Can you call anyone in the gym at the same time as you a training partner?

No. No you can't.

After a conversation with Paul Oneid, who I have been training at the same time with for the last couple weeks, and Will Albert, one of two Canadians I have been out formulaed by in a Multiply meet and part owner of Dynamo Barbell where Paul and I have been training, I thought it would be good to put on paper our thoughts on the matter.

A training partner and someone that you train with are totally different. This biggest factor to me is philosophy. Paul and I are a great example. We both want to total a million pounds. I want to use gear, He wants to go raw. Not full raw, only kind of raw. That difference leads to us have different training needs and training goals. Also, leads to different training methods to get there. Paul, like Jay Nera (who is the other part owner of Dynamo Barbell) train with a ton of volume. I hate that. I hate doing and I don't like watching them do it.

If we were training partners we would have had a yelling match or two already about this. In Jay's case, probably tea and a deep introspective  conversation. He is a sophisticated savage.

But, they are training for a different sport. Yes, it's powerlifting. But the goals of the training are much different.

A training partner is someone that will be heading to the gym with to travel the same path you are. Usually means doing the same main lift and then doing your own accessory movements. A training partner will hold you accountable to your goals. They will be able to help you with technique flaws. They will be able to tell you that you are doing shit wrong and you know they are telling you to help you, not to be a dick bag.

Someone you train with will hold you accountable to showing up to the gym everyday. They will be able to help you with minor tweaks to your form. But, if they offer up whole sale changes to your form you will ignore them.

To me a training partner is someone that would go to war with you. In the figurative sense not the literal. This is gym we are talking about. Not real life.

A gym buddy can also be a huge key to success. But, more on the mental side of things. They will make sure you are hitting the numbers that you set for yourself. They will help you talk through the tough times when you are hitting a wall or struggling with training or life.

Wow that was a long ramble. Thanks if you made it this far!