Keeping Strength in the Strength Program

[stef]

"I know of only a few truisms, one being if your parents didn't have children, you won't have children. Another is, whenever you make a strength program easier, you will get weaker."

Bill Starr writes on the importance of strength as the primary objective in your training program and the hard work that's required to achieve that goal.

Direct to article (http://startingstrength.com/articles/keeping_strength_programs_starr.pdf).

Resources page (http://startingstrength.com/index.php/site/resources).

[stronger]

What a great article. I really enjoyed it.

[Gary Gibson]

Hallelujah.

[matclone]

Another awesome article on the Starting Strength website. Among other things, Starr illustrates what a sad history we have. I mean, people buying Nautilus? Reminds me of the Emperor who had no clothes. How many people were browsing the bookstores this season looking for something decent written on strength. It's on this website.

[Smiler Grogan]

Good article. This is stuff is really simple, and it's good to be reminded that a) strength rules and b) you gotta work real fucking hard.

[statesboroga_keith]

"Whatever type of program you’re currently using, be sure to make strength your primary objective."

I really enjoyed this article. Thanks for posting!

[anchor]

that's a great article. thanks.

[Joe Brand]

I wish all the senior leadership in the Army would sit down for about an hour and read this article. 10 minutes to read it and the rest of the time to let it soak in.
I am sick of the way the Army continues to place an emphasis on running over ever other physical training needs. I have personally seen where unit commanders and the senior enlisted exalt soldiers with a 12 minute 2 mile time over other soldiers. As if this is an achievement worthy to be recognized. I swear I'm not making this up. These same leaders actually believe that these people that can run really fast are better soldiers. I'm serious.
These same soldiers get "downrange" and can barely handle thier own fucking equipment in that hot-ass, rugged, nasty terrain.
Now I'm not bashing the American fighting man/woman, it's just that I've witnessed this shit more than twice.
Who would you rather have by your side if you were shot and needed a MEDEVAC, a soldier that could run 2 miles in 12 minutes or a soldier that could squat 300-400 lbs? Me? I want the one that could do the heavy squats because there is a pretty good chance that soldier would have the strength to pick my 210 lb ass up and sprint 50-100 meters out of the line of fire and/or fireman's carry my ass to a medic. Oh yeah, while both of us are wearing our gear. (You know, weapon, ammo, IBA with plates, helmet, water, etc...)
Sorry for the long rant but that article was RIGHT ON THE MONEY and the way the Army develops, employs and emphasizes certain aspects of physical training over others, (You must run 3-5 X a week, but go to the gym on your own time) does not make a lot of fucking sense to me.

[Jeroen]

I think the big question is how to incorporate strenght training with your sport training.
For me personally when i used to play and practice soccer 3 times a week i was so beat up the next day I could not handle any more training. I have tried more training and ended up injured.

[MAD9692]

Great article. The site just keeps getting better and better.

[homerj742]

This was an extremely well written article. I really hope Bill Starr continues to contribute. Thank you to all those involved!

[Mark Rippetoe]

He will. It's been arranged.

[Shaf]

Seeing Starr's stuff compiled in one or move volumes would be nice.

[ZEvenEsh]

This was an awesome article.

I sent it to the township I work for where I took leave from.

They prob won't care though.

At one point, their Football team was 0-46, almost closing on a 5 yr losing streak.

Their weight program sucked balls, they did sled sprints w/an empty sled and did 5 inch squats.

Pure shit.... as you can see, it fires me up.

When I attended that high school, they won states 2 x and had records of 8-2 on other years

ALL they did was:

bench, squat, dead, mil press and barbell cheat curl

but, it was all heavy

I remember seeing them take over the weight room and do reps in the 1-5 range of everything

Even the QB was benching 275!!!

They all ATE BIG, and after every game the entire team hung out at McDonalds, chowing down.

Lots of BIG, strong dudes in the 210-230 lb range

I have worked for 11 yrs in this town and had 2 get away

I spoke endlessly on having me moved to the high school to train athletes during PE time, did this for 5 yrs, NO luck

OH well, f**k it, some people just don't "get it" and have no clue what it takes to be strong.

This site rules, Rip, ur the f**in' man, what else can I say!!??

--Z--

[TrackJunkie]

Somehow MY high school football team completely avoided having any coherent lifting program at all. The average football player was more likely to be involved in theater than weightlifting in the off season.

[msupt]

I remember speaking with the head strength coach at University of Washington back in the early 1990's when they were very good. He talked about injuries in the weight room and said when you are on the practice field working hard sometimes injuries happen, nobody wants it but it is a consequence of practicing hard. When in the weight room we work hard, sometimes someone may get hurt, we do everything we can to prevent it, technique, spotters, etc... but we will not stop working hard in the weight room. I loved that attitude.

[jshumway]

I really enjoyed the article and totally agree with the principles of the article. I think a lot of the problems with Sports teams in general is the people coaching and designing the strength programs.

I actually started lifting weights when I was 12 but no one ever taught me how or technique. When I made it to high school I was about the only one who lifted free weights, I went to a small school and they never taught us anything.

I made it to a D III school to play football and they expected us to do power cleans and never demonstrated the technique or anything. Total Shit! So I basically Was doing jumping reverse curls for 4 years.

I am now 32 and trying to retrain myself, I would like to do the cleans but Think I need to definitely get stronger before I try to teach myself. Currently my program is based around the slow lifts-BP, BSQ, DL, & PR.

I love this forum-Keep up the good work!

[Kyle Aaron]

It was good to read. All those machines are with us still, sad to say. One of my gyms has a shoulder press machine, cost them $4,400.

$4,400 just for one exercise, madness. Imagine the rack, barbell and plates you could get for $4,400 - and do as many exercises as you like. Or $4,400 worth of dumbells, or kettlebells, or whatever you're into.