Mel Siff Blog

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Here is an extract from “Supertraining” that we discussed on some clinically
oriented groups a while ago. I felt it appropriate to repeat here, because
we often encounter spectacular claims about the magical power of some rather
dogmatic methods of ‘muscle testing’.

MUSCLE TESTING

Standard anatomical textbook approaches describing the action of certain
muscle groups in controlling isolated joint actions, such as flexion,
extension and rotation, frequently are used to identify which muscles should
be trained to enhance performance in sport. Virtually every bodybuilding
and sports training publication invokes this approach in describing how a
given exercise or machine ‘works’ a given muscle group, as do most of the
clinical texts on muscle testing and rehabilitation.

The appropriateness of this tradition, however, recently has been questioned Read more…

Since we so often refer to Newton’s Laws of mechanics, here are some web
resources to tell you more about Newton the Man and Newton’s Laws:

<http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Snewton.htm>

Newton’s Theory of Universal Gravitation:

<http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Sgravity.htm>

General Information on Mechanics and Astronomy, including a basic summary of
useful mathematics relating to some of this work:

<http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/#q3>

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Mel Siff

First of all, strength and power most definitely are not the same thing, nor
is Newton’s Second Law very helpful in explaining what these quantities are
in the world of human action.

So, let me draw on some biomechanics to offer you some standard definitions
that are essential for understanding strength science (see Chs 1 and 2 of
“Supertraining” for further details):

1. Strength is the ability of a living system (or a muscle or a person) to
exert force (in a given action)

2. Maximum strength is the ability of a person to produce maximal force in a
specific action or exercise.

3. Power is the rate of doing work (P = work/time)

4. Peak power is the maximum power produced at any instant in a specific
movement under specific conditions

5. Mean power is the average power exerted over a given range of movement in
a specific exercise

6. Rate of Force Development (RFD) is the rate at which force is produced in
a given action. It is described by the slope of the force vs time curve.
The maximum value of RFD describes explosive strength (see below).

7. Explosive strength is the ability to exert strength or force as rapidly
as possible in a given action. A measure that is used to describe it is the
“Index of Explosive Strength” (IES), which is the maximum value reached by
the Rate of Force development in that action.

Mel Siff

Some people periodically asked me what the best way is to learn from overseas
scientists or coaches, especially when you are visiting them or they may be
visiting us. I have compiled a brief list of hints in this regard:

1. Establish good, mutually respectful relations which do not create the
impression that you or your culture are superior to that of others, no matter
how true that may appear to be.

2. Show that you are genuinely interested in knowing more about their ideas
and demonstrate that you have gone to great lengths to learn as much as you
can, culturally and technically about their ’system’. Learning just a few
words or customs about their countries is often well appreciated and do try
to pronounce personal and country names correctly (for example, it is not
Packeestann, but Pukkistahn; not Melborn, but Melbin; not Eesreel, but
Is-ray-el; not Will-helm, but Villhelmm; not Vann Nice, but Funn Nays, etc).
If you don’t know, just ask what is correct and most people will be delighted
to help.

3. If possible, share your findings and ideas with them. Don’t just take
and expect to receive.

4. Don’t turn every lunch, dinner and casual meeting into a journalistic
nightmare for them by asking endless questions. Put yourself in their
position – how would you like to talk to someone who is always taking notes,
asking questions, videotaping and prying into matters which ensure their
living? Do you do this very time you go out with a friend who is a lawyer,
doctor or architect?

5. Don’t talk about yourself. In many countries, talking about one’s
achievements is regarded as being in extremely poor taste – in fact, outside
North America, most countries have this attitude. If you do talk about what
you are doing, make very sure that you have real substance which equals or
surpasses in some respects what they are working on. Don’t just talk because
of egotistical reasons – others may have far more success stories than any of
us will ever have in sport. They find it especially arrogant when they see Wes
terners promoting their own books or ideas as coming from ‘the world’s
greatest coach’, the ‘world’s leading expert’, ‘coach to the world’s top
athletes’ and so on. Say this and you may convince some fans in the West,
but it can be an instant cut-off from real respect and collaboration
elsewhere.

6. Always be willing to admit that your own ideas, upbringing and training
may be wrong or incomplete. Thank others for showing you where you may have
been incorrect.

7. Be generous with your hospitality, ideas, feelings and appreciation. Show
that you are also human and be prepared to delve into one another psyches
with all the pain and pleasure that it might bring. Don’t always “talk shop.”

8. Collaborate with others rather than working against them or taking their
ideas, wrapping them in another package, giving them other names and offering
them as your own.

9. As with any other ‘cross-cultural’ encounter, learn as much as you can
about their culture and etiquette and never expect local standards and faci
lities if you stay in Russia, China, Italy, Africa or any other foreign
country. Whatever you do, do not complain constantly about things that you
may not like or find familiar. Always be an ambassador of the highest quality
and prepare well for your trip in that role.

10. Unusual gifts from your country are very much appreciated as symbols of
your friendship and appreciation.

11. Use very formal, polite modes of address until such time that others
invite you to use first names. Never interrupt, as is often the case on
North American chat shows. Not allowing others to finish what they are
saying is regarded as very bad manners, but virtually every TV interviewer
totally ignores this rule and makes it appear as if it is universally
acceptable.

12. Write to your new colleagues after you have parted, offering thanks or
any friendly words to show how much you appreciated the time that you spent
together.

13. In some countries (especially in the Far East) it is regarded as rude
and uncultured to simply shove a colleague’s business card into one’s wallet
without studying it carefully and offering some remarks of approval or
recognition for its contents.

14. This is old, but still valid advice – do not discuss politics, religion
or race. If you do so, then broach these subjects in a very genuine way
which enhances closeness and understanding.

Others may wish to add their favourites to the above list – over to you!

Mel Siff

Mel Siff was always one for being technicsally correct, especially when describing complex systems. Here is Mel Siff’s critique of the way that resistance training is described in research and the media.

Far too many studies purporting to be studies of strength or weight training
happen to be based on low intensity, muscle endurance exercises.
Unfortunately, the generally unaware medical population latches onto these
conceptions of ‘weight training’ as the definitive word in exercise science.
Do some of you also suspect that any positive effects of strength training
tend to be glossed over or suppressed by the general fitness and sports
medical worlds?

I wonder if many of the medical authorities know the real difference between
weightlifting, powerlifting and bodybuilding. Books by Covert Bailey and
other leading conditioning lights certainly reveal that they don’t really
know what constitutes weightlifting.

At several fitness conventions during my presentations to gatherings of
aerobics instructors and personal trainers (at IDEA etc), a show of hands
generally has revealed to me that the vast majority have never ever attended
a weightlifting or powerlifting event or even know what the Olympic and Power
lifts are or what the difference between weightlifting and powerlifting
squats is. How on earth they can presume to be knowledgeable in the world of
weight training or claim to be fitness or personal training “experts” is
beyond me and says something about the level of their certification!

You don’t have to become a competitive lifter, but, for heaven’s sake, please
learn some of the basics if you are going to try to communicate across the
broad spectrum of weight training! Lest some degreed medical folk feel a
bit superior about all this, many sports medics also do not know the
difference between weightlifting, powerlifting and bodybuilding, least of all
about their different ways and objectives of training.

What is the relevance of all this? The Fitness Reformation, of course! How
can we reach a balanced view of the benefits and dangers of different types
of exercise if many of the scientists, doctors and fitness professionals do
not know every much about the enormous world of strength training?

Free the Radicals, Free the Anaerobes, Chain the Aerobes! Put the Aerobics
Institutes in their place! Open the New Anaerobics Institutes! Power to the
Power People!

Mel Siff