![Rely on Studies or Rely on Wisdom and Experience?](https://www.elitefts.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image_50422273-scaled.jpg)
In my latest YouTube video, I touch on my focus and
motivation for what I want to accomplish with the TEAMSKIP YouTube channel.
I’m not a big fan of a lot of the information that is out there right now about training. The trend seems to be to focus too much on studies that are done with untrained people, and I feel that too many of us are relying on these studies. Instead, I posit that experienced trainers are more valuable than the studies.
In my experience, I have noticed that the people who focus more on studies do not have and do not build very good physiques. It’s an odd situation when a lot of very underdeveloped physiques and guys with very little muscle stay focused on studies instead of listening to well-respected trainers. We have been getting ourselves and clients in great shape and building muscle efficiently for a very long time. Yet, these same coaches will be argued with because study X and study Y say that the information we are providing is somehow wrong.
And there is nothing wrong with reading and assessing studies. My issue isn’t that studies are inherently “bad,” but rather that they are a distant second to experienced coaching advice and the wisdom that long-standing trainers can provide.
I also point out that one observation I have made that seems quite consistent across the board is that the people who rely on studies, just aren’t very big and make relatively minimal progress. If you tell me that a side lateral being performed while lying on your side with a light dumbbell is going to produce more hypertrophy than side laterals done in the fashion that we have done them for decades, you aren’t going to hold my attention very long. I can only assume that there are a lot more people out there who feel the same way I do.
Do experienced trainers have all of the answers? No. Will an experienced trainer get most people significantly further than studies will? Absolutely.
As I have stated numerous times before, I’m not pretending my way is the only way. I respect that there are different opinions; I simply disagree with relying on studies. An experienced trainer will get someone much more progress over the time long-term. If you disagree, that’s fine. I’m not shoving my opinions down anyone’s throat. I’m simply trying to get people not to waste their time and learn how to optimize their training (and progress) based on experienced information.