Complex Training: Pairing Strength and Power For Explosive Results

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Complex Training: Pairing Strength and Power For Explosive Results

In the #MentalSweat series, I want to explore some of the awesome research that appears in many of the sports performance and physiology journals that show up on my desk. There is always tons of great insight into the theory and application of many of the principles that we base our training methods on. Hopefully, it sheds more light into why our programs are so effective and how we utilize these principles across different sports, phases, and movements.

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The Specifics of "Sport-Specific"

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The Specifics of "Sport-Specific"

It’s no secret that an athlete needs to train differently than someone just looking to get a little healthier, or gain a little muscle. And no one is surprised when I say that a soccer player needs to train differently than a football player. This all boils down to the fact that every sport has specific demands: both on movement (kicking a ball, swinging a bat, blocking and tackling, etc.) and on the metabolic energy pathways used for that movement (explosive with lots of rest, varied sprinting and jogging, etc.). 

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High-Bar vs. Low-Bar Squats: Which is Better for Athletes?

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High-Bar vs. Low-Bar Squats: Which is Better for Athletes?

Most athletes on a legitimate strength & conditioning program WILL be squatting. But when it comes to bar placement during the squat, there are two schools of thought: high-bar (favored by Olympic-style weightlifters), and low-bar (often favored by powerlifters). BOTH are effective at developing strength and power, but which one is better for athletes? 

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Tools of the Trade: The Barbell

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Tools of the Trade: The Barbell

The barbell is arguably the single most important tool you can have in your weight room. Any serious strength and conditioning facility will be outfitted with a surplus of good Olympic bars. Some gyms have different bars for men and women (of different weights, lengths, and thicknesses) but the standard 45-lb bar is suitable to for both men's and women's programming. Barbells set the foundation for any program that focuses on developing speed, strength, and power.

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