What I mean by this is that not a whole lot has changed in the strength and conditioning industry since Milo of Croton first starting picking up that calf when he was a child. We are all standing on the shoulders of giants right now, everything has already been done.
There is a whole list of guys like Louie Simmons, Dan John, Charles Poliquin and Mel Siff (as well as a ton of Russians whose names I can't spell) who have literally written the book(s) on strength training. What makes me good (if I do say so myself) is my ability to take the knowledge presented by these guys and find the right application for it in my own work.
Reverse-band deadlifts are an amazing tool...when applied correctly. Prileprin's chart is amazingly helpful...when applied correctly. As a strength coach and especially a personal trainer, I have to have an enormous tool box to continue to help everyone I come across. If you, as a trainer, are unable to conceptualize the information provided to us by coaches of yesterday and today, then you will never be able to fully help your clients.
Trainers and coaches, please keep learning. Don't pigeonhole yourself by saying "this is the best and only way to do something". There is a fuckshit ton of methods out there, and they will all work at one time or another. Whether you're into powerlifting, Olympic lifting, bodybuilding, CrossFit or strongman, please remember that they will all work and are all related. Don't sit on your high horse and suggest that one of the other ways of doing something is stupid. Sure, if you're a coach in a collegiate setting, then training teams of athletes with CrossFit probably isn't the best idea. But, neither is applying a Sheiko powerlifting program to them. It's not stupid, it's just not the right tool for the application.
Bradon Morrison, the creator of Lift Big Eat Big recently wrote on their Facebook page that "there is a special place in Hell for someone who shits on the fitness accomplishments of another person". I am 100% in agreement. We are all part of the same family; if someone is working hard and doing everything they can to get better (learning, reading, asking questions, applying new ideas, etc) then they should be applauded. There are too many people in this industry who are ok with just cashing a check and letting their clients fall of of Bosu Balls; please appreciate those who are working hard.
I know this was kind of a rant, but it happens once in a while. I hope everyone has a great day and goes to lift some heavy shit!
Knowing that you don't know is the first step to wisdom.
ReplyDeleteIf the giants of the industry like Dan John and the others you mentioned above are always learning, how arrogant is someone who isn't even in their league to believe they know it all.
Unfortunately too many people not just in the fitness industry get to a place where they think they know everything or don't have to continue learning.
Nice Rant