Now I’m not suggesting you sack off your day job and commit the next 4 years of your life to completing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. However there are many benefits to training like an athlete (even if you aren’t one). Using a specifically tailored, goal orientated and level appropriate training program that is based on a foundation of quality movement and prioritises increases in performance will benefit everyone of every ability.
Striving for a certain Aesthetic look certain isn’t the top priority of an athlete however it is often a positive by-product of training with a performance purpose.
Ok so here’s 4 reasons you should train like an athlete
1- It’s Dam FUN
Building athleticism is a load of fun, Med ball throws, Skipping, Jumping, Running, Carrying and pushing. Who doesn’t want to doing stuff like that in their training program. It’s sure as hell more interesting than the 3 sets of 10 you’ve been doing on the chest press for the last few years. It’s amazing to see our clients become engaged, invigorated and enjoy their training so much by including some of these less traditional exercises and drills. They think and feel like there are training like athletes….because that’s exactly what they are doing
2 – It builds usable everyday Strength and fitness
i have resisted the urge to use the term ‘functional training’ but training like an athlete has a direct carry over to how we perform in everyday life. Often our training is done in the sagittal plane and involves controlled movements. While building a foundation of strength in these movements is important we need to Include explosive, multi directional movements, acceleration, deceleration and rotation. Being strong and athletic in these movements will have a positive carry over to everyday life. Playing with the kids, carrying the shopping, pushing your neighbours car to restart it, all these things will be a dam load easier when you train like an athlete.
3 -It works
The best training program is one we stick to. One that follows planned systematic variations in training specificity, intensity and volume. Each session has a purpose, a goal, one that fits into the overall plan for that athlete or client. Everytime an athlete steps into the gym or onto the training field there is a purpose to the session it should be no different for you and your training. Training like an athlete works!
4 – Bulletproof yourself from injury
As a Coach one of the Things that defines your success is the ability to keep your athletes healthy and injury free. Prescribing exercises that maintain strong structural integrity and balance. You don’t have to be an athlete to want to stay injury free. Learning to correctly produce, reduce and absorb force will go a long way to making sure you keep visiting the gym and not the physio’s couch!
So the bottom line is, if you want to move better, feel better and ultimately look better ditch your ‘6 weeks to bigger biceps’ program and train like an athlete. For more information on performance training and strength and Conditioning here at Frontier Performance contact us at info@exeterpersonaltrainer.s4l.dev
