MR. Platehead

In some ways it would be so easy if it was just about teaching the Olympic lifts and centering training on those two lifts and derivative movements. So simple, yet oh so boring, but beyond boring it would be flat out wrong, it is a narrow perspective on training in general and strength training in particular. Olympic lifting movements are part of a bigger picture, but what we have going is a sheep walking phenomenon where this is preached as the “way’ by certifying organizations. I expected to be taught the Olympic lifts when I went through the USA Weightlifting Level One certification. I was there not to be a weight lifting coach but to learn any technical nuances and better progressions. I did it and we had to show a degree of proficiency in the lifts and progressions to be certified (I abhor that term, it always reminds of certifying beef). The USWF course proved useful, it helped me to do a better job of teaching pulling technique, although I must admit I have not taught pulling with a bar since the course. I include pulling and shrugging movements frequently through each microcycle in strength training, but with other modes aside from a bar. This reflects the sports and individuals I am working with, one size does not fit all.  

Strength is not the only biomotor quality and there are many ways to develop strength and power. The key is to understand the spectrum demands of the sport, not just the strength demands, and then to chose appropriate training methods to address those demands. What is happening now is that we are certifying one trick ponies who fit one mode of training to every athlete they work with regardless of the applicability. They are so narrow in their perspective that they do not know what they don’t know. To get a feeling for that perspective try watching a game through the hole in an Olympic weight plate – it definitely narrows your perspective. That is what is happening.

Comments

[Rich Mowrer PTA,CSCS (Drayer Physical Therapy Inst.) Hershey]

Vern,

I cannot agree more! First about the Cert. bodies... wow way too many. Second, Olympic lifts are great! but they are not the only method. They are 1 method of many. Later this month (or early next year) I'll be doing a presentation to a group of local Highschool Baseball coaches (and Parents hopefully) and I'll be trying to sway them away from only using olympic style lifts (as well as bench press). I'm presenting more of a med ball, plyometric, body weight version of exs that can be done right on the field.

I'm hopeing to sway some views toward simplicity vs. complicated and/or from total dynamic, mulitdirectional movement vs. squats and power cleans.

Rich

p.s. keep up the good work, a lot of us enjoy your blog and philosphy