Over analysing form

[King_mob]

Do you sometimes wonder if you hold yourself back because your worrying too much over the form you use? I do, and I'm worrying even more if this just means I'm a fucking pussy and should just get under the damn bar.

I am happy to admit that I'm a novice, or even be counted as practically untrained, as the weights I'm struggling with a light, and iv been lifting properly (by proper I mean constantly, consistently and with adequate rest and food) for exactly a month and a bit.

I'm also attempting to progress without a coach, or even a training partner (my gym is full of peacocks doing endless bicep supersets - just no).

So both of these i guess create an environment where my thinking is primarily "get the technique right, get the technique right, get the technique right".

But am i overthinking it? Am i spending too much time on the mechanical complexity of the movement and not enough time trying to push it? push it real good?

As an example my numbers are - struggling to hit 135 on my squat, struggling to get past 135 on my bench, and failing pretty much every time i try and hit 85 on my press.

But thats just as an example, this isnt really about me and my sucky figures, more about the approach to training as a methodological whole. I remember reading a post by Glen Pendlay where one of his trainees (the ever impressive Max Aita) squatted 480 for reps. His form was off on a few, but Glen's point was "look at this guy, moving heavy weight, which is more important than being a form nazi" or something to that effect.

Do you think form should be the first and foremost thing in someones mind? Or do you think over analysing will hinder more than help?

[Rezart Erindi]

Quoting Rip: perfect is the enemy of good. On the other hand good technique is essential, especial at novice levels. I don't know why are you struggling with 135 on the squat, but I wouldn't be nit picking on every little detail though. As you progress you'll begin to feel your body better, and will notice when something is not being done right. Videos to check after you complete the set are also useful (and posting on the technique subforum from time to time seems to help).

[Brodie Butland]

I remember a comment in one of the threads a while back that I thought was a great way to think about when form is acceptable, which I'll paraphrase. A squat form can be safe, it can be effective, and it can be elegant. When your form is merely safe but not effective, you need to retool it, otherwise you'll just spin your wheels. An effective form, meanwhile, may not be elegant, but it is still safe and you'll see results. Obviously we strive for elegance and want to work towards it, but we shouldn't stifle our progress by demanding elegance of ourselves out of the box.

One of my favorite quotes is by Anatoly Karpov, former world chess champion: "Don't always try to make the best moves, just try to make good moves."

[hamburgerfan]

It's important to lift with good form, because it enables you to lift heavier weights. It isn't important to lift with perfect form, because it prevents you from lifting heavy weights.

[Michael Grantham]

But am i overthinking it? Am i spending too much time on the mechanical complexity of the movement and not enough time trying to push it?

Yes and yes.

[Gunnhild Bruno]

Good form is very important if you can only squat 135 as a grown man. It means you are weak, and weak people are more vulnerable to injury. If you are squatting 500 pounds for reps, you are strong, your structures are well-adapted, and you are less likely to injure yourself when you have some form slippage in pursuit of higher weights.

You should never program assuming bad form. Bad form is something that inevitably happens sometimes when you lift heavy, and you shouldn’t avoid lifting heavy out of fear of falling into less than good form during a hard effort. There’s a difference between those two states of mind.

If you have doubts, post form checks regularly or find a coach. At this point in your training, you shouldn’t be letting your form get sloppy. If you’re stalling, I would bet it’s your diet and recovery.

[King_mob]

I don't know why are you struggling with 135 on the squat

Maybe im just weak as fuck. 85lb wasnt my starting weight, i had to work up to that (although this was a period of dicking about with inconsistent recovery). Everytime since iv felt my form go all to hell i bottle it and back off.
I guess your right though - experience is the best teacher when it comes to technique.

One thing though - i read the quote from rip the other way round. I took it as him saying "if you try to be perfect you'll never get good".

[King_mob]

It's important to lift with good form, because it enables you to lift heavier weights. It isn't important to lift with perfect form, because it prevents you from lifting heavy weights.

Theres the badger. Makes sense now.

[Rezart Erindi]

One thing though - i read the quote from rip the other way round. I took it as him saying "if you try to be perfect you'll never get good".

Well, the quote is taken from MOMG, in response to a member asking if the form of every exercise should be textbook-like, or if he should repeat the weight every time it was not.

[King_mob]

Spar > sedentary job and lifestyle until recently. Weak is something i have to live with, but am making efforts to change that.