Guest guest Posted August 14, 2000 Report Share Posted August 14, 2000 Very well said, Dan...If I had worded my original post in that fashion, we'd be done this discussion a long time ago. Mike >From: Namgawd@... >Reply-supertrainingegroups >supertrainingegroups >Subject: Children and Weights >Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2000 10:35:37 EDT > >As an addendum to my earlier post on intensity and volume issues in this >discussion, I would like to offer my exposure to technique considerations. > >Though far from being scientific, I have been exposed to literally >thousands >of teenage lifters over a time period from 1986-1996. In 1986 I became the >All Army Powerlifting Champion and was recruited to travel the country on >behalf of the US Army Recruiting Command. The objective was to speak to >high >school kids about the Army Sports Program and being one of those high-speed >low-drag Paratroopers. I did this for three years, then, in graduate school >and in private practice I was exposed to a large number of additional high >schools in addressing the student body regarding sport psychology and >training science. Almost always training sessions were included where I was >able to observe and teach regarding training issues. Also, in graduate >school >I hooked up with a promising teenager who from watching my preparations for >national's and world's developed an interest in powerlifting. To make a >long >story short, we ended up being training partners and I traveled with him to >several high school national powerlifting championships (he won 2) where I >was able to see " the best teenagers in the country " compete. > >What was most distressing to me was the absolutely overwhelming number of >kids lifting with the poorest of technique at every level of my exposure to >them. I mean technique so bad that I absolutely fail to see how they did >not >get injured immediately. In fact, I'm wondering to this day how the human >body can lift near max attempts in such horrific form and not immediately >sustain injuries requiring immediate hospitalization. To what degree did I >experience this? Without exaggerating, 99% of what I saw was horrific. > >The point is this: We can argue back and forth ad infinitum as to what high >intensity is and what moderate intensity is. We can go back and forth on >research and discuss methodological concerns. But the bottom line is simply >that we already know that poor lifting technique is a major issue in injury >development, juvenile or adult, and irrespective of intensity used, poor >technique causes injury. And in the juvenile trainee, since they're still >growing, the impact and final outcome of any injury can be more severe than >in an adult, right along the lines of what Mike has mentioned. > >So if anyone thinks that it's OK for a 12-year old to lift 275, simply >because 's daughter can, and doesn't consider technique, we've got a >serious problem that is potentially greater than merely looking at >intensity >and volume. Poor technique runs rampant at the high school and collegiate >level, and after returning from the 2000 USA PL nationals, I was amazed at >how many lifters lifted with the poorest of technique (Then again, have you >ever had the privilege of watching NFL players squat? Tsss.). > >In my estimation then, far more important than intensity is technique. >However, it's way easier to identify proper intensity for a coach and/or >parent. How do you identify proper technique? Moreover, where does a >concerned parent go? Their local personal trainer? Yeah, right (don't get >me >started on that one). The newsstand? The high school football coach? You >see >where I'm going. Unfortunately there is no easy answer. Though I hope that >at >some point the NSCA will become a household name. > >Dan Wagman, Ph.D., C.S.C.S. > ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2000 Report Share Posted August 14, 2000 Dan wrote, > >So if anyone thinks that it's OK for a 12-year old to lift 275, simply >because 's daughter can, and doesn't consider technique, we've got a >serious problem that is potentially greater than merely looking at intensity >and volume. Poor technique runs rampant at the high school and collegiate >level, and after returning from the 2000 USA PL nationals, I was amazed at >how many lifters lifted with the poorest of technique (Then again, have you >ever had the privilege of watching NFL players squat? Tsss.). > >In my estimation then, far more important than intensity is technique. I have to agree. In the CPU we see the same thing. We have Master's lifters who are complaining they cannot train as hard as they should due to chronic injuries. I see their technique and just shake my head. No wonder they are chronically injured. IMO ego is the biggest single factor in poor technique. A lifter learns to move a fair bit of weight using a questionable technique and then refuses to change because in the initial adaption to the new technique they cannot move as much weight. No matter that in the long run they can move as much or more weight. I had to go through that with my squat. Relearn my technique. Its a little humbling, but I'm convinced the lifter who can control their ego is far better off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2000 Report Share Posted August 14, 2000 From: " Hobman " <khobman@...> > > IMO ego is the biggest single factor in poor technique. A lifter learns to > move a fair bit of weight using a questionable technique and then refuses > to change because in the initial adaption to the new technique they cannot > move as much weight. No matter that in the long run they can move as much > or more weight. I most certainly agree with you. My 17 year old son and I (I'm 49) are in the process of learning the Olympic lifts. We have been training with weights (as opposed to weightlifting) for a bit over a year. It's been several months on the Oly lifts now and I'm very proud of my son. He is deliberately using less weight than he can and working on perfecting his form. During this mornings session he really nailed his cleans (he has a very nice jerk already). He didn't overpull, got right under the bar quickly, elbows up and bar resting on his shoulders. The first few weeks helifted with us he seemed bent on showing us how much weight he could move. Since he's backed off the ego, his rate of improvement has been dramatic. Of course having a good coach helps. Chuck Burns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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