Factions in the training world and how they might be holding you back

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It's all about mindset. Everything you do consciously and subconsciously boils down to the way you think. What you think is proceeded by how you think. Growth often times is simply learning another perspective or understanding something simply by erasing preconceived ideas that you realize you never even made. Norms often go unchallenged. Some refer to this concept of unlearning as "flattening the snow"

Self Test- 9 Dot Test

Connect all the dots with five lines. You cannot pick your finger up, you have to use straight lines, and you cannot retrace a line you've already made.Add your text here. Edit to add dynamic values like name, email and more.

Click HERE to see the answer.

Simple isn't it?? I spent about 4 years as an intern coordinator. I did some hiring, and lead A LOT of education. A lot of the education was pre determined but I would always take time to include some mindset workshops because mindset is everything. What does all this have to do with training?? Everything!! See below.

Factions in Performance

Bodybuilding, powerlifting, weightlifting, field athletes, non athletes, crossfitters all include very different cultures and communities. Each faction also comes with a list of accepted exercises, techniques, and even language. Seems like you have to be a bodybuilder to do single joint exercises, or you have to be a crossfitter to use metcons, or powerlifters shouldn't do any unilateral work (because they don't).

"If you are truly going to maximize your full physical potential, you're going to need bodybuilding, you'll need powerlifting, olympic lifting, performance training, maybe even some Crossfit.... So you might as well go ahead and uncategorize yourself."

-StrengthDebates X Post

Personally I realized each faction can teach the others something they are lacking. I made a crack at powerlifters and unilateral exercises because in my time working with them, they don't do any. It's the first thing I make them do. A pet peeve of mine with field athletes is the bench press. No one teaches these athletes how to set up on a bench press. Makes no sense, the field athletes could take a page from the powerlifting community on this one and learn how to tie themselves to the ground. Bodybuilders are stuck chasing their tale. They call their tale a pump and I can tell you they are a stubborn group to try to convince to not train like a "bodybuilder" if they want to get bigger. Nothing wrong with bodybuilding, I've competed in 2 shows myself, but I learned some concepts of myofibril hypertrophy in my work in sports performance and learned to tailor those concepts to get bigger than I ever could training like a bodybuilder!

Olympic lifters are the most mesmerizing to watch. Many out lift powerlifters pound for pound and the do with with an ATG squat and I ask myself HOW? Well they dive under falling bars all day. SPEED ECCENTRICS. Think of the elastic properties their body must adapt in to be able to handle that kind of stress. I don't use Olympic Lifts or Olympic variations personally but I do try to mimic the components. I simply take a back squat or front squat, and literally fall with it. I do the same with RDL and Bench. Here's a video of me throwing 405 down on the RDL. No I don't recommend you mimic me.

If you haven't opened your mind yet, I think it's time to separate the sport from exercises and look at physics and what qualities the exercise provides. If it can help you, you should use it. Don't let norms blockade your training.

This is what lead me to the thought of "The Big 3, Bigger 3 and Biggest 3"

Powerlifting is the dad for the squat bench and deadlift. That's why the Big 3 are so popular and commonly accepted. The "Bigger 3" are exercises that don't have a dad. Front Squat, RDL, Overhead Press. No one ever made them special but they are 3 exercises that have massive return on investment (ROI), and the three I believe to be very under used simply because they don't really belong to a faction. Add single arm DB Bench Press to that list as well as single arm DB Press and the other "Biggest 3" exercises for the same reason. I'd say it's more than just "3" exercises that this applies to.

Get out of your box

The point of this post was to create awareness of subconscious decisions you may be making based on norms or "boxes" you didn't even realize you were in. Look at all the factions out there and find the positives and what might be exactly what you're missing in your training.

My Off Season Powerlifting program harnesses a lot of the concepts mentioned above. I don't use traditional "powerlifting" exercises and programming. I try to keep my mind open and find ways to continue to build upon PRs. The education and coaching notes are what really increase the value of the program. If your strength has stalled, this program will help you get out of your box. Start a FREE 10 day trial today. It is also on sale just for today, 50% off!

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In all of my programming, I am constantly stealing training methods, concepts from all sports and all factions to best help you reach your goals. Click below to shop my programs and start a free 10 day trial

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