The Starting Strength System makes use of the body's most basic movement patterns – barbell exercises that involve all the body’s muscle mass – utilized over the longest effective range of motion and loaded progressively, to force the adaptations necessary for increased strength.
Unlike other popular exercise protocols, Starting Strength is a training system – a long-term process designed for getting stronger over time, not a random collection of exercises that just make you hot, sweaty, sore, confused, and tired today.
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Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Becoming a Starting Strength Coach
A Young Coach’s Perspective
by Dan Flanick SSC
“For most college students, the “What the hell am I supposed to do now?” feeling fully sets in about mid-way through senior year. As for an “Exercise Science” major, that feeling may or may not revisit the psyche once you painfully realize the staggering disconnect between training actual people and “the literature” on which your degree program is based…[and] the majority of the throbbing sensation is linked to the discovery that your friend, the business major, passed his [insert fitness certification here] at the local H&R Block the week after you.”
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A loud minority of Internet Fitness Experts (IFEs) are busy proliferating the idea that the squat is of limited use and, in some cases, downright dangerous. Some assert that the squat is an advanced movement, potentially requiring upwards of 60 corrective exercises for the fixing of movement deficiencies before actually learning it. Others dismiss it completely...
Events
March 26 Training Camp (Deadlift & Clean) : Atlanta, GA
April 8-10 Starting Strength Seminar : Brooklyn, NY
April 9 Training Camp (Deadlift & Clean) : Chicago, IL
April 16 Training Camp (The Squat) : Dallas, TX
April 23 Training Camp (The Squat) : Farmington, MI
April 23-24 Starting Strength Challenge
May 6-8 Starting Strength Seminar : Westminster, MD
June 10-12 Starting Strength Seminar : Wichita Falls, TX
July 15-17 Starting Strength Seminar : Gig Harbor, WA
August 5-7 Starting Strength Coaches Association Conference
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- “I was never taught like this before in 6 years of high school football, 3 years of college and 13 years in special operations. Would have been good to have at age 20ish.”
- “Great three days! I love how confident I feel about my lifts now.”
- “I have been to multiple seminars and certifications (NSCA, ACSM, etc.) but have never actually been taught how to position the body correctly. You’re right that the barbell moves much differently than PVC!”
- “Worth the price of admission for day 1 alone- and for Rip’s sense of humor.”
- “Well worth the money! Learned more in 3 days than I have in the past 3 years.”
- “It has been a real eye-opener to learn that most of my previous education has been wrong.”
- “Very complicated ideas and processes were made simple to understand and apply- Quickly!”
- “Great time under the bar and lecture. Better than any other seminar on lifting.”
- “The seminar will significantly reduce the amount of time I will need to teach the lifts to anyone.”
- "I have learned the most this weekend than in any other educational seminar/schooling I have been involved with.”
- “Perfect extension to “the book”…Direct, honest- no “bullshit” or “sales”...and Rip made me laugh.”
- “Every coach needs to attend this seminar. You may think you know these 5 lifts, but what you discover is you don’t!”
- “Learning about strength, the how’s and why’s of getting strong has fundamentally changed my opinion and knowledge of the subject in a profoundly helpful and life changing way.”
- “The best thing for me about this is that I feel as though it will be possible to translate these teaching progressions to my staff and realistically expect them to apply it to clients.”
- “Actual value for money – very rare in any industry.”
- “In 25 years, the most satisfying workshop I have attended.”
- “Appealed to all types of learners – Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.”
- “I loved the simple processes to coach each lift, and the platform coaches were all excellent.”
- “Great background lectures followed by concise point-by-point instruction for coaching/performing the lifts.”
- “Great seminar with thorough discussion of all movements, biomechanics, and physics behind them.”
- “The Q & A session was great and brought out several interesting discussions.”
- “I liked the format of analyzing the lift, teaching it, then practicing.”
- “All the coaches were professional and demonstrated superior knowledge of the lifts, and did a great job. My ability to coach has improved because of them.”
- “Coaching section was very valuable- it was nice to hear someone verbalize good coaching practices.”
- “Out of all the different certifications and seminars I’ve been to, this one has had the greatest impact on my ability to coach.”
- “This seminar should be the gold standard to which all others are compared”
- “The depth of material presented was refreshing. The content allows understanding of the why’s and the mechanics behind the movements.”
- “I am looking forward to the continued application of these concepts to enable me to drive adaptation progressively and consistently. Thank you!”
- “I’ve never been to a similar seminar. This one set the bar pretty high.”
- “Outstanding experience with not only doing the movements but also coaching experience. Thanks to all the staff!”
- “The individual attention was amazing, not only as a coach but as a lifter.”
- “Thoroughly enjoyed it. I came to learn and accomplished that.”
- “This seminar was at a different level than others I have attended. Much more educational.”
- “The subject matter was as detailed as it could possibly be and easily understandable as well. Great seminar.”
- “I liked different platforms, different groups, and different coaches. The variety is effective and different perspectives/eyes on the movement is helpful.”
- “Best mix of hands-on and lecture setting. Worked well for an uncoached individual”
- “The principle-based approach creates a very valuable training experience beyond merely the five basic exercises covered.”
- “I really liked the depth of the material, the consistency of the SS Model and its general applicability. The staff was very knowledgeable and approachable.”
- “Very impressed with how a relatively complex subject was broken down into easily digestible bits of information that are immediately applicable to improving the exercises."
- "The seminar was very hands-on. The Staff Coaches were very effective at improving lifters’ technique faults, despite having relatively few sets to do so.”
- "The seminar is on par with undergraduate and graduate coursework I have taken, in its clear building of a topic: from model to practice to mastery. All lectures and 'labs' were presented in an extraordinarily logical way."
- "It is so refreshing to see some integrity and excellence in this field! No nonsense, simple, and effective information delivered thoughtfully and in depth!"
- "Compared to other fitness certifications, this has been the most informative and thorough."
- "The quality of coaching, deep knowledge of the staff, and accessibility to high quality experts is amazing and very useful."
- "Exceptional coaching. All questions were answered in depth, with explanations, and practical examples of good and bad form."
- "It’s clear that a tremendous amount of thought has been brought to bear on the design of this seminar. This includes not only the core content, but also the manner in which it is communicated and delivered."
- "Each individual gets specific feedback, and it is invaluable to see the coaching that other lifters receive."
- "This is the second SS Seminar I have attended and I am finding it difficult to express how valuable to my training it has been because there is so much fantastic information provided. The 3 days will provide months of return on the investment."
- "It is apparent that Rip and the Staff have put a great deal of thought into developing the model, presentation, and practical application of the seminar."
- "Very well organized. Great to start with mechanics and physics and build from there. The coaches are very knowledgeable and communicate very well."
- "This was one of the best educational experiences in my life of two Master’s degrees and a partially completed Doctoral degree. Fantastic and accessible presentation of biomechanics. Please come to my school and fire the biomechanics instructor."
- "This seminar has set me up for a lifetime of successful, productive strength training. Great coaching and technique demonstrations, with a good coach-to-athlete ratio."
- "The coach to attendee ratio is great. Each athlete receives feedback and no one is overlooked because a coach is trying to supervise too many lifters. The information presented is well thought out and delivered in a way that all can understand."
- "Content was thorough and very clearly presented. As a coach, the teaching models and clear, concise, and direct coaching method is so helpful and effective. Being coached by the different seminar staff, each with their unique feedback, was extremely beneficial. The practical sessions broke up the seated lectures very well so there wasn’t down time or fluff."
- "I’m a graduate student and this was easily one of the best educational experiences I’ve had. 100% graduate level or higher."
- "Well, I’m not sure what a ‘similar’ educational experience would be…this was pretty singular. It was a whole lot to take in, but very well organized."
- "The level of detail and reasoning was well beyond many, if not all, certifications and undergraduate classes I’ve experienced. The material is well laid out and applicable. I learned a lot as an athlete and as a coach."
- "I enjoyed the entire seminar, but what stood out most were the coaches. All the coaches were great at what they do; I received great feedback on my lifts and coaching."
- "The seminar is similar in nature and quality to graduate/doctoral level education. The staff coaches provided exceptional coaching, feedback, and academic discussion."
- "The seminar was superbly organized and well presented. Great combination of hands-on experience with academic grounding using a variety of learning and teaching styles with superbly knowledgeable instructors."
- "The difference between the seminar and the coaching on the lifts I received in high school is incredibly vast. What you guys do is remarkable. How much I learned in three days is incredible."
- "The expertise of Rip and the coaches was incredible. It was obvious that it takes a lot of effort to put this seminar on, but the staff made it look very easy. GREAT STAFF!"
- "Compared to Crossfit Levels 1 & 2, Oly, Kids, Football, Endurance etc… Rip is more knowledgeable and experienced than anyone I have trained under."
- "The seminar was extremely thorough and clear. Although the material was very complex, it was demonstrated and taught simply, making it easy to learn."
- "A wealth of information, clearly presented. It was an honor to be a part of this and to be instructed by such profoundly knowledgeable people. Thank you. I will not only recommend this to anyone who will listen, but I will also advocate for a Starting Strength Coach in Pittsburgh."
- "Excellent organization, information, and communication. Rarely do Strength & Conditioning seminars hit those three aspects well."
- "I learned so much about technique that will greatly improve my lifting, and I learned the “why” behind it. The depth of content was amazing."
- "The whole seminar was exhaustive and thorough, and truly an incredible value in terms of dollars per hour."
- "This was the most fun and educational seminar I’ve been to. Finally some people that have a clear knowledge of physics/mechanics of the lifts are, and the ability to convey it. Much more effective instruction than other seminars I’ve attended."
- "Every person involved with this seminar helped me more in two days than I’d gotten in the previous two years."
- "The staff was excellent and very helpful. It was definitely worth traveling from Sydney, Australia for!"
- "The depth of information and attention to detail were great."
- "I’ve been to every seminar and conference known to mankind, including at least 4 from USA Weightlifting. The justification of the rationale (for performing the lifts this way) was bulletproof. Anytime I speak, I like to give people things they can use and why. This seminar was the standard in that respect!"
- "The intimate attention of the staff at each station to better your communication as a coach and as a lifter was fantastic. The rotation between coaches allws you to experience different styles and personalities to see a variety of coaching."
- "This seminar was by far the best I’ve attended. There was more information in three days of this seminar than I got in four months of a certification course I took at a community college. The attention and professionalism of the staff will make me a better coach and athlete."
- "The depth that all the coaches had when evaluating our lifts was extremely helpful."
- "Worth every penny! Will highly recommend attendance to anyone interested. Great instruction, great staff, and fun."
- "By far the most content and quality of any similar educational experience I’ve had."
- "It was a pleasure to be coached and educated by such a knowledgeable staff. Lots of good laughs, too. Thank you."
- "I was really scared to attend because I didn’t think I would belong or have any business being here. However, I felt totally welcome and it was just an amazing, almost life-changing experience. Thank you all SO much. Seriously."
- "This was the single best strength-specific seminar I’ve attended. I just wish it was a day or two longer."
- "Cheaper than college, and learned more."
