Dan John

[stef]

The coach's coach (http://startingstrength.com/index.php/site/video/sss_dj1/).

[kjharris]

Thanks! The wait is over!

[Michael Wolf]

Rip and Dan John, two of the absolute best - and funniest - coaches in the strength game! The first two parts are great, can't wait to see more.

[JustinK]

This is fantastic.

[Kyle Aaron]

This is great, post up the other parts soon as you can, please!

[Patrick Stroup]

This is one of the best ones next to Suggs and Wendler!

[vince]

Awesome series.

You two are so "real" and grounded it's unbelievable. Can't want to see the rest!

[selters]

I could listen to these guys for hours.

[ColoWayno]

Thanks.

[jagvocate]

They're just getting started ... can't wait for the rest

[Kincain]

Moar!!! :D

[Evan]

Thanks Rip, Dan John, and the rest of the SS crew for bringing out another great video series (for free too!).
I really appreciate it.

[MDR2]

Rip, you mentioned that we would not want to hear about certain topics but I would bet that I am not the only one who would enjoy listening to you guys talk about whatever topic you felt like.

[MrMarbles]

I found that last bit about the "sniff test" really interesting. For ages I have been wondering why I bothered to buy stuff from aasgaard as opposed to the useless shit I see on TV all the time. I definitely think because Rip passes the sniff test, there is no cheesy pop-up advertising on the forum, you give away free articles (that dont suck), theres no happy client telling us how he/she lost 10 pounds and etc...you let your stuff speak for yourself and arent in it just to make a quick buck.

by the way, isnt Dan John just plain cool. More free interview please :)

[ZKP]

Outstanding advice and insight from both gentlemen. Great work!

[Michael Wolf]

Agree with MrMarbles. 99% of what I see in the fitness industry doesn't pass the sniff test, but Dan and Rip overwhelmingly do.

Is the problem and reason LA Fitness and infomercial products do well, that the general public either doesn't sniff or doesn't know how to sniff?

[El Viejo]

A couple of times on this forum I've said that if you got Rip, Dan John, Mike Boyle, and any other well known strength coaches into the same room that there would be more agreement than disagreement. This interview proves my point. While we're on the subject - an interview with Mike Boyle would be interesting especially given his recent shift away from bilateral movements (squats)to unilateral (lunges, split squats, etc.)

[Mark Rippetoe]

That is absolute bullshit. What possible basis for agreement could we have? Mike Boyle is, with all due respect, a Physical Therapist who claims to be a strength coach. There are lots of these guys, and they have made nobody into a brutally strong athlete that wasn't already that way. Of what value could his explanation of why we don't need squats, deadlifts, presses, and the Olympic lifts to make athletes stronger possibly be? I am not interested in talking to the people who have watered down strength coaching with therapy, and there will be many thousands of other coaches and athletes with whom we discuss the way to get stronger before we talk to any of these people about Swiss balls and lunges with 3 lb. dumbbells.

[kittenSmash]

Awesome interview again Rip. Definitely enjoy all of them.
Mike Boyle is literally one of the last "coaches" I would expect mentioned in a sentence containing Rip and Dan John. I have no interest what so ever in watching, listening, or reading anything from him. Thankyou Rip for not interviewing him.

[TartanEagle]

I found the comments on Pavel interesting. Hopefully, there is an interview with him in the future. I really enjoy these interviews, and cannot thank you enough for providing them to us.

[pu239]

Another excellent interview. Really looking forward to the rest. I can't tell you how much I look forward to these. Once again, thanks for spending the time, effort, and money to make these possible.

[Horowitz]

You could start a comedy series with them.

[Kyle Aaron]

I am not interested in talking to the people who have watered down strength coaching with therapy, and there will be many thousands of other coaches and athletes with whom we discuss the way to get stronger before we talk to any of these people about Swiss balls and lunges with 3 lb. dumbbells.
I'm glad to hear it, there's lots of other people you can talk to first and have more productive conversations.

Today I was told, "Don't give deep squats to beginners, that's not the industry standard, one or two programmes down the track you can increase the range of motion." This was, by the way, not even a barbell deep squat, merely a goblet squat with the person's own bodyweight...

A Rip interview with such a person would be a short one, I think.

[DAB]

Sorry to comment on the discussions vs. the interview, but in my humble opinion...

I agree that it would be interesting to hear an interview with Boyle or others with opposing thoughts. I don't necessarily think that you would find more similarities than differences as another poster stated, but so far the interviews have been with those that share your opinions. Though they have been good, it would be nice to hear a polite and constructive discussion with someone that approaches training with a different viewpoint. Boyle, Mark Verstegen, Al Vermeil, or some other performance coach would offer a unique opportunity to hear two experienced coaches exchange opinions face to face instead of reading verbal spats from each individual or their respective followers.

Maybe this approach is beyond the scope of the series, which is understandable and I won't complain. I realize there are schedules and expenses to consider, not to mention the willingness of invited guests. However, it would be educational to everyone to hear a civil debate over various approaches to strength training.

All of that said, I really do appreciate the information on this site and the interviews that you conduct. Don't take my comments as simple nagging. They are merely suggestions from one person to make the site even better than it already is.

Duane

[51M0n]

Great interview.

I have a question Rip, when the discussion of rep numbers comes up and you say that nobody does sets for 4 reps, why is that? Is it this simply for historical reasons, or is there an actual physiological reason that sets of 4 reps are almost never done.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I agree that it would be interesting to hear an interview with Boyle or others with opposing thoughts. I don't necessarily think that you would find more similarities than differences as another poster stated, but so far the interviews have been with those that share your opinions. Though they have been good, it would be nice to hear a polite and constructive discussion with someone that approaches training with a different viewpoint. Boyle, Mark Verstegen, Al Vermeil, or some other performance coach would offer a unique opportunity to hear two experienced coaches exchange opinions face to face instead of reading verbal spats from each individual or their respective followers.

It would, in fact, be an interesting discussion. When they decide that it would be interesting enough to pay for, we'll have that discussion. But not on my nickel, because nothing constructive will occur. You already have all the info you need to decide who's full of shit without somebody tying up almost $1k helping you out a little more.

And we don't do sets of 4 because 4s are stupid. It's just that simple.

[hbriem]

The multiple variations of Sheiko and Smolov have sets of 4 at various places.

The basic Sheiko, which has worked very well for me, has 80% for 6x3, 6x4, 6x5, 6x6, then with increasing weight 5x5, 4x4, 3x3, 2x2, then meet and reset.

[DAB]

It would, in fact, be an interesting discussion. When they decide that it would be interesting enough to pay for, we'll have that discussion. But not on my nickel, because nothing constructive will occur. You already have all the info you need to decide who's full of shit without somebody tying up almost $1k helping you out a little more.

Expenses are completely understandable. Too bad a media outlet like Versus couldn't host a 2-hour roundtable special on training athletes. (I know I'm dreaming, but The Daily Line, really? Would ratings really drop that much?)

I greatly respected your restraint when Dan mentioned Mike Boyle and Gray Cook. You had a perfect lead to divert the interview but stayed with Dan as any other class act would.

Also, I feel I owe an apology to Al Vermeil. I lumped him in because we has worked with pro athletes, but his success is second to none and I really don't know much about his methods so his name should not have been mentioned.

[crabhat]

I'd interview him. Right after he puts 60lbs on somebody in twelve weeks.

[Mark Rippetoe]

The multiple variations of Sheiko and Smolov have sets of 4 at various places.

The basic Sheiko, which has worked very well for me, has 80% for 6x3, 6x4, 6x5, 6x6, then with increasing weight 5x5, 4x4, 3x3, 2x2, then meet and reset.

Excellent. Now, make yourself useful and send me some decent sild. Can't get it here.

[hbriem]

Excellent. Now, make yourself useful and send me some decent sild. Can't get it here.

I'll see what I can do. Postage is likely to be a lot more than the price of the herring.

[Patrick Stroup]

Excellent. Now, make yourself useful and send me some decent sild. Can't get it here.

I am going to be honest and say I googled this. At first I thought this was a reference to viagra sildenafil. Hahaha!

Coach Rip this was awesome. But do you mind me asking. Have you ever trained any throwers or highland game guys?

I think Gant did some highland stuff, but I wasnt sure if you had a hand in helping him train.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I may just come and get the fish myself. And I have never trained any throwers or HG guys.

[Michael Wolf]

I greatly respected your restraint when Dan mentioned Mike Boyle and Gray Cook. You had a perfect lead to divert the interview but stayed with Dan as any other class act would.

I noticed this as well. Rip - obviously Dan has a different view of the Boyle/Cook school than you do. His review of Cook's new book is effusive in its praise: http://www.davedraper.com/blog/2010/10/02/dan-john-reviews-gray-cooks-movement/

Does knowing/seeing something like that, and having the respect for Dan that you do, cause any interest in reevaluating their work? Not, perhaps, as strength coaches per se, but in some way contributing to some of the tools in a strength coach's toolbox? (i.e. if someone has some major movement compensations, imbalances, etc...what corrective strategies might be used. Not to be the end all be all, but to get them squatting, pressing, deadlifting, etc...again in a way that won't cause or aggrevate injury).

[hbriem]

BTW, just in case you or anyone else is interested, you can use any fatty fish instead of the herring. I have had salmon, trout and charr prepared in the same way marinated herring is (salted first) and it's just as good.

Here's a fairly standard marinated herring (síld) recipe if anyone wants to try it http://icecook.blogspot.com/2006/02/marinatedpickled-herring-marineru-sld.html

[Mark Rippetoe]

Does knowing/seeing something like that, and having the respect for Dan that you do, cause any interest in reevaluating their work? Not, perhaps, as strength coaches per se, but in some way contributing to some of the tools in a strength coach's toolbox? (i.e. if someone has some major movement compensations, imbalances, etc...what corrective strategies might be used. Not to be the end all be all, but to get them squatting, pressing, deadlifting, etc...again in a way that won't cause or aggrevate injury).

No, it doesn't. Dan and I don't agree on everything, as I'm sure he'll acknowledge. I value Dan's opinion on training. If I need a physical therapist's opinion, I'll ask Kelly Starrett. Kelly is quite bright, knows barbell training as well as anybody I know, actually squats/presses/deadlifts/cleans/jerks/snatches heavy, has actually trained people for strength using these exercises and made them stronger, is thus entitled to an opinion on their role in training for strength, and has not gone on record publicly stating that adults cannot be taught the Olympic lifts, and is therefore not wrong about this important fact.


BTW, just in case you or anyone else is interested, you can use any fatty fish instead of the herring. I have had salmon, trout and charr prepared in the same way marinated herring is (salted first) and it's just as good.

Here's a fairly standard marinated herring (síld) recipe if anyone wants to try it http://icecook.blogspot.com/2006/02/marinatedpickled-herring-marineru-sld.html

It's very nice of you to include this excellent recipe, and I'd use it if I could. This is going to be hard for you to accept, but you cannot buy fresh herring in North Texas. I can, however, get grass-fed beef for ISK998/kilo. Maybe you could just send some harðfiskur.

[hbriem]

Oh, I knew (assumed) herring wasn't readily available in Texas, that's why I suggested substitutions that might be.

Cheap beef sounds very good. It's mostly grass-fed here too, but more expensive than that. Mailing harðfiskur is certainly easier than síld. BTW, síld is way better for erectile dysfunction than sildenafil. Just thinking about it is enough to ...

BTW, I've enjoyed listening to you two old bastards chatting about weights and training.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Right. Of those fish, salmon is all we get here fresh. I'll just wait till we can put a seminar together for Iceland.

[jurassic]

Wow.. a discussion about silds.. Man this site keeps getting better and better, not cynically.
By far my favorite. But I am Russian-born so I'm biased.
We call it siliodka and Russians say its great with alcohol, especially vodka. It's a tradition there to eat it while drinking.
But I guess they drink vodka with everything they eat so what do I know...
I like it a little dried with salt, its simple and great. It is also great when pickled with onions.