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Zach Even-Esh

Blog Β» How I Train Athletes & The Fight Against Strength & Conditioning Fads

How I Train Athletes & The Fight Against Strength & Conditioning Fads

by Zach Even - Esh 5 Comments

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!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

GREAT DAY at #Manasquan #undergroundstrengthgym βœŠβœŠπŸ†πŸ† / These kids brought the THUNDER πŸ”¨πŸ”¨πŸ”¨ / Everyone who sees this tells us they wish they had this when they were competing!! / It’s not for everyone. Some people hate the work. / NOT US!!! The Work is the Gift πŸ†πŸ†πŸ† / #undergroundstrengthgym #strengthcoach #scotchplains #undergroundstrengthbook #undergroundstrengthcoach #manasquan

A post shared by UndergroundStrengthGym (@undergroundstrengthgym) on Oct 30, 2018 at 4:44pm PDT

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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Jonny Parker told me NY Giants QB Phil Simms Did not want a special weightlifting program, he wanted to train with the program that linemen were using πŸ”¨πŸ”¨πŸ”¨ / #Repost @undergroundstrengthgym with @get_repost ・・・ Read the top Paragraph and 2 things will happen: 1) you will prove that you are a rare breed, most people will not read, they will simply swipe through everything on Instagram if it takes longer than three seconds / 2) Reading this story will change your frame of reference, about what dedication looks like, and it doesn’t matter if you are in the NFL or not, you can find a way to get the edge over your competition by doing things that they would have excuses about / #strengthcoach #undergroundstrengthbook #undergroundstrengthcoach #undergroundstrengthgym #scotchplains #manasquan #johnnyparker #stronglife

A post shared by Zach Even - Esh (@zevenesh) on Nov 1, 2018 at 3:45am PDT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#squatober at 5:30 AM? Yes, Sir ✊✊✊✊ / I fear losing my edge! What edge you say? EXACTLY. / The world Is a dangerous place, I need to step up my game. Evidently, some people are not playing games. / #undergroundstrengthbook #undergroundstrengthcoach #undergroundstrengthgym #scotchplains #manasquan #maninthearena #squats

A post shared by Zach Even - Esh (@zevenesh) on Oct 30, 2018 at 3:53am PDT

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

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Filed Under: Articles, Live The Code, Motivation, Muscle Building, Old School Strength, Olympic Lifting, Powerlifting, Q & A, Strength Building, Underground Strength Show, Videos, Wrestling Training, Zach's Workouts Tagged With: calisthenics, car deadlift, high school strength, jon cole powerlifting, power cleans, Squats, strength and conditioning fads, t bar row, underground strength coach, underground strength gym, wrestling strength, zach's workout

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Comments

  1. To Frank DiMeo says

    at

    Thanks again, Zach, for more no-nonsense,hit ’em between the eyes content!

    Reply
  2. Frank says

    at

    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.

    Reply
    • Zach Even - Esh says

      at

      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)

      Reply
      • Frank DiMeo says

        at

        Will do, Zach, I am seriously digging into to it already! I will look that up in particular, thanks.

        Reply
  3. Mitch says

    at

    Yes, its very true. The fastest and most dominant sports people generally do lots of cleans, and squats.

    Reply

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