The Blind Lead the Willing

[stef]

by Mark Rippetoe

Any degree program that claims to prepare the student for more than just a graduate program in the same discipline must be commercially relevant, and this is defined by the terminal application of the material. So it is hardly surprising that machine-based isolation exercise is what you learn in school, what you’re tested on in school, what you are certified in by the NSCA/ACSM/AFAA/IDEA/ACE/ETC., and therefore what you think you know to be correct.

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[burnsco]

Enjoyed the article.

I know all to well what it's like to work out in the modern "gym". 95% of the equipment I don't use, and the stuff I do use is falling apart. It's very frustrating as I've went to gyms all across town and they're all the same!

I envy people who have access to real gyms like mark's in their area.

[Koalala]

I think the general public is smarter than we think they are.
People are not impressed by 180kg Quarter squats on the smith.

Barbell exercises look more impressive and even for someone who has never done them it is easy to figure out that correct barbell movements display more strength than machines isolation.

[tnumrych]

My favorite article to date. I completely share the views contained within. I just wish I was exposed to the "truth" before I got my degrees in Ex Sci and S&C and armed with an idealistic vision that "I will change how things are done!!!".

[gzt]

I think the general public is smarter than we think they are.
People are not impressed by 180kg Quarter squats on the smith.

Barbell exercises look more impressive and even for someone who has never done them it is easy to figure out that correct barbell movements display more strength than machines isolation.

This is true. People sometimes ask me about what I did to get this much bigger or what I do at the gym and I tell them I do barbell training, mostly centered on squatting, and they uniformly are at least mildly impressed and remark how they usually stick to machines because they're afraid of landing on their face with the bench or getting crushed on the squat or whatever and acknowledge that real barbell training seems beastly.

[78704]

"Unless you get really really serious and build your own gym at a considerable expense – and therefore at considerable risk to yourself financially – you are going to be training in a facility owned by someone or something else."

"The only reason for the accommodation [barbell, power rack] is the fact that the equipment is cheap to buy and maintain, takes up little room..."

These statements contradict one another; obviously it's the first one that's false; barbell and plates are cheap, especially if you're willing to shop craigslist. A home gym can be cheaper than a year's dues.

[Carlos Daniel]

I think the general public is smarter than we think they are.
People are not impressed by 180kg Quarter squats on the smith.

Barbell exercises look more impressive and even for someone who has never done them it is easy to figure out that correct barbell movements display more strength than machines isolation.

I think you are right, people usually find a heavy deadlift to be impressive and quite serious business (even not so heavy, my mere 280 pounds turned some heads at the gym the other day) but for some obscure reason they never end up deadlifting. Besides the fact that the PT never teach it to their trainees, is there any other reason for that?

[Hawkpeter]

One additional aspect that the article did not address is how the commercial fitness industry has convinced almost everyone that the only way they will open a gym and get insured is to hold one of the industry certifications. This is bogus. With some investigation and a background in coaching Track and Field, Gymnastics and Olympic Weightlifting I opened my gym 13 months ago with a few things in mind.

a) that it would not match the commercial business model and therefore I had to do a lot of re-educating of members as they began so I could create an actual membership base that could use the barbell based gym that I had opened.

b) I had to make it competitively priced. So the coaching is free, and after several weeks, with their programming taken care of for them and the basic software package developed, they need less and less time being coached and they're making sound progress. They quickly realize how much better off they are. The only competition is the local Crossfit gyms and they are extremely expensive and therefore preclude those who need it most.

c) Make it an open gym with no classes. People can come in when they like, they get coached and programmed for free and pay to be a member. Half the members are athletes and the other half are regular recreational lifters. The focus is on strength development primarily but for the athletes the programming addresses their conditioning requirements as well.


Physically its very tough on me, several days a week I'm coaching from 6am to 9pm. But everyone is getting stronger and none of them have gone back to the regular fitness industry model. Its a slow silent war and eventually I will win.

[Jamie J. Skibicki]

Koalala,


Have you been to a commercial gym in the past 20 years?

[WaWa Bird]

As someone that puked working out today (first time prowler sprints). It completely sucks. I wasted food which I can't afford to do right now. Also I've felt like crap all day. Never think that puking equals success, because it effects recovery too much..