What’s your ‘thing’?
Training with intent is important. But how can we start to improve our ability to do this?
One method is to have a thing. No, not a rabbits’ foot – a ‘thing’ in this case is a focus. All too often we see lifters coming into a session, reading their program and then just banging out reps. They’ve done the work, yes, but they haven’t necessarily improved. They aren’t walking out of the session better at the SKILL of the squat/bench/deadlift/whatever it may be.
For the past six months, I’ve been overhauling my squat. My right leg doesn’t feel as stable/powerful as my left and so my ‘thing’ is focusing on the connection of my right foot to the ground in both the setup and the execution of the squat. This ‘thing’ is basically all I think about while squatting. With heavier weights, I might add in ‘chest up’ from the bottom, but 90% of my mental real estate is taken up with the intent to feel that fucking foot do its job.
Once you have a firm grasp of a thing, it should start to become automatic – then you focus on the next ‘thing’ that you feel is a limiting factor.
There’s no use in trying to think of five cues at a time. You can’t, science says so. Focus! In the wise words of Ron Swanson – it’s better to whole ass one thing, than half ass two things.
Whether you’re a powerlifter, strongman or simply training for your own interests – find your ‘thing’ and own that sucka.
#byliftersforlifters
#blackflagbarbell