Kettlebells, bands, sledgehammers etc…Why not weighted wheelbarrows!
Confused? Well I use to throw Kettlebells in the 70’s because I was a Hammer Thrower. Before their commercial use. So I cringe when I see over 40’s doing clean and jerks with kettlebells with bent wrists etc. Bands, chains etc all a great idea but there is a limit. Once in a while a sprinter will use bands for a start. But why I am saying all this. Well my main job is to train athletes. Generally jumping, running athletes. So programs have to have max effect.
Of course the key when coaching is to have an open mind to new methods. But it really is getting out of hand now due to the commercial push ( and brainwashing) for methods which tie in with the need to buy something. The variety is FUN for sure and great for kids and to stall boredom, but after that it is simply overkill.
A muscle doesn’t know what it is using. It is contracting. Do all the motor units switch on in a whole body exercise? Is one working retraction for Scapular needs or switching on the Lower Traps? Are glutes firing? Are calves getting stronger?
You Tube is awesome because so easy to search for techniques but also as with the “Dr Google” phenomenon can be dangerous.
An athlete needs qualities with force production and elastic strength. Why can a coach produce World Class Throwers or jumpers in environments where no chains or GHG machines exist? Well because they have lifted, done heaps of jumping & bounding, sprints and general conditioning with balls and “things”. Look at what the fastest, most explosive and most enduring athletes do. Not what a 110kg You Tube chunk does or what some Team Sport Athlete does.
The beauty of this plethora of equipment and methods is variety, and also when athletes are injured there is lots to move to now & that is the big positive. But I simply do not see the evidence out there to support some programs and equipment. Because athletes have to keep it simple and have time restraints the GYM has to be as basic and more so efficient as possible.
Once in a blue moon smash a tyre with a hammer. I do that with clients ( more so PT) for fun but how many Motor Units have been switched on? What are you doing? Why? Does Rafa smash a tyre? Dont think so.
And guess what, I am not saying olympic lifts will cure the worlds ills. Crossfit bemuses me totally. Mixing a POWER CLEAN with a Watt bike is like Singing Opera at a Karoake bar. ( Never was good at analogies!). Power Clean means Power. So doing massive reps with cleans destroys the concept of explosive triple explosion. Stick with something that is endurance I say. Better if they just pushed a weighted wheelbarrow for 400 metres then did WATT BIKES. But of course Crossfit is great for fitness so OK. HA
So IF you are an athlete be very specific in the GYM and get maximum BANG for BUCK for effort. If that is a One Legged Press followed by Explosive Step Jumps followed by specific Core Stability then do that, recover and go and train for your sport.
Strength and Conditioning has become very specific now. The challenge is to be specific, individualized and simple and time efficient.
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loris bertolacci 
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