Chris Olson SSC: Tightness Under the Bar

[Mark Rippetoe]

An Issue of Tightness | Chris Olson

[Jovan Dragisic]

This is extremely high quality writing. Chris Olson knows his stuff.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Tell all your friends.

[francesco.decaro]

"Nothing really heavy has ever been moved fast".
My favourite quote from the article

[MWM]

I found this a very interesting article because in the sport of rowing, the opposite problem is almost universal. Novice rowers have to be taught to un-tighten and un-rigidify themselves and become looser and more fluid to achieve the correct execution of the rowing stroke. This problem is often made worse by coaches who spend too much time teaching rank novices rowing technique on the rowing machine, which sits perfectly stable on the gym floor, before moving them into the unstable, capsizeable rowing boat. On the rowing machine tightness is inefficient at worst, but on the water it can make it very difficult to row at all.

In my experience as a coach, over-tightness in novices stems from sheer unfamiliarity with the movement pattern, and the thought that tightness is required to go faster and reduce the split time shown in front of you on the rowing machine monitor. In the boat it also stems from a desire for greater control in an unstable environment, whereas in fact a great deal of body control has to be 'given up' to the boat and the oar in order to row efficiently.

[francesco.decaro]

I found this a very interesting article because in the sport of rowing, the opposite problem is almost universal. Novice rowers have to be taught to un-tighten and un-rigidify themselves and become looser and more fluid to achieve the correct execution of the rowing stroke. This problem is often made worse by coaches who spend too much time teaching rank novices rowing technique on the rowing machine, which sits perfectly stable on the gym floor, before moving them into the unstable, capsizeable rowing boat. On the rowing machine tightness is inefficient at worst, but on the water it can make it very difficult to row at all.

In my experience as a coach, over-tightness in novices stems from sheer unfamiliarity with the movement pattern, and the thought that tightness is required to go faster and reduce the split time shown in front of you on the rowing machine monitor. In the boat it also stems from a desire for greater control in an unstable environment, whereas in fact a great deal of body control has to be 'given up' to the boat and the oar in order to row efficiently.

The same problem can be found with novices in combat sports. Instability is the key word. This is why we TRAIN general movements with a stable support where we can get as tight as possible and increase force production as much as we can and then PRACTICE movements that require submaximal force production and more specific skills like timing, precision, coordination all done on unstable support if the sport is dynamic.

[heinz83]

Makes sense. Same concept with swimming.

[Frankie]

Is there such a thing as too tight? If so, how would you quantify it?

[Jovan Dragisic]

Is there such a thing as too tight? If so, how would you quantify it?

You have obviously never met a Croatian girl.

[heinz83]

If you don't go, you are too tight.