SSL vs. "Real Life"
Hi All,
I have an easy time understanding the value of SSL training for sports, having experienced the benefits myself but what about every day? I don't compete professionally and need to be functionally strong and injury-proof off the field as well.
What I struggle with sometimes is understanding why training under load (i.e. with weights) is always bad given that during "real life" we are moving awkward, sometimes heavy weights slowly. Of course back-squatting 400 pounds has little practical application and carries a high risk of injury but what about resisting functional, compound movements with lighter (but still heavy by SSL standards) "weights" like kettlebells, resistance tubing, weight vests, etc.? It is still possible to move dynamically, explosively and safely under these loads from my experience.
I'm not trying to poke holes here but rather understand as much as I can about this type of training. Thanks.
Re: SSL vs. "Real Life"
any chance of getting that last question answered...would love to hear Gavin's Response :)
Can we revive this thread?
Can we revive this thread?
I'd like to echo Brad. I
I'd like to echo Brad. I train at home, and I travel a lot for my job. Is SSL ballwork enough? It's not all that practical for cramped hotel rooms, and packing a ball and bells can be a pain, as I learned on a trip earlier this week. What kind of plyos can be done on at home and on the road? (I asked in another thread a couple of weeks ago if a sample plyo WoW could be posted.) Are plyos "enough"? I don't have access to Supercats and Accelerators and other equipment I see on the (very cool) SSL videos. I just wonder if SSL is the best use of my limited daily training time to build strength, endurance, and athleticism as I get closer to my 50th birthday.
Appreciate the very thorough discussions here.
Garth/Gavin, Thanks for the
Garth/Gavin,
Thanks for the response. It was a thorough explanation of how SSL is superior to conventional i.e. "slow & heavy" weight training. As I said before, that makes sense. My question still is whether their is also a functional transfer from SSL training to non-sport activities which involve practical efforts such as carrying sandbags from your car to the backyard, shoveling dirt, etc. The answer may be no and that's okay. Clearly, the thrust of SSL is sport performance.
It is easy to see how lifting and swinging kettlebells, med. balls, sandbags, plyometrics etc. transfers to non-sport activities. I have experienced the benefits myself as I have been training in this way for a couple of years following Monkey Bar Gym online workouts. Perhaps some of my questions would be answered if I knew all the methods you use to train your athletes but I am looking to see if the type of SSL training I can do at home (ballwork plus?) will be all I need to do in order to achieve my goals and stay healthy.
Again, I appreciate all you guys are doing and really want to understand the big picture. Thanks!
Garth, Thanks for forwarding
Garth,
Thanks for forwarding this on to Gavin--his insight is truly valuable to the forum.
Garth, Thanks for your
Garth,
Thanks for your response and I certainly am not trying to kill the messenger. As you guys know, there are a lot of different training methods out there and some pretty successful companies (AP, etc.) All the programs I have used in the past incorporated structured warm-ups (increasing ROM, multiple planes) eccentric components/elasticity addressed through plyometrics, medicine balls, etc. I'm intrigued by SSL because I've never seen someone directly address the feet and also don't like lifting weights as I've always relied more on the Speed part of the equation to create power, as opposed to Strength. I just want to ensure that by removing functional weight training (at moderate weight, though greater than SSL) I won't be decreasing performance.
Thanks
I've had the same thought as
I've had the same thought as Brad --squatting 400 lbs or benching the same probably has more risk than reward, but it seems that 99.9% of the training facilities out there incorporate weight/strength training. In fact, in some of the YouTube videos, athletes at SSL are lifting significant amounts of weight, albeit in a more explosive fashion (I remember a clip of Gavin demonstrating the bench press with an older gentleman who was lifting quite a bit, and Gavin stating he has 16 year olds that can throw around 250 lbs). Many facilities also incorporate some sort of structured warm-up/recovery which in my experience has greatly reduced soreness and improved ROM.
Again, not trying to pole holes in anything, just really trying to understand the methodology.