Why I have small pecs and other revelations

I greatly enjoyed the DR Herrera seminar as it illuminated all those details with discrete, scientific answers. For example, we reviewed everything form electric current in muscles to muscle fiber viscosity and plasticity.

One of my personally favorite parts was explanation of jerk technique - squat versus split, narrow grip vs wide. That's right-- it is correct to do either a wide or narrow grip. In the early years of my wide grip jerk, I would get a lot of glares and comments. Well, aside from my explanation of the affect on the C.G. in a 3 dimensional space, the Dr also noted that jerking with a wide grip shifts the load out from the chest and rectus abdominus to the upper back and obliques -- which makes total sense if you saw what I looked like about 6 years ago. Hmm, come to think of it, I'm still working on catching-up my core strength to my back and leg strength. This example was just a tiny vindication of something that I always knew was more effective for me but was missing the purely phisiological explanation.

Aside from jerk technique, a couple other topics I loved was clarification of the Russian system and Bulgarian system-- explaining origins of modern training and evolution over the last 20 years. It was pretty cool to have someone who worked with the Soviets on their infamous weightlifting creation and who is still current with modern research and can make intelligent comments on the successes of current countries.

Overall, the seminar left me with a realistic optimism of getting the USA back to a competitive position in the international rankings. And I plan to be part of that solution.

Finally, did I mention my trianing is going really well? This is the first time I have gotten significantly stronger and lost 3-4% bodyfat on a consistent basis with no weight gain. I know, coming from someone who used to spend a month cutting weight, this sounds like a miracle. I know I am getting these results, not by luck or even a soecific diet, I am getting them from training really hard, efficiently, and effectively.