Strength Re-defined

[Nekrawulf]

I wrote an article that some of you may find interesting.

Strength Re-defined

[Bouncer]

I tell ya, I am all for all kinds of different training styles etc..

One thing that bothers me a bit though is that I cant help but feel that you seem to look down on bodybuilders and our training styles.

I am probably reading into it to much and I don't mean to start an argument. I guess I just feel like you are saying, "my way is better then bodybuilding" in so many of your posts.

You make a point to show how a girl is "spanking the pants" off a larger guy. Its all relative though. Put that girl on stage next to a bodybuilder and see what happens. Put 120lbs db's in her hands for shoulder presses and see what happens... My point is, everyone is better in their respective sport or hobby.

You are a smart guy so I am sure you can see my point. Imagine if I went to some crossfit forum and pretty much all of my posts were talking about bodybuilding and then I posted a video of some crossfit 120lb guy getting murdered on stage or in the gym and said, "look at this little crossfit guy getting killed by a bodybuilder".. I am sure people would take issue with it.

[Nekrawulf]

I tell ya, I am all for all kinds of different training styles etc..

One thing that bothers me a bit though is that I cant help but feel that you seem to look down on bodybuilders and our training styles.

I am probably reading into it to much and I don't mean to start an argument. I guess I just feel like you are saying, "my way is better then bodybuilding" in so many of your posts.

You make a point to show how a girl is "spanking the pants" off a larger guy. Its all relative though. Put that girl on stage next to a bodybuilder and see what happens. Put 120lbs db's in her hands for shoulder presses and see what happens... My point is, everyone is better in their respective sport or hobby.

You are a smart guy so I am sure you can see my point. Imagine if I went to some crossfit forum and pretty much all of my posts were talking about bodybuilding and then I posted a video of some crossfit 120lb guy getting murdered on stage or in the gym and said, "look at this little crossfit guy getting killed by a bodybuilder".. I am sure people would take issue with it.

Im sorry if it seems that I bash bodybuilding. I do not mean to come across that way. Hypertrophy is a desired result of workout by many people. I used Arnold and bodybuilding in the article simply because the sport, the man, and the training modalities associated with both are considered the creme de le crum of fitness.

It is a highly specialized sport, that requires years of dedication. I once too was enamored with bodybuilding, but in terms of fitness and even strength, I do not feel it is the end all be all... on the same token I do not think CrossFit epitomizes strength, a program like Starting Strength would be more appropriate.

I posted this here because I knew it would generate conversation. And I do feel that the publics vision of fitness is changing.

Again, I dont bash bodybuilding and i do try to contribute to the community here. So please dont think I am high and mighty.


PS both Nicole and Arnold rock.

[Turbo3000]

Was that all?

I was becoming interested in your POV, but it was a total of two paragraphs. It seems more like an intro for the video then a stand alone article, which is perfectly fine. I did enjoy what I was reading and would be interested in reading more if you planned to expand on the subject.

[Bouncer]

but in terms of fitness and even strength, I do not feel it is the end all be all

i am not sure many people associate bodybuilding with "fitness" really. fitness imply's health and as we all know, bodybuilding on the competition level really isn't very healthy.

people do associate bodybuilding with strength. but as we all know, it really isn't about that. it's more about building the muscles up and sculpting the body to look like something.

[Nekrawulf]

Was that all?

I was becoming interested in your POV, but it was a total of two paragraphs. It seems more like an intro for the video then a stand alone article, which is perfectly fine. I did enjoy what I was reading and would be interested in reading more if you planned to expand on the subject.

Im still a novice writer, and it was really meant as a lead up to the video. I will be writing more extended articles as I become more comfortable writing.

[Nekrawulf]

i am not sure many people associate bodybuilding with "fitness" really. fitness imply's health and as we all know, bodybuilding on the competition level really isn't very healthy.

people do associate bodybuilding with strength. but as we all know, it really isn't about that. it's more about building the muscles up and sculpting the body to look like something.

I disagree.

In my experiences with the general populace, mass building and cardio are the staple of most fitness routines that gym goers use. More mass for the men, more cardio for the women.

You understand the innate nuances of the sport and even fitness, because you take the time to research and understand what it is you are doing, and even other aspects of training. Joe "look in the mirror" Blow gym goer does not.

He may peruse this board to find out about the latest gear, or find new splits that they couldnt find in the bodybuilding magazines... but generally. Mr. Blow doesnt want to do serious footwork to obtain his "fitness" goals.

[Bouncer]

I disagree.

In my experiences with the general populace, mass building and cardio are the staple of most fitness routines that gym goers use. More mass for the men, more cardio for the women.

You understand the innate nuances of the sport and even fitness, because you take the time to research and understand what it is you are doing, and even other aspects of training. Joe "look in the mirror" Blow gym goer does not.

He may peruse this board to find out about the latest gear, or find new splits that they couldnt find in the bodybuilding magazines... but generally. Mr. Blow doesnt want to do serious footwork to obtain his "fitness" goals.

i was talking more about bodybuilding on the competition level as you referenced arnold. not really talking about joe dickhead from the gym. :P

[Mr I]

No, this is strength redefined, WTF!!

Don't try tell me bodyweight excerecises get you this power

YouTube - 585 BENCH FOR 23 REPS!

[Mr I]

One thing I've often heard over time is power to weight ratio, but there comes a point where to excell in one thing, you have to sacrifice another. Also there are all to many short guys reckoning how strong they are relative to their weight but they seem to be ignorant of biomechanics, they have short lever so they don't have as far to push the weight up and if they are using the same weight as a larger guy with longer levers, the larger guy is actually experiencing more resistance at the joint than the smaller guy.

Fitness is all about being fit for what you do period.

[Nekrawulf]

No, this is strength redefined, WTF!!

Don't try tell me bodyweight excerecises get you this power

YouTube - 585 BENCH FOR 23 REPS!

Sure... if you like limited range of motion movements. =-D

Power is defined as work performed over time. And biomechanically speaking, the movement he was doing was not generating a lot of "power". Sure he was pushing big weight, but anybody in the gym can put up big numbers with limited ROM. See any Joe blow Squatting 600 for quarter reps.

Wonder how many he would have gotten at full ROM? I bet that number wouldn't have seemed as impressive. I really wish he would have given 23 well executed reps.

Im simply not impressed by half ass attempts at "big lifts". Show me olympic weightlifters, and I will show you power. Show some some douche pushing 585 for quarter reps, and you just get a douche showing off.

This is power as defined in physics

[Nekrawulf]

One thing I've often heard over time is power to weight ratio, but there comes a point where to excell in one thing, you have to sacrifice another. Also there are all to many short guys reckoning how strong they are relative to their weight but they seem to be ignorant of biomechanics, they have short lever so they don't have as far to push the weight up and if they are using the same weight as a larger guy with longer levers, the larger guy is actually experiencing more resistance at the joint than the smaller guy.

Fitness is all about being fit for what you do period.

Well said.

[Mr I]

Olympic weight lifting is all about using momentum, while impressive in the sheer weights they use, its not static strength apart from when they take it off the floor, you can't complain about the guy above not doing complete ROM and then cite olympic lifters as if thats proper form. Essentialy everything they do is designer to get the weight up and within certain guidlines/perimiters they get it up however they can and essentially cheat the weight up. With bodybuilding its so much harder, on purpose because your trying to grow muscle and induce maximum stress through controled movement. I could do 315 for 8 on incline, next week I could do 8 with 220 in a way that I will fail on my last rep.

Chences are the later will better stimulate muscle growth and thats what people don't understand when they see a well muscled guy using that lower weight and say, shit I can do that, he's all show

PS I've never see anyone the size of the guy in the youtube doing such an impressive bench, have you? lets say he did it ful ROM he could probably still get 12 which is mind bowing with that much weight, its not as if he's a short ass, nor is he 330lb

[Nekrawulf]

i was talking more about bodybuilding on the competition level as you referenced arnold. not really talking about joe dickhead from the gym. :P

I just saw this, but joe dickhead is my target audience =-D

Hence why I have to keep him in mind.

[Nekrawulf]

Chences are the later will better stimulate muscle growth and thats what people don't understand when they see a well muscled guy using that lower weight and say, shit I can do that, he's all show

Yeah, I agree there.