Stuart McMillan - The Power of Skipping, Speed, and Self-Expression (Minipod Recap)

Stu McMillan, a sprint coach who has guided over 70 Olympians across nine Games, told Andrew Huberman that skipping is one of the most valuable movement patterns a person can practice at any age. After a single skipping session with McMillan, Huberman reported feeling as though he had "grown an inch" and woke up the next day with improved posture, elevated energy, and better gym performance. The conversation, which ranged from the mechanics of foot strike to the nature of elite performance, offered a framework for movement that applies far beyond the track.

Why Skipping Works: Expansion Over Collapse

McMillan’s case for skipping is built on a contrast with how most adults exercise. Jogging and traditional cardio, he argues, keep the body in a collapsed, forward-folded position. Skipping does the opposite: it opens the body up, creating expansion rather than contraction. This shift engages the fascial and nervous systems in a way that more repetitive, closed-chain movements do not.