Goals are incredibly individual. We must never assume straight off that someone isnt working or does not have priorities with their training until we delve deeper into their desires and goals. For example; the one arm chin. It is something I have worked with for over a year and a half now, and yet still have not achieved it. Yes it is fairly hard, but it is not due to this that I have yet to achieve it. My body is riddled with injuries, old and somewhat new, Rugby, Military training, Stupidity and the physicality I pursue has opened me to some pretty nasty injuries in my spine, neck, shoulders, hands, knees, elbows, hips, abdomen and feet. For me it was not as simple as just working through pulling progressions, negatives and DUP protocols. It was about taking many months rehabbing and mobilising, re-educating movement patterns and fixing a broken body. Until 4 months ago I could not pull more than 20kg extra body weight without extreme pain and cracking in my shoulder. 8 months ago I couldnt put a glass on a shelf. A year ago I couldnt hold a handstand for more than 30 seconds without my shoulder giving way, and 2 years ago I couldnt sit in a squat at all, even sitting in a chair and my ligaments in my knee would scream. I couldnt run, pull, squat, or press at a basic level without serious issues. SO i focused, I focused on fixing them, and I have fixed a lot of them. Though still a few remain to be fixed. Professionals have done what they can and I have experimented and created myself. But my goals of strength and skill improve every day that I improve my bodys ability to move and stretch. From where I started I am incredibly happy with my progress. I have since been working my one arm chin again but with a difference; I work a one arm pull-up as my shoulder currently does not allow it without crunching still. Pulling is great however, and 2 weeks back from China I am back into training. Yesterday I pulled these average reps out with a 35 pound dumbbell assist. I currently weigh 231 pounds. Getting there. The point is, be sure you know what someone is working on first, and not that they are doing their programming wrong. You may offer them some of your own valuable insight if you just ask what they are doing and working on, rather than assuming. I feel we need to bridge this distance that gets created in gyms and become more open again, share with others around you. You may not know their name yet, but just being there you have more in common with them than you may think :) This is a great quality of the circus crowd I used to train with that I miss. Keep working on your goals guys, no matter how silly or uncool they may seem to you, if they are getting you closer to feeling and moving better, than you are doing something awesome!
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 16:42:15 +0000
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