Why do some of the most athletic people move so effortlessly without posting big squat numbers? In this episode I sit down with Coach Chong Xie, a fascia-focused performance coach and author of The Secret of Athleticism. Chong brings an engineer's eye from his years at Bloomberg, where tiny differences can crash a system, and applies it to what he noticed in elite athletes: they suspend themselves on the ball of the foot, show distinctive toe calluses, and have prominent tendons in the front of the lower leg. We talk about how that curiosity grew into hyper arch fascial training, what EMG measurements showed, and the randomized clinical trial reporting improved jumping ability. Then we turn to people with chronic conditions. Chong shares his perspective on hypermobility and EDS, why he cautions against heavy weight training for them, supplements he has seen help, and a case of a young athlete with POTS and CCI who returned to normal activity. You'll leave with a fresh lens on movement and a free place to start. These are one coach's observations and early research, so please discuss changes with your own clinician.
Coach Chong Xie went from software release management at Bloomberg to studying why elite athletes move differently. We explore hyper arch fascial training, the new randomized clinical trial, and what fascia may mean for people with hypermobility and related syndromes.
Key takeaways:
• Elite athletes often rely on the ball of the foot rather than the heel, and show toe calluses and prominent extensor and anterior tibial tendons.
• Chong's engineering and QA background shaped his habit of hunting for small differences that explain big outcomes.
• Elite jumpers often don't post exceptional squat numbers, which challenges the purely muscle-based model of power.
• EMG measurements suggest these differences are neurological, not just visible.
• A randomized clinical trial reported improved jumping ability with the fascial training approach.
• For hypermobile and EDS individuals, Chong advises avoiding heavy weight training and mentions hyaluronic acid (oral), vitamin C, and magnesium as supplements he has seen help; this is his view, not medical advice.
• Chong describes fascia as involved in autonomic issues like POTS and CCI, and shared one case of a young athlete returning to normal activity.
Resources mentioned:
• Hyper Arch Fascial Training (HFT) (https://www.secret-of-athleticism.com/shop)
• The Secret of Athleticism (book)
• Randomized clinical trial on fascial training and jumping (https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/14/10/468)
• EMG measurement
• Chong Xie's free YouTube exercises
• HFT Patreon with research and weekly Q&As
• HFT Research Fund
Links mentioned:
• Hyper Arch Fascial Training (HFT) YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@HyperarchFasciaTraining) —
• HFT Patreon — (https://www.patreon.com/cw/HyperarchFasciaTraining)
• HFT Research Fund
About Chong Xie
Chong Xie is the founder of Hyperarch Fascia Training (HFT), based in New York. He works as a fascia coach with professional athletes in the UFC, MLS, LaLiga and the PPA, and with executives, helping them break the cycle of chronic pain and injury and move past performance plateaus. His approach targets what he sees as the root cause of many chronic painful conditions, including plantar fasciitis and ankle, knee, groin, shoulder, elbow and low back pain.
Before HFT, Chong spent more than ten years at Bloomberg as a release manager in software quality assurance. His motto is "Win from Within." He studied at Binghamton University.
About The One Thing Podcast with Dr. Adam Rinde
Host Dr. Adam Rinde, ND brings together leaders in functional and naturopathic medicine for actionable conversations on gut health, brain health, metabolism, and longevity. Subscribe and share at https://onethingpod.com. For Dr. Rinde's Clinical Practice go to https://drrinde.com
For education only — not a substitute for medical advice.
