On The Road For The Next Week–Some Things To Think About

Are you stuck?

I will be gone for a week but I have a few items to share before I go. 

Alpha statement: Testing does not replace intuition, it informs it.

If you are so out of touch with your own body that you have no intuition, the testing protocol will bring you back in to center. As you get better, you are able to make better judgments on what you should do. This is not a weight room thing, this is a life thing. 

Every top athlete in the strength world is working off of their own intuition. Instinctive training is not new. Programs are ripped off of the books of champions in an effort to replicate results. Instead of doing that, why not just do your own thing? 

It is no surprise to me when I see negative association from trainers toward instinctive training models- their fear consumes them because they realize they bring so little to the table when the individual is empowered. Make your own calls based upon your mind and your body. 

#1 We get stuck when we refuse to question something

Last evening I spoke with a good friend in Sweden who is working to rehab his back. Any kind of popular approved deadlifting form would test poorly and was associated to pain. He has had several injuries over the last decade and they had compounded to the point where he nearly lost all interest in training. He began using the testing protocol 3 months ago and is making fast gains with no pain. 

One week ago he decided to test out a rounded back position deadlift. This movement is normally considered dangerous because of a flexed spine at the bottom. It is testing very good for him, he is not feeling any pain, and he is getting stronger in his other motions as well. 

Normally people cringe and shy away from any degree of lumber flexion. Keep in mind if a joint moves, it should move. If something is not supposed to move, it is solid bone. 

How do you get into this safely? Start with light loads and work intelligently. It is like every other movement. 

#2 Barefoot running- Not an automatic cure all. Maybe worth your time…

Since I tweeted about my first barefoot run this week a number of people have asked if I believe they should do it too. 

No, I do not believe you should automatically do anything. Barefoot running (BFR) is becoming a vogue right now with five fingers and books telling you how awesome it is…I say do not do something unless it is testing well and it suits your goals. 

I have been testing BFR for months, only recently has it started to test better than wearing shoes. Some associations over this time- better hip/ankle movement, less stress on my tibia from training changes, no excessive tension in my body as I continue to eliminate it from my training. 

It could be any of these things which has turned allowing BFR to go well, or maybe none of them. 

BFR is not a cure all, and is not for everyone. Most people’s feet are so screwed up that it maybe too hard of a jump. 

For me personally, I will dabble with it week to week. My minimal effective amount is a mere 1.5-2 mile run, which is a nice 12-13 minute distraction. 

#3 For the grip addicts- play around with more repetition vertical bar work. You will figure it out

#4 KB people-Leading with knee flexion in the swing and snatch is fine

#5 Warm ups…

are what you do when things test poorly in an effort to make it better. I say you can throw that one in the trash. Figure it out for yourself. Or go post it on a forum and have the experts explain how wrong I am. 

If you find you need 30 reps of piss loads to “warm up” you are doing the wrong shit. Don’t take my word on it – Read the articles Dave Tate has posted on how stupid it is for all the bench pressers to do 40-50 reps “building up” to working weight…and how little progress they are making. 

#6 Same buddy from Sweden also asked this– Is it better to do a lot of movements or a few?

I used to say it is better to do few things better. I disagree with what I said than. The more I do, the more I am able to do. For all the smartie pants who say you end up being weak in everything- not so. 

What is your goal? That is what you are working on. 

I for example am working on two hands pinch, Vertical bar, DO axle DL. I do a LOT of stuff besides that, guided by testing. For every critic who says this will not work- explain why my 2″ V bar is so high? 332 1/2 in my gym and I will hit 335-340 in competition this year. Since you likely do not know what the value is of that number– that is called “World Class” and I will prove I am the current best Vertical bar lifter in the world this year. 

Do more movement. Do the movement which tests well, which supports your goals. 

Nearly every single person who I talk to has a goal of Lose fat/gain muscle. To this end do all kinds of movements. Big movements- Snatch/Jerk/Bench/Squat/Dead/Press/Lunge, and small movements too. Compound and isolation. Lift every kind of implement you want. Do body weight drills. Do as much as you want to. 

If it makes you feel better, and you are improving on the drill we can say you are moving closer to more muscle, less fat. Some steps are big- Putting 100lbs on your DL. Some steps are little like adding 5 reps to your best 5 minute snatch test. Either way you are getting closer. 

Conclusion

I understand, that makes you think. If you don’t want to think, than email me and I will send you to one of our trainers who will teach you how to do this for yourself at a comfortable pace. I have some outstanding people working with me who are ready to assist you no matter where you live. My reach is global. 

Final thought before I go: 

If you own a car, own a gun, raise kids, have a pet, are responsible for a job, are able to pay taxes, can read & write, and understand how to operate fire to cook food— well you are smart enough to be your own best coach. It is far harder to drive in traffic than it is to exercise. You are fully qualified to train yourself. You certainly do not need me, or anyone else telling you what you are supposed to be to doing. 

I can’t train you better than you can train yourself. If you understand how to follow your body and lead yourself you will be great. So many personal trainers are afraid of that, and will remind you how much you need them- But look at how far you made it in life without a trainer! You can learn to train yourself, better than anyone else can. 

Question everything, Follow Your Body, Lead Yourself, Honor Yourself. Get Better In Whatever direction you can day to day. 

My name is Adam T Glass, I Am The Movement. The Question is, Are You The Movement? 

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