Shut Up and Train!
By Paul Caldwell
Being a new owner of a training facility, it’s imperative that I come up
with constructive ways of keeping a constant flow of clientele coming
through my doors. One of the ways in which I accomplish this is by
humbling myself enough to go work out at my local commercial gym, which
I hate doing. However, every time I show up there to train, I inevitably
pick up another client. So, for now, this is my game plan for keeping
the lights on and my belly full.
One of the reasons that I hate going into these commercial facilities is
because the essence of strength training has been totally lost by the
fitness industry. As a young lifter, I remember going into the gym and
seeing some really big, strong dudes lifting heavy weights, clapping
chalk, and making a lot of noise. The music playing on the stereo made
you want to work out the moment you walked inside. This has been
replaced by a bunch of pencil neck “trainers” with extra-medium muscle
shirts and small shorts running around with clipboards having their
clients balance on top of a swimming pool ball, juggle dumbbells, and
recite their ABCs backwards. Noise is encouraged as much as it is at the
library, and the music seductively makes you suicidal.
The invention of the i-Pod and the ability to tune out the gayness of
the “gym” makes these things easy to ignore. What is difficult to get
past is being interrupted in the middle of my training session by the
house master, duck-certified, professional certification acquisition
trainer who knows every different way that you can use a stability ball
and stretch bands telling me that what I’m doing is “dangerous.” As much
as I try to restrain myself, it’s difficult to remain politically
correct when you’re listening to Marilyn Manson and have set your mind
to accomplishing a new 5RM on low
box squats.
The last time I was at the gym, I finished my workout with some neck
work. Because the gym doesn’t have anything to accommodate this type of
work, I brought my own
neck harness. I strapped a few plates up and
started doing my thing. After my first set, the master guru trainer came
up to me with a sweatband pulled halfway up one forearm and a stability
ball cradled in the other. He proceeded to tell me, “Hey buddy, that’s
old technology and is going to hurt you. And those jumping squats you
were doing are going to kill your lower back. Let me show you the new
method for building neck and leg strength…” He then proceeded to show me
some isometric holds against the wall that I’ve used since I was a kid
in football practice…TWENTY years ago! Before he could ask me to do
anything freaky, I had to ask him to go play with his balls somewhere
else.
While I believe that education and evolution are essential for attaining
success as a fitness professional, the information age that we’re in has
infected the “fitness industry” like a virus. There’s too much
“information” put out there because everyone is trying to set themselves
apart from the pack. There are too many self-proclaimed “gurus” giving
advice who know everything but have never really “trained” themselves,
let alone anyone else.
After the master trainer walked away with his ball in hand, I noticed
that just about everyone else in the gym was staring at me like I was
some kind of freak show. I couldn’t help but notice how many of them
were working with some “new school” piece of equipment that was designed
to mimic an “old school” compound movement. Equally noticeable was the
widespread “Humpty Dumpty” physique among both sexes and apparent
weakness. While they stared at me wondering why the hell I would be
working out like that, I was wondering how the hell they weren’t!
It seems that the fitness community has become retarded by all of the
information that’s available. With all of the talk about complex
compound super periodization, proper activation of the flactoid
musculature, and all of the dietary hype, the information super highway
has created a society of physical zombies with funny-shaped, weak
bodies.
I listened to the conversations going on throughout the gym, and I
was amazed to hear all of the training talk. So-and-so heard that doing
Smith machine leg presses were better for bulking up. Ms. Cardio was
preaching the dangers of women lifting weights. Mr. “Can anyone else see
my lat spread?!” was preaching the importance of taking 5 mgs of super
cow testicle juice before squatting 135 lbs with knee wraps. As I
listened to this madness, I realized that each one of these people
thought that they were “educated” about what they were saying because
they had either heard or read it somewhere. “Retarded” might be putting
it mildly.
There is no “secret” to achieving results in strength training and
dietary matters. The foundation lies in constant hard work and
discipline. What “works” isn’t complicated at all. There’s no question
that squats are far superior to leg extensions for leg development. That
fact has been proven in the trenches for years. Yet, the squat rack is
still more often used to accommodate the 37-year-old high school
football star’s four plate shrug and yell fest because he saw Jay Cutler
doing it in a magazine…and he scored three touchdowns in his final game
as a senior.
If you’re reading this article, you are undoubtedly in search of
information that will help you in your training efforts. Here’s
everything that you need to know—focus on the simple things and get
really strong on them. The “simple things” have been the staples of
strong men, athletes, and impressive physique development from the very
beginning. These are your squat, bench, deadlift, chin-up, and overhead
pressing variations. The “simple things” have never changed, nor has the
fact that they are and will remain superior to any gimmicky circus
exercises that are sold in the fitness industry as
“technology/advancement.” Besides, chances are really high that neither
you nor your clientele are truly ready to tackle more advanced training
methods anyway. You don’t need to focus on super high altitude weighted
vests or reactive depth jumps for 100 reps when you can’t even squat
your body weight without becoming a contortionist.
By no means do I have the experience or the knowledge that some of the
authors on EliteFTS have, nor do I claim to. I do, however, have over 20
years of “in the trenches” experience and experimentation. Over that
period of time, I have tried just about every training system, diet, and
supplement in the pursuit of my own goals as well those of my clients.
What I’ve come to learn is that the simple things, done consistently and
with intensity, are what work. And, when you get to the gym, it’s
important to shut your mouth and train!
Paul Caldwell is the owner/operator of Athletic Engineering, an
athletic performance enhancement and personal training facility in
Mansfield, Texas. He has been in the trenches of the training game
for 20 years preparing for sports ranging from football to racing BMX
professionally, which is his current endeavor. His approach to training
can best be described as “controlled chaos.” For more information, visit
www.athleticengineering.net.
Elite Fitness Systems strives to be a recognized leader in the
strength training industry by providing the highest quality strength
training products and services while providing the highest level of
customer service in the industry. For the best training equipment,
information, and accessories, visit us at www.EliteFTS.com.
|