CARSON, Calif. – Dane Johnson is a player working on his game getting ready for a NBA G-League tryout.

“Growing up my goal was just like every other kid’s goal. I wanted to be in the NBA. I wanted to see myself on the big screen. I want to see kids walk around with my name, last name on their back, wearing my jersey,” Johnson said.

To achieve his dream, Johnson has called on the services of Govinda Patterson, who focuses on using balance for strength.

RELATED l NFL Receiver Giving Back To Youth of Long Beach

“He’s helping me identify exactly what I need to fix so I can be a stronger, more efficient, more explosive player,” said Johnson.

Patterson teaches techniques he developed from studying martial arts.

“I had a little girl that could overpower a 7-foot college player. It doesn’t matter how big, fast, or strong you are, once somebody’s off balance, they’re done. I’m the master at doing that,” said Patterson.

He talks a big game, but his techniques have been cosigned by the great Bill Walton and former Lakers coach Mike D’antoni. Much of what he teaches is the opposite of what is normally done in the NBA.

While most players try to go past defenders, Patterson teaches his students to try to go into defenders because usually, they play defense on their heels, which makes them off balance. Almost everything he is teaching is unorthodox to the game.

“It’s actually an advantage to be shorter than your opponent because you have a lower center of gravity and you can get deeper in their center. So, it’s really going to switch the game on his head,” Patterson said.

Luckily, height doesn’t matter for Johnson who is now trying to implement everything he has learned from Patterson.

“With these techniques now, I can step on to the next level and actually show them things they haven’t been working on probably,” Johnson said.

First he is taking one balanced step and one lesson at a time.