Mike Boyle & Gray Cook: The Joint-by-Joint Approach, 20 Years Later Artwork

Movement Podcast

Human movement is complex, fascinating, and affects us all. Our hosts, Gray Cook and Dr. Lee Burton, have dedicated their lives to understanding movement and have trained thousands of fitness and healthcare professionals worldwide with their holistic philosophy and approach. Listen as they discuss topics, speak with other industry experts, answer questions & give practical advice on how you can optimize the human body to be the best it can be.

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Movement Podcast

Mike Boyle & Gray Cook: The Joint-by-Joint Approach, 20 Years Later

October 22, 2026 • Gray Cook and Dr. Lee Burton

0:00 | 1:01:56

In this episode of the Movement Podcast, Gray Cook and Lee Burton welcome legendary strength and conditioning coach Mike Boyle to revisit one of the most influential concepts in functional training: **the Joint-by-Joint Approach**.

What began as a conversation between Mike Boyle and Gray Cook at a conference in Chicago—and a few notes scribbled on a bar napkin—became a framework that helped coaches, trainers, and rehabilitation professionals rethink the relationship between mobility, stability, and human movement.

Nearly 20 years later, they're revisiting the original idea.

Mike, Gray, and Lee discuss how the Joint-by-Joint Approach developed, why it has been both praised and criticized, and how their thinking has evolved through decades of coaching, clinical experience, and working with athletes.

The conversation moves beyond the familiar mobile-stable-mobile-stable sequence to explore how the approach can inform movement screening, program design, corrective exercise, single-leg training, functional anatomy, and the progression from rehabilitation to performance.

Mike also shares how his training philosophy has changed over the years, why he embraced unilateral training, and why good coaches must be willing to rethink their methods as they gain new information.

Topics include:

- The original story behind the Joint-by-Joint Approach
- How a conversation between Mike Boyle and Gray Cook became a widely used training framework
- Mobility versus stability and why both matter
- The ankle, knee, hip, and lumbar spine relationship
- Why movement should be evaluated in function, not isolation
- Movement screening as a filter for identifying potential limitations
- Responding to criticism of the FMS and Joint-by-Joint Approach
- Why movement asymmetries deserve attention
- How Mike Boyle incorporates mobility and stability into programming
- Why single-leg training changed his approach to strength and conditioning
- Progressions from step-ups to split squats and single-leg exercises
- Functional anatomy, diagonal movement, and rotational patterns
- The role of stability, stiffness, and motor control in athletic performance
- How landing mechanics prepare athletes for more reactive movement
- The relationship between rehabilitation, load, and speed
- Why communication between clinicians and strength coaches is essential
- The importance of learning, adapting, and evolving as a professional

The key takeaway: The Joint-by-Joint Approach was never intended to be a rigid rule for every joint or every individual. It provides a practical way to think about common movement needs, recognize potential limitations, and make more informed training decisions.

And perhaps the most important lesson from this conversation is that great coaches and clinicians don't stop learning. They challenge their assumptions, refine their methods, and continue looking for better ways to help people move and perform.

Learn more about Mike Boyle Strength & Conditioning:
https://www.bodybyboyle.com/

Learn more about Functional Movement Systems:
https://www.functionalmovement.com/

Functional Movement Systems

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