and where I need get to before trials. I am nowhere near where I will be at trials. I have two more months to add things and I am really excited. I am more focused than I have ever been.”
Bergman’s focus has shifted in recent months to a more unorthodox training method, which features breathing and neurological techniques as its vocal points during sessions. Spearheading this new wave of training is Chris Knott, founder of Dunamis Accelerated Recovery and Performance Gym in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Knott has worked with numerous professional organizations including several Olympic Teams along with the Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos.
“We just had a mutual friend that is one of J.D.’s supporters,” Knott said. “He introduced us at a camp at J.D. came out for and that gave me the opportunity to show J.D. what I do. Then he came out for a few more camps and I started taking care of some of his nagging injuries. We started putting together some training regiments of what works best for him and helped him through that process. After that he chose that he needed to be out here to maximize his potential.”
Bergman recently made the tough decision to leave Columbus, Ohio, where he trained at the Ohio Regional Training Center, to move to Colorado Springs full-time in order to go all-in on Knott’s program. His connection to the Ohio State community goes back many years, including the time he competed for the Buckeyes, where he was an NCAA runner-up.
“It was a really tough decision because I want to be there to help the Buckeyes and my long time girlfriend is still in Columbus,” Bergman said. “I really wanted to get out here to work specifically with Chris, who I think is the best healthcare professional in the country. I am working harder than I have ever worked, which is crazy at 31-years-old. I am working 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. six days a week but I am doing different things. I am focusing on my breathing and being more efficient with what God has given me. I have three great partners and Brandon Slay out here so the wrestling is taken care of but I need to be the best me on April 10th. I have to beat an Olympic champion and a World champion to make the team. That’s what I plan to do.”
Bergman’s path to the Olympic team is not an easy one. He would potentially need to wrestle six matches in one day in order to make the Rio team. In the Challenge Tournament, he might face 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner, and if he reaches the finals series, he would battle reigning World Champion and current Buckeye star Kyle Snyder. Everything he is doing now is preparing him for that day.
“It is fascinating because if J.D. would have stayed in Columbus, he would have the opportunity to train with Kyle Snyder,” U.S. National Freestyle coach Brandon Slay said. “Just works out that at 97kg you will have to win three matches just to get to the finals and then have to wrestle Snyder best two-of-three. I think that’s why J.D. is thinking he has to stay healthy and build his foundation so he could go six matches in a day if needs too.”
Bergman believes that the best way for him to build that foundation is to work with Knott and buy into a program that is a bit untraditional in the sport of wrestling.
“My job is to maximize who he is and his potential,” Knott said. “It’s not about how many bench presses he could do or how many wind sprints he could do. It’s about finding out what your weakest link is on a daily basis and then building that up. We are reprogramming his neurology so that everything is firing correctly. People think that if I need to get faster or stronger then I need to lift and run more. When in reality everyone of us already has enough untapped potential to get there.”
The first step of reaching that untapped potential and building an Olympic sized foundation is as simple as breathing.
“One of our biggest pushes right now is teaching him how to breathe,” Knott said. “It sounds ridiculous because he has breathing his whole life, obviously, but no one thinks about breathing appropriately. When you are stressed, your breathing constricts the muscles, which then affects the display or the performance. Everyone trains for the attributes of bigger, faster and stronger but we train you how to recover so that the brain says you are good to go which allows you to do more.”
“More” is exactly what Bergman is looking for in the next two months leading up to the Trials in Iowa City. He knows his path to Rio is not easy but he whole-heartedly believes he has the right plan in place to be successful.
“My goal is to be way more offensive and explosive through six minutes,” Bergman said. “I am going to be very hard to deal with. That is everyone’s goal but I am doing more than anyone and I am doing things differently. Not just the American style of working more but I am working smarter. I believe in the science that Chris Knott is doing and I am really excited about it.”
The testing continues tonight, when Bergman faces former Boise State star J.T. Felix of the Titan Mercury WC in the finals.
Two-time World Team member J.D. Bergman of the New York AC advanced to the finals of the 18th Annual Dave Schultz Memorial after pinning David Zabriskie in 1:21 in the semifinals at 97 kg/213 lbs. on Friday morning at the Olympic Training Center.
Bergman has already qualified for the Olympic Trials in April, so he did not need to enter this event. Bergman said he is using the tournament as a case study to see where he is at in his training.
“This is a test for me,” Bergman said. “This is a test to see where I am at and where I need get to before trials. I am nowhere near where I will be at trials. I have two more months to add things and I am really excited. I am more focused than I have ever been.”
Bergman’s focus has shifted in recent months to a more unorthodox training method, which features breathing and neurological techniques as its vocal points during sessions. Spearheading this new wave of training is Chris Knott, founder of Dunamis Accelerated Recovery and Performance Gym in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Knott has worked with numerous professional organizations including several Olympic Teams along with the Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos.
“We just had a mutual friend that is one of J.D.’s supporters,” Knott said. “He introduced us at a camp at J.D. came out for and that gave me the opportunity to show J.D. what I do. Then he came out for a few more camps and I started taking care of some of his nagging injuries. We started putting together some training regiments of what works best for him and helped him through that process. After that he chose that he needed to be out here to maximize his potential.”
Bergman recently made the tough decision to leave Columbus, Ohio, where he trained at the Ohio Regional Training Center, to move to Colorado Springs full-time in order to go all-in on Knott’s program. His connection to the Ohio State community goes back many years, including the time he competed for the Buckeyes, where he was an NCAA runner-up.
“It was a really tough decision because I want to be there to help the Buckeyes and my long time girlfriend is still in Columbus,” Bergman said. “I really wanted to get out here to work specifically with Chris, who I think is the best healthcare professional in the country. I am working harder than I have ever worked, which is crazy at 31-years-old. I am working 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. six days a week but I am doing different things. I am focusing on my breathing and being more efficient with what God has given me. I have three great partners and Brandon Slay out here so the wrestling is taken care of but I need to be the best me on April 10th. I have to beat an Olympic champion and a World champion to make the team. That’s what I plan to do.”
Bergman’s path to the Olympic team is not an easy one. He would potentially need to wrestle six matches in one day in order to make the Rio team. In the Challenge Tournament, he might face 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner, and if he reaches the finals series, he would battle reigning World Champion and current Buckeye star Kyle Snyder. Everything he is doing now is preparing him for that day.
“It is fascinating because if J.D. would have stayed in Columbus, he would have the opportunity to train with Kyle Snyder,” U.S. National Freestyle coach Brandon Slay said. “Just works out that at 97kg you will have to win three matches just to get to the finals and then have to wrestle Snyder best two-of-three. I think that’s why J.D. is thinking he has to stay healthy and build his foundation so he could go six matches in a day if needs too.”
Bergman believes that the best way for him to build that foundation is to work with Knott and buy into a program that is a bit untraditional in the sport of wrestling.
“My job is to maximize who he is and his potential,” Knott said. “It’s not about how many bench presses he could do or how many wind sprints he could do. It’s about finding out what your weakest link is on a daily basis and then building that up. We are reprogramming his neurology so that everything is firing correctly. People think that if I need to get faster or stronger then I need to lift and run more. When in reality everyone of us already has enough untapped potential to get there.”
The first step of reaching that untapped potential and building an Olympic sized foundation is as simple as breathing.
“One of our biggest pushes right now is teaching him how to breathe,” Knott said. “It sounds ridiculous because he has breathing his whole life, obviously, but no one thinks about breathing appropriately. When you are stressed, your breathing constricts the muscles, which then affects the display or the performance. Everyone trains for the attributes of bigger, faster and stronger but we train you how to recover so that the brain says you are good to go which allows you to do more.”
“More” is exactly what Bergman is looking for in the next two months leading up to the Trials in Iowa City. He knows his path to Rio is not easy but he whole-heartedly believes he has the right plan in place to be successful.
“My goal is to be way more offensive and explosive through six minutes,” Bergman said. “I am going to be very hard to deal with. That is everyone’s goal but I am doing more than anyone and I am doing things differently. Not just the American style of working more but I am working smarter. I believe in the science that Chris Knott is doing and I am really excited about it.”
The testing continues tonight, when Bergman faces former Boise State star J.T. Felix of the Titan Mercury WC in the finals.
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