Strength Beyond Strength S2E2: Gray Cook

Gray Cook is a physical therapist, strength coach, and co-founder of the Functional Movement Systems (FMS). He’s best known for developing the Functional Movement Screen, a simple but powerful way to assess movement quality before loading it with strength or conditioning. Gray’s work has influenced everyone from rehab professionals to elite performance coaches. His core message is straightforward: if you don’t move well, adding strength on top of dysfunction is just reinforcing the problem. In this conversation, we get into movement as a foundation for strength, the difference between training and practice, and how to build resilience without beating yourself up in the process. Get full access to Dave’s Substack at davewhitley.substack.com/subscribe