Will lifting mess up my shot, stroke, throwing motion, swing, range of motion, etc… If your training has more arm curls than pull-ups or rows, more leg extensions than squat variations, more dumbbell flys than snatches and cleans and jerks then, yes. In American culture bodybuilding dominates the training methodology. This approach recruits specific motor pathways and develops strength in a limited linear plane. Sports and life are rarely confined to simple movements in singular planes. Too much of this type of training can limit range of motion and can impede fluid movement.
So should you stop lifting? Maybe you should ask Coach Fikac (pictured) how lifting impacted his career. Young sluggers pay close attention, Jeremy is a great example of how strength training can improve all aspects of your performance. Jeremy Fikac is true success story. He was one heck of a hard worker on the field and in the weight room. As a young ball player he persevered, believed in himself, and went from almost not getting to play college ball to leading his college club to a championship, and to play several years in the major leagues. He has taken that experience and work ethic to his alma mater and is now a baseball coach at Texas State. I had the privilege of seeing Jeremy pitch in three big league parks, during his career, and just recently got to see him help lead the Texas State Bobcats to a 3 game sweep of the Big 10 Purdue Boilermakers. Jeremy is a friend of mine and one heck of a role model for young baseball players, athletes, and anyone with big dreams.
Let’s look at a baseball pitcher’s throwing motion. From wind up to follow through it is a complex series of mind, muscle contractions that are focused on propelling a ball across a plate. Each pitch demands a different grip and different delivery mechanics. So ask yourself which muscle is most important in this process? The brain training and muscle memory that have to be developed is a tremendous feat in itself. To perform at high levels athletes must devote the majority of their training to the on the field task. Strength training has to be a focused and efficient use of the athlete’s valuable time. This is exactly why rethinking traditional approaches to strength training is important.
When you train with machines or do free weight exercises that focus on one body part at a time, you are developing those specific muscles involved. You only strengthen a few concentrated muscles or are amplifying one instrument, rather than allowing your body to work in concert by training complex body movements. Instruments sound good alone, and big arms are great to look at, but your body and sports are more like symphonies than a blaring single instrument. Unless you are entering a bodybuilding contest, it’s time to re-evaluate your training. These single joint movements are not all together worthless, but warrant a much lower priority than compound lifts. Choose pullups over curls, squats and pistols over leg extensions, high pulls and push press over lateral dumbbell flys.
Strive performance focuses on dynamic, multi joint compound movements that cross multiple planes and engage the entire body. This type of resistance training fosters increased fluidity and more effecient motion. Make your training count.