EBFA - Barefoot Training Certifications

Dr. Emily Splichal - CEO/FOUNDER

Bio: Dr Emily Splichal, Podiatrist and Human Movement Specialist, is the Founder of the Evidence Based Fitness Academy, Creator of the Barefoot Training Specialist®, BarefootRx® and BARE® Workout Certifications and Inventor of Naboso Barefoot Technology. With over 16 years in the fitness industry, Dr Splichal has dedicated her medical career towards studying postural alignment and human movement as it relates to barefoot science, foot to core integration and from the ground up training.

Dr Splichal actively sees patients out of her office in Manhattan, NY with a specialty in sports medicine, functional medicine and regenerative medicine (www.dremilysplichal.com). Dr Splichal takes great pride in approaching all patients through a functional approach with the integration of systemic function, diet, vitamin supplementation and corrective exercise.

Dr Splichal is actively involved in barefoot training research and barefoot education as it relates to athletic performance, injury prevention and movement longevity. Dr Splichal has presented her research and barefoot education both nationally and internationally, with her Barefoot Training Specialist® Program in over 35 countries worldwide and translated into 12 languages.

Due to her unique background Dr Splichal is able to serve as a consultant and expert for some of the top fitness, footwear and orthotic companies including Aetrex Worldwide, Bunion Bootie, Crunch Fitness, Lissom Footwear, NIKE Innovations, PowerPlate USA, RAD Roller and Trigger Point Performance Therapy.

Degrees/Certifications: Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), Master's Human Movement (MS), NASM-CES, NASM-PES, NSCA-CPT

EBFA MASTER INSTRUCTORS – ASIA

DR TOMONORI KAWAI – JAPAN

Certifications/Education: Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine (DC), M.S. Sports Science & Rehab, CCSP, ICSSP, ART, Graston-C, NKT, Rocktape, FAKTR

How are Barefoot Strong? Before I attended the MI Training I didn't realize how much barefoot training could improve other areas.

I believe barefoot training could help more people not only with foot problems but also knee pain, hip pain, even spine problems. EBFA's techniques of from the ground up, reflexive stability, small nerve activation is so systematized and sophisticated. My motto is that “I would like to help someone who regrets finishing their career due to injury.”

MASAYUKI TAKAHASHI – JAPAN

Certifications/Education: BS(From Cal State Northridge), MS in Human Movement (A.T.Still University), Certified Athletic Trainer, NASM-PES/CES, Neuro kinetic Therapy Level 1

How are Barefoot Strong? Foot is not huge power-production joint like hip;however, give critical impact for every other joint to play efficient way.

I realized so because I felt pain on the plantar foot or in the knee going away with strong barefoot.I believe "strong barefoot” is something everyone need to get in the field, and for better quality of life in the aging society.Exited to teach great concept of proper breathing with foot to core sequencing. ”

YOUNGCHUL PARK – KOREA

Certifications/Education: NASM-CES, NASM-CPT, Power Plate–MI, TRX Rip-MI, Titleist-Golf, TP Therapy-MI

How are you barefoot strong? In the early stages of my bodybuilding competition, I had a car accident and had to have back surgery due to spondylolisthesis.

The doctors had to fuse my L3, L4, L5 into one. After the surgery, I was suffering from back pain, knee & my feet pain as well and my back has getting lean forward quite seriously.

I had visited the orthopedic surgeon often and the surgeon commented to me that your arches are collapsing and it would be best to use orthotics. Since I started the short foot exercise and balance training of BTS, my arches have gotten higher and I have better balance and improved foot strength. I don’t have to wear orthotics anymore. Also, playing golf for feet grip force is getting improved which shows better balance & further distance in driving the ball.

Alycia Chua- Singapore

Certifications/Education: Diploma in Dance with Distinction, Royal Academy of Dance Registered Teacher (RAD RTS), Certificate of Higher Education in Dance Education (RAD, UK), BodyTree Academy (BTA) Educator & Certified Pilates Teacher, Fletcher Pilates® Professional Teacher, Pilates Method Alliance (PMA®) Certified Teacher, BASI Pilates® Pilates for Dancers, Progressing Ballet Technique Certified Teacher

How are you barefoot strong? I love to begin and end my Ballet and Pilates classes standing.

All my students are trained in barefoot (without their ballet shoes), taught to connect and condition their feet from the ground up, and to have the foot to core integrated stability.

Having a flat and weak left foot with a bunion, I’m able to regain my own foot function, become stronger and have better performance, all from practising foot to core integration everyday.

PAO HUI CHANG – TAIWAN

Certifications/Education: National Physical Therapy , ROCKTAPE Instructor, certified by Functional movement screen , Selective Functional Movement Assessment, Neurokinetic therapy, Dynamic neuromuscular stabilization, Fascial Manipulation, Visceral Manipulation ； ACE, NASM, Corrective exercise personal trainer , Co-Funder of Nissi Body Rebalance.

How are you barefoot strong? Foot is the foundation of whole body；we had search the best way to teach people move efficiency for many years, and the EBFA is the answer! From the ground up concept give a good way for all kind of exercise to build their core stability, not only fix the foot problem, even the hip、knee 、and lumbar . I think EBFA concept should appear in every course which related to core muscle training.

KAI YING PAI – TAIWAN

How are you barefoot strong? As a physical therapy, we treat almost all my patient with EBFA , teach them do the short foot exercise everyday !

Even I do the short foot exercise everyday ! By active the deep front line from foot to core, we teach patient how to maintain the treatment effect very well ! In addition to , We also share the EBFA concept information on blogger、holding speech in Taiwan and Shanghai ,we love the idea of barefoot strong, share barefoot strong idea in very different way as much as we can !

EBFA MASTER INSTRUCTORS – Australia

Christine McCormack - Perth

Certifications/Education: Diploma Remedial Therapy, Certified Personal Trainer, JEMS Practitioner, Trigger Point Therapy Master Trainer, Master RehabTrainer, Institute of Motion Trainer Level2, ViPRTrainer

How are you barefoot strong? Throughout our lives we experience situations that impact on our bodies. In my own search for solutions to pain and injury, I discovered barefoot training.

Instantly a whole new world of opportunity was opened up to me. I bit the bullet and traveled over three and a half thousand kilometers to participate in BTS Level 1. Two amazing, enlightening days with Dr Emily gave me the tools to rehab myself and also bridge the gap for my clients from the treatment table and into training programs allowing them move efficiently again. It was a real game changer. All of my clients now leave their treatment sessions with barefoot homework. I love that Barefoot training has no prejudice in regard to my client's level of training or rehabilitation, just amazing outcomes.

EBFA MASTER INSTRUCTORS – europe

Ondrej Lunga - CZECH REPUBLIC

Certifications/Education: Masters Degree of Sport, Master Trainer of Trigger Point Therapy, Master Trainer of Dynamax, Fascial Fitness Trainer, FMS Level 1 and Level 2, TRX Sport Medicine Suspension, ViPR, FLOWIN.

How are you barefoot strong? Barefoot work is an important part of my own personal training as well as group training sessions. It allows us to move more effectively and decrease the potential of injuries or pain.

Susana Sánchez - SPAIN

Certifications/Education: Studying Podiatry's school in Manresa of the UVic-UCC, EBFA Master Instructor, BTS 1,2,3, Personal Trainer, Functional Assements Specialist, Pilates Instructor, TRX Instructor, Coach.

How are you barefoot strong? As a movement educator, I consider that our feet are an important pillar for efficient movement because they are the first contact with the floor. So I'm instilling in all my customers the importance of barefoot training.

It's present and an integral part of all my trainings and in the sessions I have with my customers - it emcompasses injuries, pathologies, performance, recovery, pain, healthy life, etc.

I've been working with this program for 4 years with incredible results.

EBFA MASTER INSTRUCTORS – USA

Michael Petrow - CALIFORNIA

Certifications/Education: MA Exercise Science & Rehabilitation, NASM-CPT, NASM-CES & PES, VIPR Certified, VIPR Group Fitness, TRX-Group. Certified Massage Therapist: CAMTC, Advanced Practitioner of NeuroMuscular Reprogramming, Neuromuscular Therapy, ART-Lower, ART-Upper, ART-Nerve Entrapment, ROCKTAPE-FMT 1 & 2.

How are you barefoot strong? For years I covered my feet with additional padding that had a high amount of rigidity only to realize

that by doing so, I was limiting my body the opportunity to feel the ground and move as an integrated movement system. To me being barefoot strong is the foundation of staying active at any age. Using barefoot training has helped me to recondition my body for the the best performance and has also played a key role in helping many of my clients achieve better quality movement-function in their daily lives. It is applicable to all people and at any age.

Heidi Garner - COLORADO

Certifications/Education: BA Kinesiology: Emphasis in Exercise and Sport Science , Vivo Barefoot Certified Coach, NASM-CPT, NASM-FNS

How are you barefoot strong? I am barefoot strong because barefoot training has helped my body to remember how it was always meant to move! Running is a natural movement that,for me, has become efficient and pain free.

Movement from the ground up has given me a firm foundation with great balance and total core activation. The greatest pleasure I have is helping others to achieve these same things and experiencing their excitement when they learn the great things their bodies can do!

Lilia Anteau - GEORGIA

Certifications/Education: NASM (Master Trainer, CPT, CES, BCS, PES Certifications), Functional Training Specialist-ACE, Group Fitness Instructor- AFAA, Rock Tape, Registered Nurse (MCCC, MI), Education, M.S.( Udmurt State University, Russia), Psychology, B.S. ( Udmurt State University,Russia)

How are you barefoot strong? In order for us to move efficiently and with ease as we age, we first need to reconnect with our feet and understand they don’t work in isolation from the rest of the body. We must also learn how they interact with the ground.

Through this we end up not just training the muscles, but through sensory stimulation, our nervous system as well. This in turn guides our movement. After completing a number of EBFA Barefoot Training Specialist Programs, I now incorporate barefoot training in all of my exercise regimens by integrating Breathing, Core Activation and Foot Integration.

DR ARIANNE MISSIMER - PENNSYLVANIA

Certifications/Education: BS Dietetics, Doctor of Physical Therapy, RD, CSCS, SFG 2, FMS/SFMA/Y-Balance, NKT 1, TPI MP3, K-Vest 3, CICS, EFBA MI, Rocktape FMT 1 & 2, 2011 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year, 2015 NSCA Sports Medicine Rehabilitation Specialist of the Year

How are you barefoot strong? For years I experienced hip and back pain with extensive rehabilitation and podiatry recommendations for rigid custom orthotics, over the counter orthotics, and motion control shoes.

When I started my graduate work in physical therapy, I began my own journey to seek out the best possible movement-based interventions. This started with my feet . I began gradually decreasing the amount of support in my footwear and trained barefoot with kettlebells. Then, I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Emily speak after I had been following her work for some time. I began integrating this in to my program gradually over time and have found a profound difference. I have not experienced pain in years! I am a huge advocate of an integrated, movement-based approach and being barefoot string is the foundation of that. I share my personal journey as well as my expertise with all of my patients and clients to help them achieve optimal performance in life and sport.

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