Something You NEED To Know About Athletes

I actually got an email last month that went something like this:

“Impressive lifts in your YouTube videos, looks like you dudes are really strong. I like the video where you pull the car, cool stuff. Anyways, I was wondering, how much do you curl?”

I couldn’t believe it! How much do CURL?!?! Listen, I’ve said it a bunch, I’m not a numbers guy, I evaluate on progress, not numbers, but that wasn’t what bothered me. Curling? Who in their right mind would measure that! 

I felt like doing my best Jim Mora impression back when he was asked about playoffs.  “Curls?!?  You want to talk about curls?! You kiddin’ me?  Curls??!?”

Well apparently a bunch of people measure curls! I checked his username on youtube and all he has was curl videos, and a bunch of subscribers that have curl videos.

I didn’t think this was a well kept secret, but here it is: Athletes do not have the time in their training program to be measuring and spending time doing hundreds of curls.  You could removed “curls” and insert almost any other isolation exercise that is not for the purpose of injury prevention or rehabilitation. 

Do we curl?  Sometimes, but rarely is it just a curl.  For an exercise to make its way into my programs, it has to have multiple benefits – or I will find a replacement in a heartbeat. 

Here is a video example of what I am talking about.

Sandbag Curls With Chains

This exercise adds a great grip aspect to a normal curl.  The chain also provides varying resistance and recruits some stabilizers.  Why use the chain?  Well, we didn’t want to keep opening up the bag and adding weight, so the chain was an easy solution. 

In summary – here is something everyone needs to know about training athletes - exercise selection is key to success, and one way to put yourself behind is spending 45 minutes out of an hour workout on isolation lifts.  

The sandbag curl is just one example, and I know many of you readers sent me some great videos.  Be smart, choose wisely, and succeed!  For more of this style of exercise, head over and check out Bull Strength if you haven’t yet!

- Joe Hashey, CSCS -