I recently had access to a day long seminar from a couple of highly decorated "functional fitness" athletes. The topic was barbell training and i got it at no cost. I've been using the SS model for the last couple years, but was going into it with as open a mind as possible. I made it a goal to learn one thing.
Unfortunately, I only lasted the morning before tapping out. There was the 40 minute warm-up with no barbells in sight. There was the discussion with one of the coaches where I tried to understand how my hamstring flexibility was restricting my front-squats. There was the progression from the squat portion (front squat only) to the deadlift portion without a soul moving more than 45 lbs.
When I saw that the afternoon exercise selection for upper-body consisted of barbell rows and push-press I abandoned hope and disappeared.
The hardest thing about the seminar was trying to explain to others what I thought of it. It's hard to explain what high caliber coaching feels like. It's hard to impress upon them what it's like to get a lesson after the topic has been thoroughly analyzed, but delivered clearly and simply. How can I convey the difference between asking a coach a question and waiting for them to come up with an answer, vs. asking a coach a question and seeing that they are waiting for you to finish your thought so they can deliver a precise answer that they have thought about and delivered many times before?
I've seen lots of testimony that going from other certifications to a SS Seminar feels like a step up, but I haven't seen as many about going to other seminars after a SS Seminar. I'm happy I learned my lesson for free, and given a chance would gladly pony up for another look at the good stuff that is the SS Seminar.
Keep up the good work, and Thanks.
