Danny O’Dell’s

Explosivelyfit Training News

 

Strength and power knowledge

15-June-2009

ISSN: 1550-2643: Library Of Congress, Washington D.C.,


 

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Topic discussed: Attacking your sticking points

 

The speed of the bar is vital to lifting success. Rapidly pushing past the sticking point in the lift with a fast traveling bar can contribute to a higher total load. Yes, I am talking momentum here. To get this blazing speed, train using your known strengths to develop it. Of course, you will still have to work on your weaker areas but not exclusively. If you are not training fast, you are missing the boat.

 

Here are a few strategies to increase your bar speed

 

Sensory stimulation

 

Auditory stimulation set at the predetermined bar speed. Each should be loud enough to be heard during the lift:

 

•       Beeps at a faster than normal movement cadence

•       Whistles blown at the top or bottom of each repetition

•       Metronome set at varying training speeds above normal

•       Music with a certain beat that is comparable to the speed desired with the bar

•       Cadence counting, i.e. one, one thousand and one, two, two thousand and two, or one, two, three, four….This is effective as long as the count is consistent and at the right cadence or rhythm for the lift. We are talking speed here so the coach has to pay strict attention to the spacing of the numbers and not let the motion of the bar affect the counting rhythm.

 

Sight

 

•       Flashing strobe light - beware of seizures or headaches at the different frequencies. Caution - each of your lifters to notify you if they experience any type of adverse reactions to the light. Be prepared to administer to any reaction. This light has to be visible, but not blindingly, to the lifter throughout the entirety of the lift. Do not direct it into the lifters eyes at anytime. We are not working on vision training now. This light must not affect other lifters in the gym.

 

•       A video of the lifter moving at a slightly faster rate that is visible to the lifter during the lift. Move the speed of the lift up just a bit but not so fast that it turns into a cartoon show.

 

Tactile stimulation

 

•       Body taps or touches - have a coach tap the lifter in a non-lifting area of the body at a specific rate necessary to increase the lifters repetition rate

 

•       Ball presses the bar hits the ball and goes rapidly upward. Similar to board presses but with a forgiving surface, that allows a rapid rebound rate. Heavy sponge rubber, spring-loaded boards make up a training tool that allows the bar to be lowered then 'sprung' back upwards with a flourish

 

•       Weight releasers - begin with a lightweight to build speed up and mid way or at the sticking point the bar catches extra pounds and carries them through to the lock out

 

•       Vibrations set to a higher rep speed at each pulse the bar should be at a certain point in the lift:

 

o              Vibrate the bench

o              Vibrate the bar

 

More suggestions in the next installment.

 

That’s all for this time. I hope your training is going well and wish you happiness in your life.


 

Stay strong, and remain passionately committed to your hearts chosen path.


 

By Danny M. O’Dell, MA. CSCS*D


 

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