NBA chicken legs

[gape]

OK, someone explain to me this seemingly epidemic obsession with vertical jump and dunking in people who are not high-level basketball players.

I, and many people I know, have watched basketball since age 4 or 5. It was around then that the desire to dunk formed. In middle school when everyone went through puberty, we were talking about how we would soon be able to dunk since we all grew several inches in a few months. People I know in college now that I knew since middle school are still talking about how we need to be able to dunk.

The vast majority of people who lift weights or exercise at all are just recreational. Even if they take it seriously and are strict with their training, it's most often done for fun. I doubt very many people who post on this forum make a living either directly or indirectly from the time they spend in the gym. So what's wrong with chasing a big vertical or a dunk exactly? How is it different from chasing a 3plate bench or any other physical goal?

[Trewarin]

Having a roughly measured verticle jump/leap is of interest for acrobats, if only measured by "can I jump over this or not".
Mine improved with the addition of strength training; so much so that a front sommer-sault became possible for me without the aid of a sprung floor.
This further allowed me to learn hoop diving as an act receive a promotion from juggler to acrobat in my industry.
For gymnasts; real strength training could mean the difference between gold and bronze at the Olympics and the same could be the case for high-jumpers; volleyball teams basketball teams etc.

The obsession (to measure and increase) VJ in those with no professional interest may seem strange to people on this forum; but the act of getting better at bending down and standing up under load seems strange to others.

[risepmj]

please don't post mine.it was stupid.i will learn english more.i don't know what i saying.
Thanks.

[AriSuper]

OK, someone explain to me this seemingly epidemic obsession with vertical jump and dunking in people who are not high-level basketball players.

This is just some niche obsession, like D&D or something, right? The only reason to engage in this seems to be to impress other guys obsessed with this.

Because it sure as hell isn't impressing real athletes, including real basketball players.

And it certainly doesn't do anything for the ladies. I think I speak for many women when I say that a guy's vertical jump or dunk is about as compelling in the way of information as the number of squirrels that reside in his back yard.

I for one don't believe that, are you seriously trying to suggest the extreme lack of sexappeal a huge VJ has.

This one is better than the dynamic good mornings thread, is Will D actually trying out his stand up act?

[OCG]

A man who can squat 600lbs doesn't have a lot to be jealous about. Except perhaps of a 700lbs squat.

[drlvegas]

You are an imbecile. Please go away so I do not have to delete your incredible gibbering bullshit.

Please stop posting this shit. For some reason I keep reading it.

[Will Morris]

Before going to college I started bouncing a basketball around and doing a dozen useless exercises for my 'beach muscles'.

Your intense passion has served you well in your athletic career.

[Mark Rippetoe]

please don't post mine.it was stupid.i will learn english more.i don't know what i saying.
Thanks.

I thought it was good.

[Carlos Daniel]

The vast majority of people who lift weights or exercise at all are just recreational. Even if they take it seriously and are strict with their training, it's most often done for fun. I doubt very many people who post on this forum make a living either directly or indirectly from the time they spend in the gym. So what's wrong with chasing a big vertical or a dunk exactly? How is it different from chasing a 3plate bench or any other physical goal?

I don't think there's such a thing as a professional powerlifter. There's just not enough money involved. Even in bodybuilding which has a lot more sponsors we have Ronnie Coleman that worked as a cop.

I just don't understand what's the fun of jumping. You can't compete at jumping. It doesn't make you harder to kill nor does it make you look better, better able to hit people or be better at some sport. It's fucking jumping.

[Simma Park]

I, and many people I know, have watched basketball since age 4 or 5. It was around then that the desire to dunk formed. In middle school when everyone went through puberty, we were talking about how we would soon be able to dunk since we all grew several inches in a few months. People I know in college now that I knew since middle school are still talking about how we need to be able to dunk.

Well, people can certainly do what they want for kicks. I'm just mostly nonplussed by the number of people who seem to think that it's something to talk about on a strength training forum.

The vast majority of people who lift weights or exercise at all are just recreational. Even if they take it seriously and are strict with their training, it's most often done for fun. I doubt very many people who post on this forum make a living either directly or indirectly from the time they spend in the gym. So what's wrong with chasing a big vertical or a dunk exactly? How is it different from chasing a 3plate bench or any other physical goal?

A 3 plate squat is actually producing adaptations that are super useful for many, many different tasks/activities. I'm not sure how useful it is to dunk outside of competitive basketball, especially if training it is destroying parts of your body. Unless maybe you have a habit of leaving important things on really high shelves or something and live in a place where stepstools or ladders are illegal.