Monday, April 4, 2016

Top 7 signs your weightlifting coach is full of Sh*t

Weightlifting has gone main stream. People are now looking to cash-in and make as much money as possible off of unsuspecting new clients.  So, buyer beware.  The below list gives you some guidelines on how to know if your coach is legit. 


1. Your coach can only name weightlifters from the last 5 years

If your coach has only heard of Ilya Ilyin and Dmitry Klokov, then they probably have not been around long, nor have a basic understanding of weightlifting history.  An extra minus 5 points if they cannot name a single female weightlifter outside of Lydia Valentin.   Minus 20 points if they can't name the last American to medal at the Olympics in weightlifting.

I understand that not every coach is going to have geek-like encyclopedic knowledge of weightlifting stats like I do. And its ok. They just need a general understanding of what some of the biggest lifts have been done pound for pound as a measure of goodness.  One must know where the sport has gone before trying to move the sport forward.

2. They use terms like first pull, second pull, pockets, and triple extension

These terms do not exist in the scientific communities of weightlifting.  These are simply pop culture terms of people trying to dumb down weightlifting to the masses; unfortunately, this winds-up bastardizing technique at the same time.

Weightlifting is talked about in actions, periods, and phases. Think about it- there is no pause in the pull; it is one continuous motion.  That is why we cannot segment the pull. We can , on the other hand, discuss phases of the pull. You can read more on www.ristosports.com/blog

Here's a short educational video I made just for you:



3. You can hear them yelling, "squeeze" at every competition
This is a personal favorite of mine.  A lifter has a lift overhead and the coach is yelling, "Squeeeezzzzze". 

Squeeze?  Really? Really? Squeeze what? What is the lifter squeezing.  The lifter is keeping their muscles tight while they wait for the down signal -- so , maybe, yell "tight".  But "squeeze"-- that implies that the lifter has a walnut between their butt cheeks and is trying to crack it by squeezing their glutes (not advisable to ever do whilst lifting).

Bad cues make bad lifters.

4.  They brag about being "USAW level 1" certified or their level as a USAW coach
Look, USAW level 1 is a nice course.  It is definitely not designed to teach you everything you'll ever need to know about coaching. 

I mean Ivan Rojas is the Olympic Coach of Panama and has coached 2 international teams for the USA, and in the USAW system his official level is a "Club coach". 

It is far from a comprehensive system. Additionally, the science of weightlifting programming is not taught at universities in the USA , so there is about 0 formal academic training available in the USA on weightlifting.

When evaluating a potential coach, ask for how they were trained in coaching-- did they take actual coursework? Bonus points if they studied weightlifting coaching in a country where it is a profession like Colombia or Germany.  Did they at least apprentice under someone who was able to take courses in a formal weightlifting educational system?

5. Every problem is due to Mobility
Mobility, mobility, mobility.  It's like the biggest buzz word in crossfit and weightlifting. All they talk about is mobility, and everytime a lifter has a little problem with their technique, coach tells them to do more mobility exercises.

Guess what-- you know why a lot of new lifters have bad overhead squats - because their abs are too weak and they are squatting in sneakers.  Shit, if I had abs as about as supportive as a string bean and was squatted in shoes as squishy as a marshmallow, I probably would have a crappy position too.

Most people have weak abs; you can have a six pack and have weak abs relative to your leg strength.

The formation of people's bones and bodytype will also dictate what their bottom position looks like.

And, too much mobility might destabilize you in some positions.  Your coach should be able to tell you how much mobility is good.

Your coach should do a full diagnosis of your technique, strengths and weaknesses before jumping on the mobility band wagon.


6. They have a max-out day once a week and allow you to PR at anytime
Guess what if you want to get anywhere in the sport maxing out once per week does not work.  All modern weightlifting systems used by people who have produced Olympic medalists have planned max out points. 

Yes, when you are a beginner  maxing out is easy!  Sure, when you just start and you are lifting so far below your potential, you will PR frequently. This early period of improvement is temporary.  When you start lifting closer to your actual potential, maxing out whenever can lead to undue injuries and stagnant improvement.

7. They think you can be elite at crossfit and weightlifting at the same time
These three questions have the same answer:
How many Olympic medalists do you know compete at the Crossfit Games?
How many crossfitters who medaled at the crossfit games are competing at the Olympics?
How many Crossfit Games medalists also medaled at the last weightlifting World Championships? (guess what Thorisdottir, Davidsdottir, and Sigmundsdottir all lifted at the 2015 worlds)
Answer: 0 .

Weightlifting is all parasympathetic nervous system and fast twitch fibers.  Crossfit is a mixture of both nervous systems and uses type 1 and type 2 fibers, because it has those events with running and swimming and burpees ....etc...

Russian Olympic Silver medalist Oxana Slivenko almost qualified for the Crossfit Games in 2014, and she was not weightlifting at the level she lifted at the Olympics at the same time.
 

10 comments:

Unknown said...

So I guess all the Bulgarians are full of shit... I guess in the end, I don't care if my coach is full of shit, as long as I see results...

gwen said...

Hello my friend unknown. Yes, agreed. It is all about results in the end.
On the Bulgarians, I actually trained there in 2008 for the 2008 Olympic Trials (there are several old posts on this blog about it). They did not max out everyday or even every week, despite internet folk lore. The closest thing to internet rumors on Bulgarians is Abadjiev's training system. And even his system, one could argue, is based on planned max out points. His system, although, did not achieve the same results in the US as with his stints in Europe.

By the way, this article was meant to be funny and to give new lifters some guidance for finding a good coach....

Unknown said...

Dear unknown

You said..the Bulgarians ae full of shit..it seems you know them well. Please let me know in which training center you trained and what year.
We trained at the Slavia training center in Sofia(trained in Varna in the 90's). Actually our company started in Sofia. Our original name was Botev Sports (some kind of partnership with Stefan Botev).
Having been involved with "the Bulgarians" at that level let us know the process they followed to produced elite athletes. Actually they didn't max out all year round...and yes they did pulls (at some points more than the Russians) and finally they did a lot of back squats (not only front squats).
Would love to know who you are and we can probably excahnge our experiences in Bulgaria..
Have yourself a great day..
Coach Ivan

Anonymous said...

"One could argue"... no one could argue that because its wrong. I have talked with lifters who trained directly under Abadjiev and they all said the same thing. You ignore the pain and lift as much as you can, every day.

Unknown said...

HAHA!! tell it, gwen!! or IF you have know gwen sisto since she was a teenaged lifter...you MIGHT know a thing or two...thanks for posting this, girl!! i send my folks to y'all for shoes...plastic soles don't cut it with me...carry on, y'all!!
jane black

gwen said...

Jane!! Nice hearing from you. I knoooowwww, plastic gets softer the longer its used...the exact opposite of wood. Crazy.

Anonymous-- I actually trained in Bulgaria-- with Olympic and World Champions. I met and studied from primary sources in Bulgaria. Facts are facts-- they don't all max out every single day. I even have studies -DATA- from the 90's showing they didn't max out all the time (see Risto Sports Soviet System book).

What you are talking about is one coach...and, yes, I talked to people who trained with him in California too - they didn't hit 100% every workout. AND, think about why they were unable to crank out Olympic medals.

Or you can come to my training center and learn why..the door is always open.

Unknown said...

I have long been doing in the gym, but still can not get a good muscle mass. Now I weigh 85 kg, my height is 190 cm.
And now my questions:
What exercises are better for weight sets?
What drugs are best used for the first cycle?
Where better to order products? I have seen many sites, like isteroids or thepharmacom.com. Аs they are safe and reliable?
Thank you, guys

Anonymous said...

Bulgarians maxed out everyday. When donny Shankle took Jon North under his wing they were maxing out 10 times a day.

Anonymous said...

Hi community .Maybe someone know Can I take Tamoxifen with Anastrozole https://pumpitfast.com/anastrozole-1-balkan 1mg and what are the main contraindications of the drug?

AndyStronger said...

I don’t think so. Drugs that contain estrogens reduce the pharmacological effect of Anastrozole, and therefore they should not be administered simultaneously with it. Do not take the Tamoxifen with Anastrozole, because it can weak the pharmacological effect

Lifting in Kazakhstan, Temirtau, Ilyin's former gym

Lifting in Kazakhstan, Temirtau, Ilyin's former gym
In Temirtau, Kazakhstan. Still, unable to do any overhead work from a ligament tear, I'm just rehabbing with pulls to retrain my muscles. Training next to me is the Youth and Junior team of Temirtau. Ilya Ilyin used to train in this facility as a junior. As well as a recent Junior World Champion, Maksim

Snatching 92kg at the Risto Olympia Cup

Snatching 92kg at the Risto Olympia Cup
This was the 2nd highest snatch in all of the USA for 2014 in official competition for women's 69kg weight class. The only athlete to snatch higher was Jenny Arthur with 98kg. At the time, she was lifting for USAW weightlifting club Risto Team.

Oscar Figueroa,Olympic Silver Medalist, World medalist 2009

Oscar Figueroa,Olympic Silver  Medalist, World medalist 2009
Pictured at Salitre with Oscar Figueroa in center.

Popular Posts

Carlos Andica training with Coach Ivan

Carlos Andica training with Coach Ivan

Arnold, Carlos & Joni Andica

Arnold, Carlos & Joni Andica
Right before Coach Ivan consulted Carlos for the 2011 Pan AM Games, where he broke a Pan AM record. These guys were unofficially competing for Risto Team at the 2011 Arnold.

Shoe porn

Shoe porn
Russian boots, classic weightlifting shoes with modern shoe technology. Exquisite full leather upper, wood heel, rawhide forefoot, natural rubber outsole. One of a kind.

Documenting history of singlets

Documenting history of singlets
USAW national team member in Risto Singlet

Ivan in the Warm-up room with the Andica Brothers

Ivan in the Warm-up room with the Andica Brothers

Leidy Solis- PAN AM Champion 2009

Leidy Solis- PAN AM Champion 2009
Leidy in winning form, she's wearing risto weightlifting shoes. Congratulations Leidy!

Exceeding expectations -Archive

Exceeding expectations -Archive
Classic weightliftng shoe design with modern accents. These were produced by Risto Sports

In Iceland

In Iceland

Coach Jonny Pan AM champ

Coach Jonny Pan AM champ
Afternoon coach, doing pwr cleans while his lifters finish up

shoeporn

shoeporn
note pawprints

Abs

Abs
More on Facebook

Shoeporn-Custom Weightlifting shoe history

Shoeporn-Custom Weightlifting shoe history

Documenting shoe history

Documenting shoe history
first commercial shoe marketed to youth sizes

Bucharest Training Center

Bucharest Training Center
Ramanian Coach Doru, Ivan, Romanian Lifter Eiza

Nikolai Stoichkov- JR Bulgarian Lifter, son of Zdravco Stoichkov

Nikolai Stoichkov- JR Bulgarian Lifter, son of Zdravco Stoichkov
Training with a pair of Botev shoes. These shoes take a beating of 18000 to 20000 reps per year and heavy loads 90-100% - Also known as the Bulgarian system.

sweet singlet

sweet singlet

Future Champion- Tough lifters wear pink!

Future Champion- Tough lifters wear pink!
Gwendolyn Rojas getting ready to snatch 60kgs at 20kg bodyweight and 4 years old.

Stoichkov in Action

Stoichkov in Action
Coach Stoichkov adjusting my starting position.

Ivan giving training advice in Frankfurt Oder

Ivan giving training advice in Frankfurt Oder
Here Ivan, as a coach, is giving lifting advice to German Junior lifters at the Olympic Training Center in Frankfurt Oder, Germany. Yes, Ivan is fluent in German and is speaking German to the lifters.

Working out with the Champs

Working out with the Champs
Gwen squatting wth Georgiev, Peschalov, and new lifter in background

Training in Bulgaria - Gwen and Coach Zdravco Stoichov

Training in Bulgaria - Gwen and Coach Zdravco Stoichov
Stoichov is coach of Peschalov, Georgiev, etc. Also of key interest: Similar to USA lifters missing out on their chance to medal at the 1980 Olympics , at the time of the boycotted '84 Olympic Games, Stoichkov outlifted the LA Games Gold Medalist at the Friendship Games/ Druzhba Games. The Druzhba Games were held in 1984 by Eastern bloc countries not participating in LA.

Ivan with Nikolai Gergov, Bulgarian Wrestling Champion

Ivan with Nikolai Gergov, Bulgarian Wrestling Champion
Ivan with the Greco wrestling world champ, Nikolai Gergov, after their workout. I still think its uncanny how elite athletes from multiple sports would just show up at Slavia for a workout (....and atleast one ask for lifting advice). Again, overall, Bulgarian athletes were humble or, rather, didn't "have an attitude" in the gym.

Gewichtheben - training at the German Olympic training center in Frankfurt am der Oder

Gewichtheben - training at the German Olympic training center in Frankfurt am der Oder
Me with the German Junior Team and Coach/German Olympian Lars Betker

Documenting shoe history: Coach Burgener Shoe

Documenting shoe history: Coach Burgener Shoe
A wonderfully patriotic, Americana themed shoe and T-shirt. GO USA!!!

Gwen posing with Peschalov

Gwen posing with Peschalov

Stoichkov during competitive years

Stoichkov during competitive years
Vintage photo of Stoichkov winning international Championship

Rumy, Bulgarian lifter

Rumy, Bulgarian lifter
Rumy,75kg lifter, stops by for a light workout in Slavia, Bulgaria

Botev stops by Slavia

Botev stops by Slavia
Gwen, Stefan Botev (multi-time Olympic Medalist and world champion), and Ivan

Gwen with Power Clean/slpit jerk with 80kg

Gwen with Power Clean/slpit jerk with 80kg
First workout in Slavia.

Size perspective for youtube video

Size perspective for youtube video
In Beijing, junior lifter

Ivan and Eric, the speedskater

Ivan and Eric, the speedskater
After a hard work out, Ivan and Eric go summertime cycling in Maine. Eric is a competitive Speedskater and a proud owner of weightlifting shoes. Ahhh ...nothing like summers in Maine!!

Stefan Georgiev

Stefan Georgiev
World and European Champion, 62kg. Rooting for him to medal in the 2008 Olympic Games!

Hanging out with Weighlifting heroes

Hanging out with Weighlifting heroes
Peschalov, Stoichov, self, and husband

Old Stuff - shoe porn

Old Stuff - shoe porn

Peschalov and Coach

Peschalov and Coach
Peschalov trained with Stoichkov leading up to his Gold medal win in 2000 Olympic Games

Training in Kennedy, Bogota

Training in Kennedy, Bogota

Euvgeni Popov, Stoichov, and Gwen

Euvgeni Popov, Stoichov, and Gwen
Popov - 1980's Bulgarian weightlifting team, also accomplished power lifter and strongman competitor.

Beijing - Gongti Area

Beijing - Gongti Area
Gwen lifting at second training location in Beijing near Workers Stadium, Gongti

Sylvia, Bulgarian Junior lifter, wearing Botev shoes

Sylvia, Bulgarian Junior lifter, wearing Botev shoes
Schoolage Champ, one of Stoichov's newer lifters. Sylvia also trains in Botev shoes. Her pair is also several years old and has lasted over 18K reps per year!

Romania - Training Center in Bucharest

Romania - Training Center in Bucharest
Me trining with Romanian lifters in Bucharest. Former USAW National Coach, Dragomir Ciroslan, had once lifted in this gym.

Wrestling World Champion (Greco) Nikolay Gergov working out in Slavia (BG), me in background

Wrestling World Champion (Greco) Nikolay Gergov working out in Slavia (BG), me in background
Nikolay Gergov is a Bulgarian Wrestling World Champion - Greco Roman 66kg category. Nikolai is already naemd to the 2008 Bulgarian Olympic Team. He is also competing at a meet at the Colorado Springs US OTC later this month (FEB 08). Anyhow, Nikolai just stops by for a workout in Slavia. He saw Ivan and I working out and asked Ivan for some technique coaching.

Gwen with Chinese coach of junior team at Chaoyang Ti Yu Chang (Beijing)

Gwen with Chinese coach of junior team at Chaoyang Ti Yu Chang (Beijing)
The coach pictured with me had won a gold medal in the snatch lifting against Karolina Lundhal (world champion) at the 1998 Worlds in Finland in 75Kg class.

Lifters in Bucharest

Lifters in Bucharest

Ivan with Coach Chiu, gongti area Beijing

Ivan with Coach Chiu, gongti area Beijing
After discussion of Chinese pull technique. Chiu is a former Junior World Champion.

Good Leather Smells good

Good Leather Smells good
Really, this was a Candid photo..."wow, this smells good"

Ivan Lifting in China - 2006

Ivan Lifting in China - 2006
Chinese training center, Chao Yang Ti Yu Chang in Beijing, a JR team pictured in background

Choayang Ti Yu Chang - Ivan with chinese junior lifters

Choayang Ti Yu Chang - Ivan with chinese junior lifters

Abigail Guererro, Almerimar, Spain 2004

Abigail Guererro, Almerimar, Spain 2004
In forefront, Abigail , who has been on the Spanish National Team, with teammates in background.

Me with Blessed Udoh, in Spain (DEC 2004)

Me with Blessed Udoh, in Spain (DEC 2004)
Blessed won the silver medal in 48kg at the 2001 World Championships representing Nigeria. She also trained in Bulgaria for the 2004 Olympics. Sadly to report that she died in Nigeria, last year.

Gwen lifting at Chaoyang Ti Yu Chang - Beijing,

Gwen lifting at  Chaoyang Ti Yu Chang - Beijing,
In Beijing, Chinese Juniors in background. Great kids, good sense of humor, listened to their formal coaches

Spain- Ivan and Miguel Borrazas

Spain- Ivan and Miguel Borrazas
Our good friend Miguel has coached Spain's national team.

Training Bogota

Training Bogota

Ivan with Coach Ediberto Barbosa, fmr Col natl team

Ivan with Coach Ediberto Barbosa, fmr  Col natl team

Mock Competition in Bogota

Mock Competition in Bogota
Gwen out snatches the challenger

Rick Bucinell, breaking master world record

Rick Bucinell, breaking master world record

Ivan arm wrestling Peschalov

Ivan arm wrestling Peschalov
My husband "attempting" to arm wrestle Peschalov with his good arm. Ivan remarked "Wow, he's strong..he was really trying to arm wrestle me" ..no kidding ....ha ha ha

Stuff you need to compete

Stuff you need to compete
Belts, singlets, knee and wrist wraps.

Little Gwen doing workout with new lifters

Little Gwen doing workout with new lifters

Me on Team USA which was sponsored by Risto Sports, 2010 University World Championships

Me on Team USA which was sponsored by Risto Sports, 2010 University World Championships
Me lifting for Team USA. We won 15 medals, Ivan was Assistant Coach to Team USA. We had no official uniforms-- until, THANKFULLY, Risto Sports donated gear such as USA polos and t-shirts, so we could at least match in some semblance of a uniform. The team got to represent our country well!

Tanya Morillas - 2004 in Spain

Tanya Morillas - 2004 in Spain
Training session at Almerimar. Subsequently, Tanya has been on Spanish national teams.

Dare Alabi , 77kg lifter (Nigeria)

Dare Alabi , 77kg lifter (Nigeria)
Nigerian lifter, Dare, lifting in Spain

warming up power cleans

warming up power cleans
Me training in Bogota Colombia