by Thomas Kurz
When you lift weights, can you move slowly but fluidly or with stops but without bouncing or “jumping” over some range of your movement’s path?
If you can’t, then the cause is a weakness at the movement’s range over which you have to “bounce” or “jump.” That weakness may be caused by a wrong technique (wrong position of your trunk or limbs), old injury, or just by neglecting to exercise through that range with a resistance you can control at a slow speed. Yes, a weakness may be caused by exercising with a too great resistance. Many people do it. They want to quickly measure up to some ideal rather than work to reach it and own it–so then they don’t own it and thus lay a foundation for an injury. Don’t confuse record setting with making yourself stronger.
Overhead press in a wide horse stance demonstrated on Flexibility Express DVD
More advice on strength training is in articles on Strength Training for Sports and Martial Arts and in the Stadion book Science of Sports Training. Get it now and have all of the info—not just the crumbs!
If you have any questions on training you can post them at Stadion’s Sports and Martial Arts Training Discussion Forum