A choice has to be made, leading to probably one of the most common questions I here and get asked. The question is a good one, that most people fail to provide a proficient response to. It is the starting block to your new lifestyle, so choosing the wrong one will not make you any stronger or healthier and before you know it the shiny, newly purchased equipment gets set a side and begins gathering dust or being sold on eBay.
"Where do you begin and where do you start to be able to do this kind of stuff?"
There is always a lot of banter around which method of training is the best, with new training systems being created on a seemingly daily basis, it's often difficult as a beginner or even an advanced fitness buff to decide which training system is currently best suited to you.
When asked the runners will say well... "Just go Run", the cross fitters will say... "Well you should definitely Crossfit" and the bodybuilders will all say "Just lift some weights". All with as much convincing evidence, to not only support their case but dispel the other options as nonsensical training methods! As you can see there is a level of bias around which system you will be told is the best to train in, based purely on the individual you are seeking the advice from.
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| Cardio? Weight? CrossFit? Martial Arts? Which one is right for you? |
One thing Ive noticed is often the people who appear in the gym being guided by YouTube experts, very rarely make any significant changes before disappearing never to be seen again. Does this mean they reached their goal and no longer needed to train?
Here is where things get interesting, there isn't really a wrong answer! Rather the wrong question has been asked in the first place. So to answer the question; "Where do you begin and where would I start to be able to do this kind of stuff?" You have to answer a more fundamental one, which is simply;
"What do you want to achieve from your training"
At this point you also have to address where you are starting from, this is one of the biggest factors, if your starting point isn't great you are going to have to start in a different place to get you to a place where you can begin specific training. Lets call that Zeroing bringing your life into check to a place where you can move proficiently and without dying in a pool of sweat on the floor.
Does that mean you can't do what you want to do until your at Zero? Of course not there will be elements suited to you.
Here are the 5 Rules to getting where you want to be.
Rule No.1
- Basics - it might seem like the furthest most demoralising place to be and most people don't make it past this place. Remember, you have to start somewhere. You can't start at the end goal or you wouldn't need to be starting in the first place, you could just wallow in your own greatness. The best of the best are only better than the everyone because their basics are better than anyone else's.
"Just Because It says Basics, Doesn't mean that its EASY!"
Rule No.2
- Have A Clear Goal - If you don't know where you are going then how will you know when you get there? Its easy to say well I want to be like this guy or that woman, but unless you understand the goal like a specific movement or a designated weight then putting the sequence of training prior to the goal, in place to achieve the goal will be more difficult. You can always make new goals or change the parameters (to make it harder, never easier) when you reach the original goals.
Rule No.3
- Do A Little of Everything - In order to be proficient you have to train everything, if something is neglected then it will have a negative effect. You should run, move, lift heavy things, stretch and play. In only focusing on one area you will never reach your goals. A great example is the dancing shows on TV where they take celebrities, its often the athletes amongst the groups that thrive from the beginning and go on to win because they are trained not only in their sport but many. Pro athletes are often given different disciplines to train in that may seem ironic, when a Boxer is doing Ballet or Yoga.
Rule No .4
- Do What you enjoy - Being told by others might work for you and its easy to find you get in with the crowd. Ultimately this might not bring you any closer to your own personal goals. Have a clear picture and work toward that. Remember its okay to train with your mates in different styles of training. This will only make you stronger and when your beating them and they can't understand how, you can smile knowing its because you stuck to your rules.
Rule No .5
- Structure Wins - One of the biggest mistakes is trying to do the end movement straight away, with as much weight as possible. Thats what you see everyone else doing so that must be how the elites got so good, right? If that was the case there would be so many more elites, and not your average gym goer that have some results but will always be limited by this mentality. The Pro's will work with specific spotters and coaches to focus on correcting their structure and position, this is directly connected to "BASICS" If you can't squat with good position and structure, why would you think adding 140 Kg to this equation is going to make you better? It is probably the No.1 cause of gym related injuries. If you get this right and it might take 6 months or more, a long time.... but what if in month 7 you was out lifting or performing every body else you knew? Would it be worth it then? Look at the professionals (those people who do it for a living) NOT the YouTube champions. Watch how they move, stand, lift and perform and mimic it. Study and learn from them, it will take time. Alternatively find an established coach, again NOT a YouTube want to be, who put life coach at the age of 21 and Personal Trainer to the stars.
Follow your intuition, do some research, written by credible sources. Don't take the advice of the gym rat, who heard it from a mate that heard it from a mate of Arnold. You will soon get your head around the masses of information out there just by following common sense. Alternatively you can connect to my Blog and let me guide you from my 28 years experience in the martial arts and fitness world.
By Craig W.
For more check out: http://therealfitnessninja.blogspot.co.uk
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