Strength Training Principle…Punching Through Plateaus Like A Nuclear Powered Machine!!!

Right off the bat I want to apologize for being a bit of a slacker on the blog posting as of late. I assure you that it has been for good reason. Now that we have that out of way you’re probably wondering what kind of craziness I’m going to pull out of the ole hat today? At least I’m hoping that you are wondering that! Anyways you probably have a good idea based on the title, but as you know I always like to try and throw in a few surprises along the way. If you haven’t already go ahead and hit the read more tab below to continue on in this strength training journey!

What Are Your Strength Training Principles? 

It seems like today that the more I peruse the internet the more I come across these coaches and trainers that think they have it all figured out when it comes down to getting someone strong, fit, and ready for most any reason you throw at them. Granted there are some great coaches out there in the world making the competition stiff, but the bottom line ball buster is that it takes a lot more than being some arm chair badass banging on the keyboard of a computer to develop great athletes and students that can go out and actually perform.

I mean there are great bloggers and great coaches, but not everyone is both. Now I’m doing my best to be both, but even I can admit my faults. For instance, I’d rather be in the gym with my students getting them ready for a competition, but it’s also fun to communicate things that are on my mind here on this site just for you. There may be times that I do that well and times where I don’t, but I guess all we can do is our best, right? By the way you don’t have to answer that just keep on reading.

Now back to the topic at hand. Today I want to talk about principle, or specifically strength training principle. Now if you’ve been following me long enough you know that I like to try and break stuff down to it’s simplest form and define it up front before moving ahead. I do this because today it seems that many coaches, and just people in general, overcomplicate stuff these days because many of them don’t truly understand what the hell they’re talking about in the first place themselves. I had a good friend of mine once tell me that if someone truly understands their craft they should be able to explain it in terms that are simple enough so that an 8 year old can understand it. Well, if you’re 8 and reading this then I’m thinking I have you covered.

Principle: A basic truth, law, or assumption. The very essence of something.

Now the definition of principle that I have provided above goes hand in hand when it comes to your strength training program. If you expect very positive and defining results you have to shape your strength training program from principles that have been proven to work. Principle is at the very foundation of what you are doing. The way you go about programming your strength and conditioning sessions should be shaped by the principles that guide you.

This is true in every aspect of life. Even a successful criminal can have principles or guidelines to follow. If a criminal is successful at whatever they are doing even though it is morally wrong and illegal they may be considered to have sound principles within the scope of their work. This doesn’t mean they are with moral principle, but they have basic truths and understandings underneath the umbrella of what they are doing in order to be successful. We may not agree with what they are doing, but if what they are doing works and produces positive results within the confines of their niche then their principle foundation must be solid.

Now I’m not talking about going out and Breaking Bad (BTW one of my favorite TV shows), but I am making the point that the principle is at the center of a working plan. On the flip side of the coin someone else may have principles that are flawed or don’t work. This means they are without a foundation or basically without sound principle. It could also mean that their principle may not work within the system or framework of what they are doing, but may be better suited in another environment. My goal is to help you to identify what principles you are following within the construct of what you are doing so that you can get the results you desire the most. Whew, I ran out of breath just reading all of that!

Some Sound Strength Training Principles You Can Live By Regardless Of Your Goals:

1. Embrace The Multi-Joint Lifts: Yep, utilize more than one joint when making your exercise selection. Kill more than one bird with one stone!

2. Keep It Simple: This is a great one. Don’t make things complicated. Just go out and lift stuff. Just make sure that you protect your body when doing so which leads me to point number 3.

3. Neutral Protected Spine: No matter the lift, make sure you are protecting your spine. Maintain a neutral and supported spine regardless of the lift of choice.

4. LIft Heavy: Once again refer to points 1 through 3 and slap some weight on a bar, in a wheelbarrow, or just start slinging around some big heavy kettlebells.

5. Incorporate Some Single Arm/Leg Lifts: This one is great because we are influencing additional and much needed stability into your training. Do some single arm and leg strength training stuff and do it well!

6. Do More Pull Than Push: This is a safe rule to live by especially if you have seen those guys at the gym that are all chest and no back and are doubled over starting to resemble Frankenstein’s assistant Igor. Pulling exercises strengthen the posterior plain and simple. Do them.

7. Master Your Body Weight: Body weight training is a fantastic way to give your physical prowess a serious upgrade. When performed smartly body weight training can tune you up nicely and enhance the way you move especially when you start engaging in some calisthenic drills like I show in the following clip.

Ok, I’m stopping at 7. Why? Because I want to irritate you with an odd number! 😉 Of course I’m kidding I just really ran out of ideas at 7. At least I’m being honest with you. Regardless, I think you get the point. Most folks in the health clubs and gyms don’t have sound strength training principles that guide them. This is why they don’t punch through plateaus and continue to make progress within their strength training programs.

I consider myself to be very competitive. I am always looking for motivation and ways to challenge myself and my students through our strength training. This is why I titled this post with the keywords Punching Through Plateaus! Like a punch to the face I love seeing my students hit new personal records and achieve their goals. Whether it is for fat loss or being able to step into the ring and take out an opponent I feel a sense of pride knowing that I could guide them up to that point by following some very basic and sound strength training principles. Folks it is all about what guides you in every aspect of your life. You should know the difference between right and wrong and what works and doesn’t work within your system.

You know a Ferrari is fast, but it won’t do shit in the water. You need a boat for that. Your life and your training should be guided by the principles that have been proven. Motivation also plays a big role in all of this as well. If you like a good punch to the face or can visualize it during your training for motivation then that is great. If you can’t then maybe I can help you out  a bit here!

The bottom line is that if you want to step it up and needed to question what has been guiding your strength training then hopefully I helped you to identify it. If you need to look into it further then I want to encourage you to take an extra step by getting your own copy of my Better Than Steroids ebook! This is an easy read guide that can certainly help you to start moving forward in your training if you enjoy getting results. If Shrek can do it then you can!

 Also remember that if you are a Kindle user you can now subscribe to my blog right on your digital reader right here!  The membership is only $.99 and I can infiltrate your life in yet another cool modern technological kind of way! Remember that most anyone can train hard, but only the best train smart my friend. Start your smart training today!