Slow but heavy lifting

[Gunnhild Bruno]

(I realize you may choose to not approve this post; it has the potential to lead to all kinds of nonsense, and it's also something that you might not want to be bothered to think about.)

I was recently extended an offer of free training. The guy offering uses a protocol that involves extremely slow lifting under very heavy loads. It's not "super slow lifting", i.e., it does not involve light reps done extremely slowly. To allow the very heavy resistance yet extremely slow tempo, he employs specially modified machines.

To me, this kind of training sounds like a poor, ill-conceived, and machine-bound cousin to isometric/isotonic lifting. My inclination is to conclude that accepting the offer would entail the wrong kind of training, done sub-optimally, at entirely the wrong time, since I'd probably get more out of real isometric/isotonic work when I actually reach a level of advancement that might warrant that kind of training.

Just wanted to see if you had any thoughts on this or had heard of this sort of thing.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Never heard of it, it sounds physiologically stupid, and it is obvious to me why it's free. Go with your gut on this, because you're right to be skeptical.

[Steve Hill]

What was that Dan John thing about the "sniff test?"

Yeah, this one doesn't pass it.