When it is time to do the work that must be done - focus must be given. Arnold once wrote that the gym could be caving in and he wouldn’t know because of the focus he had on his training. For the most important work I agree. At that time - nothing else should matter. This is why work is called WORK.
I get asked all the time about the “fights” that happened within the walls of Westside Barbell in the 90’s. Most I know nothing about because of the reason above. I was on one side of the gym doing work with my group while some shit broke out on the other. By the time we were done someone would ask if we saw this or that. We didn’t.
There are a couple times where shit would break out in the same areas as we were training (never with the same group of people swamping sets). In one case there were 5 of us doing speed bench work. Five was the perfect number as it allowed for a side spotter, a back spotter, a side spotter, a lifter and one person getting ready. The bench was never bare for more than a few seconds (unless I was the lifter and was trying to cheat a few extra seconds rest). Everyone had their role and knew exactly what to do and there was no fucking around. There was no time to fuck around with the rest periods we were training with.
During one of these sessions a fight broke out right in front of the bench. All we had to do was adjust the side spotting to be more in front of the barbell so if someone got tossed toward the bench we would deflect them away from the barbell. The next lifter up stood more in-front of the lifter to make sure if someone got tossed they would not hit the lifter benching.
NO care at all about the guys fighting - only making sure they did not hurt or fuck up any of the lifters sets. The FOCUS was on the lifting not the bullshit. Focus on moving forward, getting better, doing work. The other crap will work itself out.
Yes, we knew exactly what to do because of past experiences and there is nothing worse than seeing a lifter taken out over stupid shit. If they are going to get taken down than give them the respect of having the weight do it.
Focus on what matters most.
Still wondering how to train at s5, soon...
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