Jure Koscak on Overtraining, Injury, and Learning to Listen to His Body

My guest for Episode #285 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jure Koscak, a former professional table tennis player who competed for 15 years at the highest levels.

EPISODE PAGE WITH VIDEO, TRANSCRIPT, AND MORE

Alongside his athletic career, Jure pursued a deep interest in sports psychology, which eventually led him to earn a Ph.D. in physical education. For the past 15 years, he has specialized as a high-performance mental coach, working with over 50 professional athletes across various sports, as well as more than 1,000 private clients.

Jure is a polyglot, fluent in six languages, including Slovenian, English, Spanish, German, Serbo-Croatian, and French. His diverse background and experience allow him to connect with a wide range of clients, helping them not just to survive but to thrive in both their sports careers and personal lives.

In this insightful conversation, Jure shares his favorite mistake—his hip injury, which he attributes to a combination of arrogance and overtraining. Despite his professional success, Jure reflects on how he neglected the early warning signs from his body, overworked himself, and disregarded the balance necessary to sustain long-term performance. This mistake, which eventually led to a debilitating hip injury, forced him to confront the importance of listening to his body and respecting its limits.

Jure also discusses his transformation from athlete to coach, explaining how he now uses his experiences to help others avoid the same pitfalls. The episode explores the mind-body connection, overtraining, chronic pain, and how unresolved emotional issues can manifest physically. Jure introduces the AEQ Method, a somatic approach that helps individuals reconnect with their bodies, reduce chronic pain, and elevate emotional maturity. His goal is to empower athletes and individuals to become more self-aware, both mentally and physically, so they can perform at their best without sacrificing long-term health.

Questions and Topics:

• What would you say is your favorite mistake?
• How would you say injuring your hip was a mistake?
• Did your hip injury occur during your peak in table tennis?
• Did that injury end your career?
• Was there a moment when you realized you weren’t listening to your body, or had you been aware of the mistake earlier?
• Can you explain the AEQ Method and how it helps people?
• How did you transition into coaching non-athletes?
• How do people find you—are they seeking balance, dealing with pain, or something else?
• Why do people self-sabotage, and is it tied to trauma or fear?
• Why do people continue with behaviors they know are harmful?
• How did helping 1 million people with chronic pain become your mission?
• How much of positivity is personality versus something we can develop and learn?