About a year ago, I was cracking up at a post Dave made about training simplicity on the Team page. Alexander Cortez also had a great post about trainers that over-simplify things. "It's not that complicated", is the cool thing for trainers to say now. Along with "Just get strong."
Truth is (as most of us will agree) it isn't very simple. It is complicated. If it were so simple then why have I been busting my ass for 29 years, learning from everyone I can find and I still haven't figured it out? If it were simple, we would all know it. You see, every program works.... for a while. Then your body adapts and you stop improving. This is the SAID principle. Your body's ability to adapt is a tremendous asset. It's also the factor that stalls improvement.
I believe there are 4 different types of coaches and trainers. I just made this up, so I am sue there are some discrepancies to the logic. But bear with me and see if you've found some similarities.
- Makes the simple complex
- Keeps the simple, simple
- Keeps the complex, complex
- Makes the complex, simple
The Trainer that Comprehends the Simple but Complicates Communication to Athletes or Clients
These coaches usually don't know what they are talking about and are the coaches that get made fun of. They take the basic principles and either mislabel and misuse them. These coaches are usually former athletes or strong lifters who were great on the field or platform. Anything they did to get better worked because they are genetically or chemically gifted. Trouble is, they really don't have a good understanding of why their training worked for them. Those lack of skills carry over to training their athletes and as many kids "survive" their programs, there are just as many that get hurt or burnt out. These are the guys that tell everyone, "Just Get Strong." Gee thanks, never thought of that.
Being strong and getting other people strong are two different skill sets. The first feeds your ego, the second feeds your family. -MJW
Yes, I just quoted myself.
The Trainer that Comprehends the Complex and Complicates Communication to Athletes or Clients
This is the typical college professor that is so effing smart that he/ she can't explain it to the students in a way they can understand. It comes so easy for them and they can grasp things so easily that they can't understand why no one else can understand. These guys use big words and their own language to reinforce the fact they are at a different level intellectually. These types of coaches rarely have a strong connection with their athletes or clients. They are so smart about training but will never be smart enough to understand that their athletes could care less how much they know. They also never have a true connection with their colleagues because, well, you can only tell people they aren't as smart as you for so long before they stop listening.
People don't care how much you know until they know who much you care.
The question for these coaches is everyone knows they are coaching to hear themselves coach. These are the "mini-clinic" guys.
The Trainer that Comprehends the Simple and Simplifies Communication to Athletes or Clients
These are the coaches that usually know enough to be dangerous. They will understand the basics and never venture out and think critically about what they are doing. This type of coach usually keeps their athletes safe, but sometimes can't make the necessary progressions and regressions to maximize a variety of client's training. This is the typical cookie-cutter coach. These are the trainers that do the exact workout from the website or borrow someone else's program without making the adjustments to fit their situation in terms of facility, equipment, etc. Coaches in this category do not encourage modifications, especially when they don't know or why to modify.
Once you stop learning your stop living. If you never seek out lessons from others, you start to believe that all of your own bullshit is true.
Knowing how is not enough. Knowing why and getting your athletes to know why is how you get buy-in and more results. It's hard to explain the why to your athletes if you don't really understand it. Coaches can't be satisfied with the what.
The Trainer that Comprehends the Complex and Simplifies Communication to Athletes or Clients
These type of trainers and coaches are the best in the biz. These are guys (in my opinion) like the Dave Tates, Louie, Wendler, Dan John, Mike Boyle, Joe Kenn, etc. that can take the high level information and communicate it in a way that everyone can relate and understand. These are the guys that can converse with high level researchers and still teach complex periodization to junior high kids. This is the type of coach you want to me.
To teach is to fully understand
The coaches that understand the difference between making a connection and dumbing things down are always further ahead than the pack. That is what coaching is. Finding as many ways as possible to say the same thing. Sometime saying them without words. This takes a few steps.
- Know your athletes in terms of personalities and interests. Not just performance tests and FMS scores.
- Allow your athletes to know you so they'll open up and give you honest feedback.
- Create a culture of interactive learning where helping each other and asking for better understanding is encouraged.
Use every coaching cue you can and work to attach meaning to each one as it relates to the individual. Be excited about what your teaching. If you can't be, neither can your athletes or clients.
TRAINING
MONDAY
DE Box Squat
250 + 120 in chains for 3 doubles w/ 90 sec rest
supersetted with...
Box Jumps
- 3 triples
DE Fat Bar Bench Press
- 225 + 120 in chains for 3 triples w/ 60 sec rest
WEDNESDAY
Log Press
- 200 for 3 triples (1 clean, 1 viper, 2 strict)
Trap Bar Deadlift
-
440 for 5 doubles