Combinatory Training

I'm a big fan of Einstein and his way of thinking. Although he wasn't involved in the field of strength training, I often ‘steal’ his way of thinking. I'm constantly trying to find new ways to stimulate my athletes' and members' minds for their workouts. Nothing will do this more than not knowing what is coming and continually changing up exercises and cycling in new ones.

Einstein had a way of thinking that was called ‘combinatory play.’ In combinatory play, you take two ideas and merge them together to come up with a totally unheard of concept or new idea. This can be applied to strength training. For a great example, just look at any of Smitty’s programs.

Mental Engagement

I find that one of the most overlooked factors by strength coaches is the mental engagement of the trainee. There could be nothing more boring in the world than following a linear periodization model in which you know what you're doing well in advance.

An example of how I use this at my gym is with the Prowler®. How else and what else can we use the Prowler® for? Can it only be used for pushing and pulling? How about doing some Prowler® rollouts for anti-extension (core)? How about the flex bands? Can we only use them for accommodating resistance on the big three? Can we use them for arms? Can we use them to create an unstable environment for the muscular system?

I once had a strength coach, who I questioned on this very matter, tell me that he wasn't there to entertain his athletes. That was why they had X-Box. I think he didn’t get ‘it.’ Yes, as strength coaches, we aren't there to entertain like a clown at a three-ring circus, but it's your duty to make sure that every last one of your clients or athletes is mentally engaged and excited about the workout program. Try going to a job that you have no passion for day after day. How much will you actually put into it and more importantly how much will you actually get out of it?

Make it Interesting

I am not saying that we need to reinvent the wheel with a whole new library of exercises. When we have a new idea that can help to stress the body in a new way and further performance, then we must develop it and place it in the program. More importantly, I believe that a conjugate system based on constant rotation will work best for most people.

I'm getting ready for another bodybuilding show and nothing in the world could be more boring to me than ‘regular’ bodybuilding training (except linear periodization). So, I constantly have to find ways to become interested in the plan and get results. There is a reason for the phrase 'mind, body, spirit.' If you let one side of that triangle dominate, results will be lackluster. The world of iron would be a much better place with a few more jacked-up Einstein’s roaming the pits!