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Title: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: Coach is Back! on May 11, 2011, 07:08:02 PM
Evolution of a Strength Coach Part 2
Michael Boyle
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A few recent events have made me realize that all strength coaches will eventually evolve to the same place. Like many of us, I listen and read a great deal from the internet. One trend that I have seen is that some of the previously "hard core" guys are gradually embracing the corrective exercise/ functional training side of the coin. This made me realize:

1- Why I think the way I do
2- Why others make fun of me

The reason I think the way I do and the reason lots of the "hardcore" guys make fun of me is because I am old. I am further along the evolutionary trail of the strength coach. You see, we all start at about the same place and we probably all end up at the same place. I just started my journey sooner. In fact I am in year 32 of my evolution. For me phase 1 of the Evolution of the Strength and Conditioning Coach, The Bodybuilder, was actually in the 1970's. I saw Boyer Coe guest pose at a show in Connecticut and wanted to be the next Frank Zane. If you don't know who those guys are, it's OK. You are just too young.

The truth is almost all male strength coaches and personal trainers go through the evolutionary process listed below.

Stage 1- The Bodybuilder.

Face it, we all started here. Maybe we wanted to get better at sports but what we really wanted in our teens was to look better for girls. To do this we picked up a muscle magazine, joined the local gym , copied the routines and began bodybuilding. The beauty of this stage is that we knew it all. We bombed and blitzed our way to success as Joe Weider looked on from the pages of Muscle and Fiction.

Stage 2- The Powerlifter

At the onset of stage two the bodybuilder realizes that the really strong guys in the gym don't give him the time of day. In fact, the truly strong guys laugh at him in his tanktop as he admires his arms in the mirror. The young bodybuilder and future strength coach is determined to get some respect so he really works on his bench press to gain that respect. What he then realizes is that these strong guys don't respect anyone with no legs and a big bench. The bodybuilder soon evolves to the powerlifter. As in stage one we still know it all but what we know is different. We realize that what we thought we knew in the stage 1 was not quite as true as we thought. At this stage we never admit any mistakes though. Stage two last for 2-3 years or until the first major injury. In this time period you really fall in love with the weightroom. You become diligent about diet and not missing training days and you get stronger almost every week. Your training partners cheer you on. Your technique is not perfect but you are moving big weight. Usually in stage 2 you also decide to enter a meet. A meet is great reality therapy. Your 315 bench done in "all you" form with just a bit of an arch and bounce becomes a 275 pause bench. Your "parallel" squats suddenly expose your lack of knowledge of geometry. Usually you bomb in the squat in your first meet and resolve to return a much better lifter. In stage two you are your most macho. You laugh at anyone doesn't do back squats and deadlifts and post frequently to internet forums. All posts mention how strong you are and usually some line that belittles those who don't lift heavy iron.

Stage 3- The Injured Powerlifter.

This stage begins with a bad back or a sore shoulder and usually lasts through one or two surgeries. Stage three is like denial in the substance abuse world. You realize that your days of lifting huge weights are coming to an end but you refuse to say it out loud. Your searches of the internet now focus on healing your wounds. You vow to make a comeback. Often, you have surgery and attempt to lift in a meet again. Like a guy repeatedly slamming his fingers in the car door, you can't wait to get back under the bar.

You learn about ART, MAT and a bunch of other therapies that seem to have guys names. You also begin to sneak a few looks at books on injury prevention and heaven forbid, you begin to explore things like warm-up and mobility. At the end of the injured powerlifter stage you begin to apologize to those older and wiser that you made fun of and called names. You realize that much like your parents the guys you taunted on internet forums were just older and wiser.

Stage 4- The Functional Training Guy.

Most of us end in stage four. Usually we have a few scars from our time in stage three putting off the inevitable. In stage four we realize that we can still train however, the days of trying to pick up the heaviest thing you can lift goes by. You become an innocent bystander watching car wrecks as you see the young guys move from stage 1 to stage 2. You try to warn them but they laugh at you and go into their chat rooms and make fun of you. All you can think of is "call me when you are fifty and we can talk".

The truth is evolution and development are both inevitable. Young men will always want to impress young women. They will also, in a very primal way, want to impress other young men. We can only hope to speed the evolution and save people some pain. As you read this hopefully you will see yourself in one of these stages and intervene. Next time you get ready to "lay it on the line" ask yourself why.
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: xpac2 on May 12, 2011, 08:51:35 AM
How can you listen to this guy? Does anyone take Boyle seriously after his anti squat stance? I mean how could he say that Rear foot elevated split squats are safer on the back then squats??? REALLLY???!!!
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: #1 Klaus fan on May 12, 2011, 09:20:11 AM
Stupid article. Suggesting bodybuilders don't train legs etc.  ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: Coach is Back! on May 12, 2011, 09:49:40 AM
Xpac, how much have to actually read about Boyle to draw the conclusion that "I don't know how people can take him seriously"?
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: Coach is Back! on May 12, 2011, 09:52:31 AM
Sorry, I meant to say "listen to this guy" (I can't quote on here)
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: kcballer on May 12, 2011, 10:31:58 AM
Boyle is 1000% correct when he says squats are of no use for his athletes. 
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: xpac2 on May 12, 2011, 11:22:26 AM
Xpac, how much have to actually read about Boyle to draw the conclusion that "I don't know how people can take him seriously"?

I've read all of his stuff. I know that the only thing I think he's good at is marketing his crappy products to lemmings like you.
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: xpac2 on May 12, 2011, 11:23:43 AM
Boyle is 1000% correct when he says squats are of no use for his athletes. 


ya cause split squats are so much better for your back with your back foot up on a chair  ::)
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: Howard on May 12, 2011, 11:25:03 AM
Sorry, I meant to say "listen to this guy" (I can't quote on here)
Good read, I can relate. Thanks for posting it
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: Coach is Back! on May 12, 2011, 11:40:37 AM
Funny xpac, out of almost all of the high profile S&C coachs out there he markets the least. Do you know Mike?
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: xpac2 on May 12, 2011, 11:56:35 AM
He markets the least? wow so then hes not part of the circle jerk Ryan Lee marketing group? My mistake then  ::)
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: Coach is Back! on May 12, 2011, 12:08:29 PM
Sure he is, I said he does the least amount of marketing not that he doesn't market at all. What kind of background do you have that leads to conclude that you shouldn't listen to him?
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: kcballer on May 12, 2011, 12:12:19 PM
ya cause split squats are so much better for your back with your back foot up on a chair  ::)

Considering the overall load is lower compared to a squat, yes. 
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: kcballer on May 12, 2011, 12:18:25 PM
ya cause split squats are so much better for your back with your back foot up on a chair  ::)

I think you miss his whole point of thought.  The most effective way to work a muscle group with the least amount of weight possible whilst still getting results.  When you deal with professional athletes you can not afford to have athletes hurt in the weight room.  You also can not afford to have athletes work with the pink dumbells on a swiss ball, it's finding that balance between effective strengthening and minimize risk both in the short term and long term.  Boyle is a big believer in Stuart McGills work so it makes sense he tries to minimize sheer forces on the lower back area.  225lbs for single leg or 500lbs for squats?  Hmmm which is going to have more sheer force on the spine? 
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: xpac2 on May 12, 2011, 12:39:12 PM
I think you miss his whole point of thought.  The most effective way to work a muscle group with the least amount of weight possible whilst still getting results.  When you deal with professional athletes you can not afford to have athletes hurt in the weight room.  You also can not afford to have athletes work with the pink dumbells on a swiss ball, it's finding that balance between effective strengthening and minimize risk both in the short term and long term.  Boyle is a big believer in Stuart McGills work so it makes sense he tries to minimize sheer forces on the lower back area.  225lbs for single leg or 500lbs for squats?  Hmmm which is going to have more sheer force on the spine? 

Hmm so biomechanics was not your strong point in school..get in the biolab and then try and come back with the same argument instead of parroting Boyles illogical thoughts.  Ya 250 on your back with your back leg raised wont mess up your hips at all and the squat which has been used safely by millions of athletes is more dangerous??? I cringe for the future of strength coaches if you believe this crap
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: ob205 on May 12, 2011, 12:44:03 PM
I think Boyle has a lot of valid points, unfortunately none on Bodybuilding!  And he readily admits this, his expertise is specifically on athletes.

Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: Coach is Back! on May 12, 2011, 12:50:49 PM
You never answered my question xpac.
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: Bodybuilder Lex Reeves on May 12, 2011, 12:57:39 PM
This guy sounds like a pussy.
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: xpac2 on May 12, 2011, 01:22:54 PM
You never answered my question xpac.

Masters in exercise Science from Concordia University enough?
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: doison on May 12, 2011, 01:34:00 PM
Masters in exercise Science from Concordia University enough?

Terminal Master's degrees in a soft science: Giving back up plans to students who weren't accepted to a single PhD program since 1893.
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: xpac2 on May 12, 2011, 01:36:18 PM
Terminal Master's degrees in a soft science: Giving back up plans to students who weren't accepted to a single PhD program since 1893.

Meh it was either that or Polysci...Both just as useless in the real world but atr least exercise science sounds smarter
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: Coach is Back! on May 12, 2011, 01:47:43 PM
Excellent....now come on here and debate the issue

www.strengthcoach.com

I don't disagree with his findings he's spot on, but I personally disagree with him on not squatting. The squatting he was referring to is back squats, he said time and time again he still does front squats to help reduce spine compression and load. I personally have my athletes do both front and back squats but we ALWAYS follow up unilateral work. Xpac, I don't know what capacity you use your degree, but as I'm sure you know, training athletes is completely different. You have to take into consideration when you do programming that injury reduction has to come first. He is correct in saying you can develop just as much if not more taking out squats and soncentrating on single leg lifts, its a slower progression but you can. Athletes don't run on two legs, they run one leg at a time so the unilateral training without squats only makes sense to even out bilateral strength. The way I look at it, not only do you reduce spine loads while getting stronger but also add strength unilaterally do the QL's and surrounding core.
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: xpac2 on May 12, 2011, 01:54:24 PM
Excellent....now come on here and debate the issue

www.strengthcoach.com

I don't disagree with his findings he's spot on, but I personally disagree with him on not squatting. The squatting he was referring to is back squats, he said time and time again he still does front squats to help reduce spine compression and load. I personally have my athletes do both front and back squats but we ALWAYS follow up unilateral work. Xpac, I don't know what capacity you use your degree, but as I'm sure you know, training athletes is completely different. You have to take into consideration when you do programming that injury reduction has to come first. He is correct in saying you can develop just as much if not more taking out squats and soncentrating on single leg lifts, its a slower progression but you can. Athletes don't run on two legs, they run one leg at a time so the unilateral training without squats only makes sense to even out bilateral strength. The way I look at it, not only do you reduce spine loads while getting stronger but also add strength unilaterally do the QL's and surrounding core.


First of all I would never spend money to listen to Boyles lemmings. Second of all yes a lot of the times sports are on one leg after the force has been generated..force is ALWAYS generated on two legs.
Front squats actua;lly put your spine into a more compromising position biomechanically then a PROPERLY aligned and excuted backsquat and they also shift the presuure to your knees instead of distributing through the hips and into the ground.
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: Coach is Back! on May 12, 2011, 01:57:41 PM
Just to let you know, I am bias toward Mike, for the last 6-7 years, I go out to his facilities and BU to spend a week with him every year or two and consider him my mentor when it comes to S&C. However, we don't always see eye to eye and feel I get my athletes stronger and feel Mike takes injury into consideration so much he may have a tendancy to make his athletes not as strong as they could be.
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: xpac2 on May 12, 2011, 07:24:00 PM
Just to let you know, I am bias toward Mike, for the last 6-7 years, I go out to his facilities and BU to spend a week with him every year or two and consider him my mentor when it comes to S&C. However, we don't always see eye to eye and feel I get my athletes stronger and feel Mike takes injury into consideration so much he may have a tendancy to make his athletes not as strong as they could be.

In the end it doesn't really matter. Do I agree with his training? No. Do I think He's full of it? Yes. Do I think he's a great marketer? Absolutely.  But I don't really care that much, he can train his athletes any way he wants and I'll train my athletes any way I want and never the two shall meet.
Title: Re: Evolution Of A Strength Coach - Good short article read
Post by: cephissus on May 12, 2011, 07:38:12 PM
epic "failed everything, accept nothing"