Strong is STRONG. You can't fake strong.
Some athletes / people might LOOK strong but when it's time to perform, they can not perform. How do I know? I was there myself in my high school years as a wrestler - I followed too much bodybuilding work and I LOOKED strong, but I was NOT able to perform with dominating power.
When I began getting heavily into strength & conditioning, the industry was really pushing the "functional training" craze. Back in the early 2000s, this meant you had to:
- Use a physio ball or you were not functional
- Stand on balance discs or you were not functional
Essentially, if you did not resemble a circus trick, you were not functional. Well, my mind changed when I began reading about how the Russians were training and most importantly, how they were WINNING.
The conversations I got to have with guys like Louie Simmons, Dave Tate, Jim Wendler, Josh Henkin, etc helped keep me on the correct path while straying from the fads and gimmicks.
Today, the fads and gimmicks are returning....
Olympians are leaving behind their power cleans and heavy, explosive lifts for training that resembles dance moves while using bands and 26 lb Kettlebells.
The training is confusing younger athletes who don't know that many of these Olympians spent 10 years on the BASICS such as heavy cleans, squats, sprints, calisthenics, etc.
The younger athletes being influenced by these Olympians also don't understand how wrestling for 20 years of your life MAKES you strong. Olympians train year round while the majority of high school wrestlers don't even lift year round.
The bottom line? Basics for the WIN. I almost thought that hard work & dedication was becoming the new fad but it looks like the fight will continue!
A buddy of mine recently told me that now that I am no longer coaching at the college level, MANY of those kids are happy that I am gone. He said to me, Zach, you were a nightmare for some of those kids because you made them WORK.
That reminded me......
We think everyone loves the work because as a Coach, YOU love the work.
NOT the case.
The fads and gimmicks don't challenge you, they fool you. They allow you to LOOK like work and you can make those faces pretending to struggle but eventually, the athlete who sprints, jumps and lifts heavy weights explosively is going to remind you that the fads and gimmicks only work against the non dedicated athlete.
REAL Recognize REAL.
ALWAYS REMIND YOURSELF: BASICS FOR THE WIN.
To be Dangerous requires you to steer clear from circus tricks and focus on maximizing results with minimalist measures.
Until the next time, Live The Code 365
--Z--
The Underground Strength Academy
Details HERE
7 Responses
Thanks again, Zach, for more no-nonsense,hit ’em between the eyes content!
Zach, you’re absolutely right again. I’ve been around the game a long time and I think the fads are the drugs and the “experts” are the dealers. Heavy things are hard, muscle burn…not so much.
Thank you for always taking me back to the mindset of my youth and for always keeping the important things front and center.
Frank – When we look at who are the fastest, most dominant athletes – they often are very strong in the basics of squats, cleans, etc.
Look inside the book The System, there is a section referencing a study on how max leg strength in squats compared to relative bodyweight equated to greater speed. (Pg 129)
Will do, Zach, I am seriously digging into to it already! I will look that up in particular, thanks.
Yes, its very true. The fastest and most dominant sports people generally do lots of cleans, and squats.
Fairly sure the Russians won because they were just more into lifting and took more roids.
Last time I checked ‘Olympic Weightlifting’ had actually been removed from the Olympics due to all the drugs LOL.
The training of The Soviets was superior many decades ago, drugs or not. Yes, I believe current is a possible removal of Weightlifting from The Olympics but not sure of the status. Our best training methods came from Eastern European / German Track & Field training methods as well as their recovery methods. The “groundbreaking” methods of today, 98% of them began in The Soviet Union.
The drugs issue is a shame because of political pressure. If you listen to episodes where I share my Dad’s experiences living in Romania, I discuss how his roommate swimmer was treated and how communism took over.