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Last Response to the Great Bands Debate of 2016 and Thoughts on Learning
This has been a weird week of people debating over nothing. By nothing I mean the bands and chains. A lot of people are getting in the discussion just to get publicity. It’s weird that the most passionate people are the ones that haven’t tried anything new in forever. Once again, I will say that I don’t know if they work or not. There hasn’t been any research (In regards to snatch and clean and jerk, there has been a lot of research regarding squat, pulls, and pushes showing excellent results). Until there has been some research, I am not going to say yes or no.
Sean Waxman is my good friend. His opinion that bands won’t work is a fine statement in my book. He uses his base of scientific knowledge to come up with a hypothesis.
Definition of Hypothesis: a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further discussion.
My stance is that if you don’t want to try them, then don’t. However why would you hate on people taking this early portion of the 2020 Quad to try new things? Why do you care? Why does anyone care?
Why is there so much negativity? How does that help the sport of weightlifting at all? I love Max Aita as a coach. Collin Burns is a great athlete, and I think that he’s a brilliant young man. Chad Smith has totally inspired me in many ways. Do I agree with everything that they say? Well no of course not, but I am definitely not negative about anything that they do. I am supportive of everything that they do because I want the sport of weightlifting to go forwards.
Guys and gal we don’t have to agree with each other. That’s American. We are allowed to have our own opinions. However if we are respectful to one another, the sport that we all love so much will benefit. If we are constantly bashing each other, it’s really hard for any new people to get behind any of us.
Here’s the question. Who is producing athletes? If a camp is producing good athletes, they are doing a great job. If they are bringing new people to the sport, they are doing something right. I believe that Juggernaut is doing just that. I know that we are. Mash Mafia Weightlifting has placed men and women on Team USA International competitions at the Youth, Junior, and Senior Levels all within the last one-year. I had more athletes at our National Championships than any other coach in America.
Why can’t we learn from each other?
I have learned a lot over the years from Louie Simmons, Coach Joe Kenn, Coach Ryan Grady, Coach Julien Pineau, Coach Chad Smith, Coach Donnie Thompson, Dave Tate, Jim Wendler, Chris Moore, CTP, Alex Maclin, Doug Larson, Mike Bledsoe, Kelly Starett, Coach Don McCauley, Wes Barnett, Dragomir, Coach Smalcerz, Coach Spencer Arnold, and the list goes on.
Are you noticing a trend? I learn from all disciplines. I have learned a great deal about recovery and nutrition from my chiropractor Dr. Larry Gray. He’s not a weightlifter. Would you say that I couldn’t learn anything from him to apply to my athletes? I hope not.
Look I don’t care if you all have been doing the same program for the last twenty years. That’s up to you. So why does anyone care if I am doing something a little different. I am producing. If you are producing, then I say great job. Personally I am going to learn from as many people as I can until the day that I die. I would love it if you guys would be cool with that.
Here’s the way that I learn:
1. If someone is known to have produced good results, then I will read their literature, watch their videos, and visit them if possible.
2. I will take the information and match it up to the scientific principles that I am certain about. If the information doesn’t “without a doubt” counter those facts, then I will consider putting he information to the test.
3. I will try out the information on myself. That’s the key. Don’t try out something new on your athletes. They are not your lab rats.
4. If it seems to work and is most importantly safe, then I will test it on selected athletes.
5. I will monitor the results from the athletes. If it produces results, then I will keep it. If not, I will trash it at this point or any of the previously mentioned points.
Ladies and gentlemen that’s the way I learn. You don’t have to follow my system. You will not catch me slinging negative comments about any of the techniques or exercises that another camp is using. However, if those techniques or exercises start producing great results, you will catch me asking them about whatever they are doing.
That’s the way that I approach thing. I would love it if the rest of the lifting world would approach things with a positive and open-minded way. However, I love them no matter what they do. I will keep producing great athletes. If any of you want to produce daily podcasts about my coaching ideas being wrong, I am cool with that. Personally, the truth is in the production. I know what I have done in a very short time. I know what we are about to do.
I either have the best atmosphere on the planet, or our coaching methods are pretty dang good. Let’s work together. That’s what I want. I have the utmost respect for all of my peers. I am just asking that you guys return the favor. This is my last post in regards to this week’s silly debate on something that has zero scientific research(In regards to snatch and clean and jerk, there has been a lot of research regarding squat, pulls, and pushes showing excellent results). We have bickered on something that none of us can prove. That was my stance from the beginning. It remains my stance. Love all you guys and gals.
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