Dixon Eric in Sunday Kho-Kho Series

Dixon Eric

The man who injured his leg when he was twenty-two having a tremendous track record as an athlete as well he is the man behind a 70-year-old woman who breaks a world record. He trained in Germany and trained athletes of Italy. He is the man who has trained Kho-Kho athletes, coaches, and officials in a world-class manner by focusing on basics that need to be corrected to improve performances. He is a nice man and very kind-hearted who gives his precious time to our columnist Neha Duggal to be part of the world-famous Kho-Kho blog.

Q1. When you started your career and How.

Ans. While I was in the Air Force I was offered a Track scholarship from the University of Maryland. I was ranked #1 Air force in Germany. Before I could accept the scholarship I was hit by a car doing 60mph and shattered my left leg. I was in a coma for almost a week. The doctors were going to amputate my leg until someone told them I had a scholarship offer and was a World Class Sprinter. Then they decided that they would give my body a chance to heal itself. I had to wear a Hoffman (External Fixator) for over a year, along with a leg cast for six months, and a short leg cast for three months. I still healed twice a fast as I should have. It should have taken me over 5 years to heal. The doctors said if I was doing drugs they would have amputated my leg without a second thought. Subsequently, I lost the Track scholarship.

The front bumper hit my left leg and shattered it on impact. Then I went into the front window of the car, flipped over the car, and landed in the back window. After I healed I decided I was going to run again against the doctor’s wishes. They said I would never run again. 

There was a lot of pain when I was training. I would fill up a bucket with ice water refill the ice trays and go running. 

Then when I got back home I would empty the ice trays in the bucket and place my leg in it for about an hour until the pain went away. The training paid off I ended up with a Masters: 

• 400m: 8th in the world 

• 200m: 7th in the world

• 100m 4th in the world missing 1st by less than 0.56. 

Q2. Which country you belong to.

Ans. USA

Q3. What is your educational background?

Ans.

Educational Background:

• UCI/County of Orange Project Management 

PMP Project Management Team Member Certificate (08/06)

• University of Phoenix (UOP) Fountain Valley, CA

BS Information Systems/Business (09/06)

• Laura’s House (DVAT) Orange County, CA

40 Hour Domestic Violence Advocate Training (06/17)

Q4. What are your achievements?

Ans.

I coached Athletics/Track, Speed, Agility, and Strength training for over 40 years in various sporting events!

I coached many, nationally ranked youth athletes, World, and American masters record holders. He is certified to coach Elite Youth and Adult athletes for National/International/Olympic level competitions via USA Track & Field (USATF) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)/Word Athletics. Also, he is a spokesperson for the USA Track & Fields Win with Integrity Program and Director / Instructor for USA Track & Fields Level 1 Schools for the Southern California area. 

In recent years, his educational focus has been on Sports Specific Speed Training and Sports Specific Strength & Conditioning Training. He’s trained youths and adults in Baseball, Football, Soccer, Lacrosse, gymnastics (vaults and floor), Tennis, Volleyball, Skeleton, Cross Country, Shooting, Archery, and of course Athletics/Track.

Coaching/Teaching Highlights:India:

• India National 2020 Shooting Qualification Team: Strength Training Coach (2020-present)

• India Kho Kho Team: Speed, Agility, Strength Training Coach (2020)

• India AFI/Tenvic Chief Coach Sprints/Hurdles/Mid Distance and Coaches Education Program Director

Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur (2019-2020)

USA:

• Nike North West Track & Field Coaches Clinic 2016 & 2017: Instructor/Clinician: Conducted seminars on 

Training Design/Periodization, Sprinting at the Nike North West Track & Field Coaches Clinic.

• Air Force Wounded Warrior program

• Glazier Coaches Clinics (LA)2016.

• US Air Force Warrior Games 2014.

• USATF Coaching Education Instructor Training: USATF ITC (Level 1) Certification; CSUEB (07/09/2013) 

• IAAF Level 5 Academy ELITE-COACH for Sprints/Hurdles: Via USATF accepted into The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Academy; US Olympic Training Center (01/01-07/2012).

• Director for USA Track & Field Level 1 Schools for coaches.

• Lifeletics (Baseball): Speed, Agility, Strength, Conditioning, Biomechanics, Plyometrics (2011-present)

• Co-writer with several leading health and fitness experts the fitness book: “The Definitive Guide to Youth Athletic 

Strength, Conditioning and Performance” (release date 03/29/2012-Amazon.com best-seller lists 03/31/2012)

• USA Track & Field Win with Integrity Program: Spokesperson/Coaches perspective (2011-present)

• NFHS/CIF Fundamentals of Coaching Certification: (2008-present)

Coaching/Athletics Highlights:

India:

• Jyothi Yarraji-2020 Olympic Qualifier : (13.03-100m Hurdles) All India Inter-University Athletics Championships 

Moodbidri, Karnataka (01/2020)

• Yashwant Laveti-2020 World Youth Qualifier: (14.10 U-21 110m Hurdles) Khelo India Youth Games (01/2020)

USA:

• Kathy Bergen: (USATF Masters-Wikipedia) 60-80-year-old female age group World record holder (Indoor; 60m, 200m, and HJ), World record holder (Outdoor; 100m, 200m, and HJ). “The oldest/fastest woman in the world!”Oldest 

woman in the world to break 15s in the 100m and 32s in the 200m. Track Coach and Strength Trainer (2010-present)

• Athena Track Team: A National Masters Women’s Track and Field club ages 40 and above. The club currently holds 

five World and American Records in the 4 x 200m, 4 x 400m, and 4 x 800m relays in the 40-49 age groups. Coach the 

sprints: 60m-800m, 1500m and relays. Track/Sprints Coach/Biomechanics, Form and Strength Trainer (2000-present)

• USTFCCCA Athletics/Sports Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification: (08/2017)

• NCAA: Sports Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification-Advanced Endorsement: (08/2017)

• ISSA Specialist in Sports Strength Conditioning Trainer Certification.

• International Sports Sciences Association: (10/2013)

• USATF Level 3 (Sprints/Hurdles/Relays) Coach Certification

US Olympic Training Center

USATF Level 3 Sprints/Hurdles/Relays Certification: (01/2012) 

World Athletics/IAAF Level 5 Academy Elite-Coach Sprints/Hurdles Certification: (10/2012) 

• Note: This is the same certification as Usain Bolt’s Coach.

• USATF Coaching Education Level 3 program (Endurance):

• USATF Win With Integrity program: 

Training Program (Y.S.P.T.). 

• World Athletics/IAAF Level 2 Youth Specialization:

• USATF Level 2 Youth Track Coach

World Athletics/IAAF Level 2 Youth Specialization Certification: Sacramento, CA (08/2010)

USATF Youth Level II Certification: Sacramento, CA (08/2010)

• USATF Level 2 (Sprints/Hurdles/Relays) Track Coach.

• USATF Level II Certification: the University of Colorado - Boulder (2009)

• USATF Level I Track Coach.

Event Training segment: Sprints Events, Hurdle Events, Relay Events, Jumping Events, Throwing Events, Endurance Events, and Race walking.USATF Level I Certification: Fresno, CA (2008)

Q5. What is the difference between Static and Dynamic Strength training?

Ans Static Stability type exercises: = muscles usages at high intensities without joint movement. 

• Static exercise targets Isometrics strength.

• Like holding a squat position.

Dynamic Stability type exercises: = muscles usages at high or low intensities with joint movement. 

• Movements through a complete range of motion, to keep joints and muscles moving.

• Dynamic exercise targets Eccentric and Concentric strength.

• Like basic squats.

Q6. What is the difference between Static and Dynamic stretching?

Ans :Stretching:

Static stretches are when you stand, sit, or lie and hold a position until you feel a pull for long period,  50+ seconds. Static stretching works to loosen the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. 

Dynamic stretches are controlled movements that prepare your muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons  for athletic performance. Dynamic stretches get the blood flowing into the muscles to get them warmed up.

Q7. What is the benefit of Dynamic stretching to Kho-Kho players or athletes?

Ans. Compare this to Static Stretching!

The Basic of the Dynamic Warm-ups.

The “Warm-up routine” serves several purposes:

1. Warm-up: To get the blood flowing and warming up the muscles in the way they're going to be used for the upcoming training session.

2. Communion/Mental Prep: This is where you get mentally, physically, and Neurologically ready for what’s to come (practice or competition). 

  a. Getting inside your head; (Psyched up)!

  b. Preparing your body; (Hormonal-prep)!

  c. Systems check (Neurological) communications lines open from the brain to muscles!

3. Talking inventory as your warm-up: What's firing and what's not!

  a. Physical soreness:

  b. Neurological fatigue:

  c. Physical pain:

4. Formwork:

NOTE: As your warm up  the muscles your also flashing out the waste byproducts produced (soreness) in the muscles from the last few workouts!

Q8. What are your general training schedules?

Ans. That depends on several different factors: 

A few are listed below. 

• Individualization of the athlete and the category level they are competing in. 

• Age groups

• Training age

• Physical age

• Biological age

• Neurological age

NOTE: you Can’t and Should Never train kids like miniature adults!!! This will result in early injuries,  physical and neurological burnout. I’ve been told by the coaches that Kho Kho athletes are hitting their peak around 18 to 20 years old. However, the human body should hit its peak (woman & men) around 20 to 25 and can hold it for 10 to 15 years with proper training.

Q9. What are your views about Kho-Kho?

Ans.

I love Kho-Kho. It’s like the tag on steroids!  When I was coaching in Andhra Pradesh, on the way home I would stop and watch the athletes play for hours. I was just studying the dynamics of the sport (Sports Physiology, Biomechanics, Bio-motor abilities, etc.). It was totally fascinating to me as it was the first time, I saw it.  I was mentally cataloging all the requirements needed to play the sport on dirt and grass at that location.  I was thinking of all the torque, and stressors being placed on the human body. I mean Kho-Kho has everything, agility, mobility, balance, control, and Speed are all requirements needed to play the game! And now watching it played on a synthetic surface with totally different strength requirements with different stressors placed on the shins, ankles, & knees. Sorry, that’s how my brain works.

I mean the sport is dynamic and fundamental at the same time and you don’t need a lot to play it. I think this is why the 'International Kho-Kho Federation' was formed and it’s to be included in the 2026 Asian Games. I think it’s now played in like 25 countries and growing?

Q10. As you told that you trained old aged (the 70s) women and she broke the world record?What you say credits goes to her or your training. What is her name and also can you elaborate each and everything about her in detail.

Ans.

 It's hard to believe Kathy Bergen is 71 years old. The mother of five and grandmother of nine are in better shape than most 20-year-olds and are far from the typical senior citizen. In fact, she's a record-breaker.

Seven records — six World Masters marks and one American Masters track and field record — have been set by Bergen. She's been named the athlete of the year by the Southern California Striders track club, along with age-group athlete of the year by the National Masters News. The road to becoming a record-breaker began 17 years ago for Bergen when her husband, Burt, suggested they compete in the 1994 Senior Olympics. It was there that Kathy learned of her athletic prowess.

"We had been track-and-field fans for years, but I had no idea I could do what they do," said Bergen, whose previous sports experience had been limited to a year of basketball as a high-school senior and friendly doubles tennis matches with her husband.

Burt, who also competes as a high jumper in Masters events, pushed his wife to compete because he saw how quickly she was on the tennis court.

"I don't think either of us knew how fast she could run," Burt said. "She's natural — you can only train so much — if you can't run fast, you can't run fast."Ever since then, Kathy has been breaking records in her age group, 70 to 74. Her first record-breaking effort came in the high jump in 1997. She started doing her homework after that, researching what records were within her grasp.

This year, Bergen has grabbed six records; three came at the Indoor Masters Nationals at Boston in March. She set the 60-meter record at 9.21 seconds, the 200 at 32.31, and the high jump at 1.29 meters. It was in April at a Mount San Antonio Invitational that Bergen became the first 70-year old woman to break 15 seconds in the outdoor 100 meters.

She set the bar at 14.76, shattering the old mark of 15.16. She bested two more marks in the Masters Outdoor Nationals, held at Sacramento State in July when she set the world high-jump mark at 1.30 

meters and the 200 with a time of 32.35.

Bergen said all the success is the product of three things: her competitive nature, her physical therapist, Sandy Sheklow, who runs DSC Physical Therapy in La Cañada, and her coach Eric Dixon, with whom she began working in January.

Dixon, who lives in Aliso Viejo in Orange County and who coaches Bergen online, knew he had his work cut out for him when Kathy first approached him.

"She's getting older and should be getting slower, but I have to get her faster. I thought she was crazy at first," said Dixon, who primarily coaches youth and teens for USA Track and Field.

There is still work to be done for Dixon and Bergen, who want to continue to set new marks. In fact, she is determined to break every record she's set this year.

"She hasn't reached her peak yet," Dixon said. "I definitely think we can break the records she already set.

     Featured Columnist Neha Duggal(India)

Coordinated by:

Pankaj Malhotra( India)

(Voice of International Player)

Assisted By:

1.Pushpa Vathi (India)

2.Tarmeet Shenu (India)

Columnist:

1.Shamily Sharma (India)

2.Komal Rajput(India)

Supported By:

1.S.B.S.Tirthi (India)

2.Anuj Khajuria(North Carolina, U.S.A)

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