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Well.... it was everything I wanted it to be and more. It was an experience I'll never forget and I am looking forward to the next one.
There's something special about people who share similar mind sets, goals, passions and ambitions. When they get together, good things happen. Throughout this past weekend, I was a witness to many PRs, and multiple "oh FUCK" moments. It was motivating to say the least. What I also realized is that my training has been shit lately. I've always split my training between bodybuilding and powerlifting. I love them both equally as if they were my own children. However, we all know parents love one child more than the other, they just never out right say it. A decision will have to be made about the direction of my training whether its training to get back to the platform or lean up and dive into a strength/mass off-season. I will still place emphasis on the big 3, but with life being, well life, some actual thought will have to take place.
So, the stuff you actually came here to read about. What I took away after performing soft tissue work (graston, ART, deep tissue) on a dozen elite powerlifters, athletes, and coaches.
1. Small things matter. When it comes to moving big weight and moving it well, the small things matter. Small compensations, small injuries, and small mental blocks. They all matter. However small they might be they sure as hell make a big difference when fixed.
2. Powerlifters are fucked. If you didn't already know this before, you do now. Powerlifting undoubtedly speeds up training age and movement age but also, decreases joint and tissue longevity . Add in multiple injuries, compensations, crap technique, and you can see how the average competing lifetime can wither.
3. This weekend I saw a lot of the same movement restrictions, compensations, and limitations among most who were training. These are just a few, and are consistent with the majority of powerlifters
- Loss of Internal hip rotation.
- Zero tibia internal rotation.
- Poor stability between the ribcage and diaphragm leading to over extension (Psoas inhibition).
- Inability to use the hamstrings for flexion(dominant in hinge only).
- Posterior capsular fibrosis aka a poor shoulder internal rotation and zero glenohumeral mobility.
- Zero dorsiflexion
I could go on, but my point is the small things matter.
What was truly awesome to experience this weekend was to see all the light bulbs go off, and realize they could immediately make an impact on their training. The next day was nothing but positive outcomes.
Elitefts columnist Dani Overcash and myself