Being new to the strength coach world, I have never experienced anything like this weekend. We hosted Canadian Coach Invasion here at 5 Rings Barbell with seminars led by Andre Benoit, Brad Norris, Clarke Flynn, and George Chiappa with nearly 40 attendees.
Jance had told me about the strength coach community, but this was the first time I encountered it for myself.
It was refreshing to be in a room full of like-minded people, collectively learning from four credible coaches. I felt like I was back in college, but actually cared about what the professor was talking about. Learning information such as programming, properly warming up for 1RM, how to use the FAT Tool to reset fascia and RockTape to reinforce the correction, throwing in the Highland Games Clinic, and how to assess and develop young athletes for long term success (LTAD model) it was a lot in one weekend. No one could have pulled it off better than Jance and Trish.
Meeting so many strength coaches felt more like camaraderie than networking. Needless to say, I learned a lot at my first seminar experience and I am ready to do it again.
Top 3 Takeaways:
For a body to learn something specific, you must make the message clear with repeated loading patterns. Working out with inconsistent or varying lifts results in a conditioning effect. Athletes, for example, need a consistent lifting regime in order to gain the strength and/or power necessary to compete.
There are certain movements that are a primal expectation. A comfortable squat, is the most basic primal movement. If a client cannot squat right they are likely not able to correctly perform other exercises. Learning how to move is always the first priority with a client of any age.
Your muscles get strong due to stimulus from loaded movements. Tiring remedial muscles before strength training has the potential to lessen the weight stimulus resulting in less strength gain. Remedial exercises are better suited for after strength training or for another day completely. Strength is key.