Sticking with the basics is important in all endeavors. Most people stagnate or remain at novices levels because they never thoroughly learn and practice fundamentals. As fitness trainer Alwyn Cosgrove correctly points out, you need to focus on non-sexy training.
Non-Sexy Training
by Alwyn Cosgrove
I was talking to Anthony Roberts the other day and he’d mentioned that he’d given a copy of New Rules of Lifting to one of his friends.
When he asked his friend what he thought about it, he replied that it was “okay.”
When pressed further, he said that the training information had been a bit basic. And the diet section was, “Nothing special, just eat healthy and often — that sort of thing.”
The kicker? Anthony’s friend is over 300 pounds and not in great shape at all!
Replace the Big Macs with the basics.
As one of the authors of the book, I actually agree with the points he raised though. There is nothing “sexy” about the programs and nothing cutting edge about the nutrition. But a 300 pound obese man really doesn’t need to concern himself with cybernetic periodization, cyclical ketogenic diets, branched chain amino acid intake, or intermittent fasting.
It’s All About the Basics
Mike Roussell and I decided to write this article on the basics. And I can hear the comments now:
“Boring as shit.”
“Nothing new here.”
“Not much info for an advanced guy like myself.”
Save it.
The majority of people need to hear this information, as most get caught up in the unimportant details from time to time. Unlike Justin Timberlake, I’m not bringing sexy back. I’m taking the sexy out!
Anytime you plateau in training, it’s rarely that the program isn’t complex enough. Usually it’s because you’ve strayed from the basics.
If a beginner does an advanced program that he’s not ready for, he’ll stop progressing completely. However if the reverse happens, and an advanced athlete does a basic program but it challenges him, he’ll still progress. So if in doubt, get back to the basics.
The 90% Rule. Principles should still be at the heart of your training. I believe in focusing on the commonalities between successful programs. And I feel that, although there may be differences, if you look closely the similarities are strong enough that there’s a bigger take-home lesson.
Colorado Pete
Feb 10, 2013 @ 16:00:55
The then-coach of the Colorado highpower rifle junior team once told a group of us at a clinic:
“A champion shooter once told me that good shooting is good execution of the fundamentals, and great shooting is great execution of the fundamentals.”
I see nothing to disagree with there.
bill price
Feb 11, 2013 @ 12:24:04
Yup. Someday I might get good at trigger control. Then I’ll work on whatever’s my next weakest point.
Now–once in a while I do have excellent trigger control–but then it goes away again. At least i can recognize it when i feel it.
A couple times, I’ve had every piece of the shooting discipline right where I wanted it. Sometimes two or three shots in a row. Never five, though.
A guy’s gotta have a goal.
-bp