Don’t be the kind of strength coach who…

A little while back my friend and strength coach Nick Tuminello sent an email to several coaches asking for their ending to the sentence “Don’t be the kind of strength coach who…”  Check out his post summarizing these informative and funny thoughts from some of the leaders in the industry. 

One Tip for a Healthy Life

Also, my PT friend Mike Scott recently sent me this:  “In two sentences or less, what is one tip to help people maintain/start a healthy lifestyle? Clearly two sentences with a loose guideline.”  Check out what I and fifteen other coaches and therapists had to say HERE.

Hey Mike!  Thanks for taking the time to drop some knowledge bombs on us today.  Obviously I’m already sold on your new product Assess and Correct, but why don’t you give the readers a little rundown on what exactly it is so we know just what we’re talking about here?

Thanks for having me, Mark!

I think Assess and Correct is a powerful tool, as it allows each client to go through over 25 assessments to determine what exactly their specific movement limitations are.

Beyond just telling you what’s tight, weak, stiff, etc., we build off that knowledge with specific corrective exercises to help address those issues!  So if your glutes test weak, we have developed specific exercises to help correct those issues.

And finally, we know and understand that everyone who purchases this product has different levels of dysfunction, so we’ve created progressions to work through instead of just pre-canning one or two exercises.  Quite simply, everyone from the weekend warrior to the elite-level athlete will be able to assess themselves and create a warm-up routine that addresses their specific needs, with an exercise routine that’s specific to their current level of fitness.

It seems that a growing segment of the fitness industry is already using The Functional Movement Screen.  What do you think is the major difference between this and Assess & Correct?

Damn Mark, are you trying to get me in trouble with Gray and Lee?  The last thing I need is a pipe-bomb sitting in my mailbox when I get home someday!

In all seriousness, I have great respect for what Lee and Gray have done with the FMS.  Quite simply, they’ve brought assessment to the forefront of the industry, and you have to applaud them for that.

I think with A&C, our goal has been to not only make the assessment more comprehensive, but more convenient as well.  The beauty of the FMS is its simplicity – seven tests and you’re done. However, you need to find someone with knowledge of the FMS to assess and score you.  

With A&C, there’s a little bit more work involved up front – you have to take static pictures of yourself, along with videotaping yourself perform the various assessments.  However, you can do everything yourself!  Without ever leaving your home, you can determine your specific movement limitations from head-to-toe, along with how to address them.
 

Obviously you don’t want to spend all day assessing people.  Do you think that anyone currently using the movement screen should switch to A&C?  If not, how could they combine the two resources to get the best possible assessment and treatment protocol for themselves or their clients?
 

I think it’s going to be hard to convert people over – many people like the FMS due to its ease of use, along with the fact that you can screen people fairly quickly.

Again, with A&C the biggest difference is it’s going to take more time, but it’s also more comprehensive.  Whether it’s with A&C or a new client at IFAST, I would always like to err on the side of more information, using a more comprehensive testing system, than not.

Could you combine the two products?  Sure.  However, I think on some levels that may be redundant, as we’re looking for a lot of the same issues. 

What do you know about Z-Health and what do you think about their mobility drills vs those in A&C?

I have the utmost respect for Dr. Cobb and his system.  The biggest issue with Z isn’t the system or the drills, but rather the “in-your-face” nature of some of their practitioners.

Even though I think A&C is a fantastic product, I never want to box myself into thinking there’s only one way to do things.  I’m only R-Phase certified in Z, so I can’t speak for the entire system, but I really liken some of the R-Phase drills to micro-mobility.  The goal is to really isolate out each individual joint to promote better movement.  I can definitely see value in this, and I think there’s as much value in the improvements you’d see in motor control/body awareness as there is in the improved mobility.

To summarize, I think A&C would be superior to the end-user in the fact that you have a specific idea of your limitations and what you need to address when it’s all said and done.  Unless you meet with a Z-Health trainer for an assessment, you can’t do this with the current DVD’s and manuals they have available.

I’ve recently heard a lot of people suggesting that the fitness industry has become too much about mobility and activation these days and too little about just getting strong and sexy.  Are we spending too much time on “corrective movements”?  And how do you think mobility work and activation fit into the bigger picture?

I think it all depends on who you’re reading and listening to!

I’ve heard both sides argued lately – some say we’re too caught up in “fixing” things, and others who say we still aren’t good enough at it yet.

I think many of the corrective naysayers are minimalists at heart, and I can understand that to a degree.  However, when you start digging into the research, there’s actual evidence that often it’s not just the strength of a muscle that’s important, but your neuromuscular/motor control.  In other words, who cares if it’s strong if you can’t use it!

This is where that whole mindset goes – I don’t care if you want to lose fat, add muscle, get strong or perform at a high-level.  I want to help you get there, but I also see the big picture.  If I assess you up front and notice specific movement limitations, why would I not address them?

Why would I assume that I can train around them, or somehow magically make them disappear?

This is the “corrective” mindset – to assess limitations and correct them via training.  This could include foam rolling, mobility work, or even the dreaded activation work.  The part you have to focus on, however, is that this is just part of the programming – not all of it.  It’s all pieces to the puzzle.

At the risk of sounding arrogant, Bill and I get some really beat up people at our gym.  Same thing goes for Eric.  I think between the three of us, we have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t.  If foam rolling, mobility, or activation drills didn’t work, we wouldn’t use them.  Period.
 

And finally, a little word association:
 

Squats – Fantastic, when performed and programmed appropriately.  And we use all types: Plate, front, back, safety bar, to a box, free squat, pause squats, full ROM, limited ROM, etc. 
 

Beer – My favorite calorie-laden beverage.  Ever since my Australia trip I’ve been hooked on Heineken, but only because I can’t get my hands on Victoria’s Bitter (VB’s) around here!
 

Crunches – A horrible exercise that not only wrecks backs, but wrecks posture as well.  If your goal is neutral spine and a healthy back, crunches shouldn’t be in your vocabulary, let alone your program.
 

Fat Loss – The “new” hot topic.  Fat loss is always going to be at the fore-front of the fitness industry, but I’m fed-up with fitness marketing.  Fat loss promotions tend to be the worst.
 

Twitter – Not sure on this one.  I can see where some people would really enjoy it, but I guess I’m not that interested in talking about myself all day.  Plus, I’m more of a Facebook whore than a Twitter whore.  What can I say, I’m old-school!
 

That Mark Young clown – A great up-and-coming coach, with a balanced view on training.  I love the fact that you’re willing to read and/or listen to anything, even if it’s out of your comfort zone.  That’s what will make you successful.
 

Thanks Mike for the interview.  Where can people learn more about you or pick up a copy of Assess & Correct?
 

Thanks for having me Mark!  Sorry if I tend to ramble a bit, but your questions got me fired up!

My blog, newsletter, articles and Podcast can all be found at RobertsonTrainingSystems.com.  If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Assess and Correct, check out the Assess and Correct Website.  There you’ll find testimonials from other coaches, more info about the product, as well as video clips directly from the video so you can see how things work.

On Monday November 30th my wife gave birth to our very first daughter Cadence Reid Young.  She tipped the scales at 7lbs 15oz and she is absolutey incredible.

A few things I’ve learned so far…

- It is amazing how quickly you can fall absolutely in love with someone you’ve just met.

-  It is equally incredible to discover that the woman you love is as amazingly strong as she is.

- Babies and sleep are mututally exclusive.  (And I thought I’d never need that math stuff from highschool.

- Labor is harder than any workout you’ve done…EVER.

- If men had to give birth, I think our population would be much more sparse.

- A newborn’s stomach is approximately the same size as those of people who get the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

- And finally…I am blessed to have the family that I do.

Thanks to all of you who follow my blog.