Giovanni Grassi

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Grassi is an NSCA-CSCS-certified sports performance specialist at the Parisi Speed School in Fair Lawn, N.J., where he trains athletes in speed and agility and develops sport-specific training programs for high school and college athletes.

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Run Faster By Jumping Higher

March 6, 2013 | Giovanni Grassi

The real secret to running faster is not found on the track. If you really want to hit top speed, max out your jump. Although it may seem counterintuitive, three major factors correlate the two movements. Triple extension This is created with...

How, When and What Runners Need to Stretch

January 18, 2013 | Giovanni Grassi

Stretching has been a long-standing workout staple for athletes to increase their flexibility and joint range of motion. (Read more on STACK's Stretching page.) But when it comes to stretching, many athletes, especially runners, frequently wonder, "How do I stretch this...

Sprinting Form Checklist

December 25, 2012 | Giovanni Grassi

Correcting your sprinting form is one of the easiest ways to get faster. Strength and power are important, but it takes months to make an improvement. (Learn how to get faster in the weight room.) On the other hand, a...

Simple At-Home Workout for the Whole Core

December 7, 2012 | Giovanni Grassi

Contrary to popular belief, working to strengthen the core does not mean trying to get a six-pack. The core consists of many other muscles that are essential to athletic performance, like the obliques, glutes, low back muscles, and other lesser...

Pitchers: Throw Harder With This Med Ball Workout

December 3, 2012 | Giovanni Grassi

Pitching a baseball is one of the most complex and difficult-to-train sports skills. If you want to throw harder, you need to rethink how you work out. (Check out Justin Verlander's workout.) Traditional pitching workouts typically involve dumbbell and/or resistance band exercises...

40-Yard Dash: Get Faster With a Form Checklist

November 29, 2012 | Giovanni Grassi

Correcting 40-Yard Dash technique can be challenging because of the high speeds. You might catch some minor flaws, but you have to see yourself (or your athlete) actually sprinting in order to break down and address specific issues. (Check out...

Simple Dynamic Warm-Up Hip Stretches for Big Gains

November 10, 2012 | Giovanni Grassi

Just how mobile are your hips? Stiff hips could be what's holding you back from attaining peak performance. The hip girdle is one area of the body that demands a dynamic mobility warm-up. Performing hip stretches as part of your...

Get Stronger and Leaner in 30 Minutes With Kettlebells

November 7, 2012 | Giovanni Grassi

Many athletes don't have time in the day to work out. This is one of the primary reasons why people fail to make it to the gym. Yes, there is the argument that you should make time for your workouts...

The Big 50 Shoulder Circuit

September 24, 2012 | Giovanni Grassi

When most people think about a shoulder workout, they envision the Overhead Shoulder Press. It's effective, but it's not the only way to build stronger and bigger shoulders. The shoulder is a complex joint with several muscles acting on it. (Learn how...