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Michael Yessis Obituary
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Michael attended Brooklyn Technical High School and received his B.S. and M.S. from City University of New York. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. He taught at Texas Women's University in Denton, Texas, and at California State University in Chico. He was Professor Emeritus at California State University, Fullerton, after teaching for over 30 years. He was a multi-sports specialist in biomechanics (technique analysis) and sports conditioning and training.
As founder and President of Sports Training, Inc. (DoctorYessis.com), Dr. Yessis authored a longtime journal, the Fitness and Sports Review International (aka Soviet Sports Review), along with 17 books and over 2,500 articles. He also provided mentoring and analysis services to athletes and coaches to improve their sports performance. He created a number of pieces of equipment to support the specialized training including the Yessis Back Machine, Exer Rings, the Breather, the Strength Bar, and the Active Cords.
Dr. Yessis also developed many unique sports-specific exercises and specialized training programs to improve technique, strength, flexibility, power, speed and quickness. His training program, known as the Yessis System of Improving Performance, consists of biomechanical analyses and the creation of specialized exercises that duplicate what the athlete must do in execution of his sports skills.
In his retirement, Michael loved spending time growing various fruits and vegetables and sharing the fruits of his labor with his family, especially his daily salads. He loved playing games with his family.
Dr. Michael Yessis is survived by his wife of 44 years, Edie, his daughter Marissa Yessis Prough, son-in-law Trevor Prough, and grandson, Declan Prough.
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3 Entries
Hugo Noya Enríquez
April 6, 2024
I met Michael Yessis through his YT channel. I realized immediately that he was someone I should have as a mentor to learn about sprint technique and plyometrics. But I also learned about sports science in general, introducing myself to kinesiology and biomechanics. I soon made the decision to read all of his books I could get my hands on. And I also soaked up his articles and podcasts. I was able to change and improve my running technique, change many of my previously established paradigms and break some taboos thanks to him. I continue to reread his work to review and relearn from a new perspective. I can affirm that with Doctor Yessis I learned to see sport from its scientific vision, to love it even more and apply it meaningfully to practice.
Thank you very much for all the legacy you have built and left us, Doctor Yessis! Your wisdom and experiences are a great treasure. I wish I had had the opportunity to meet you in person and discover your work since I was a child. Be happy in the new dimensional plane you are on now.
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Drew Poulin
September 25, 2023
As a longtime competitive distance runner, I've benefited immensely from Dr. Yessis' insights on the biomechanics of distance running.
In an age when running gurus are proliferating on the Internet, Dr. Yessis's unique knowledge of human anatomy and kinesiology and decades of experience working with athletes is truly refreshing.
I'm deeply saddened to learn that he is no longer with us, but I'm grateful that we will all still be able to benefit from knowledge that he so generously shared in his books, blog posts, and videos.
My sincere condolences to his family.
Allison Felsenthal
September 23, 2023
I am grateful for finding Dr. Yessis a few years ago. His work will be long lived through my coaching and the coaching of many other experts in the field. Sending my sincerest condolences to his family. He is a legend.
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