Limits of Strongman Training

May 15, 2009 on 7:44 pm | In Strength Training | 8 Comments

Hello coach Hashey, I wonder why strongmen/strongwomen still need to do gym lifts (squat/deadlift/curl…with barbell/dumbbell…) while they got most/all implements (log, yoke…) to practice with? Why don’t they train with the implements alone?    Thank you.

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Thanks for the question.  I truly enjoy strongman training.  It is fun, competitive, effective, and much more!  Please keep in mind, I use strongman exercises for athletic development.  In other words, these movements need to prove that they have a use for increasing athleticism, and not primarily for increasing the lifts themselves (ie, competing in strongman competitions).

I would categorize myself as somewhat of a training “centrist.”  Too often a new training style comes on board, and lots of inexperienced trainers jump on board as it being the greatest thing.   Unfortunately all training styles have their limitations.

For example, there has been a movement against olympic lifts, primarily because their limitation is that the movement pattern is tough to learn.  Does that mean we shouldn’t olympic lift anymore like some trainers will say?  Not necassarily. Depends on your athletes and your time available.  No need to swing fully away from a valuable training tool.

A similar situation has occurred with strongman training.  It is getting immensely popular, and rightfully so.  Strongman training gets people moving in multiple planes of motion, utilized many muscles groups, and seems to have a quality carry over to athletics.   However, I would not solely perform strongman movements.

There are limitations to strongman equipment and training, and areas where gym equipment can be helpful.  Gym equipment is great for addressing weaknesses. Let’s say the weakness in your stone lift is your biceps and forearms. Can you hit those by just doing stone lifts? Not efficiently, because it is tough to micro load a stone lift and concentrate on weaknesses.

Gym equipment can be easily loaded, measured, and adapted to perform tons of movements.  I’m not ready to bail on those huge positive aspects!

I agree strongman should use their primary movements mostly for strongman lifts, however gym weights can help out supplement training significantly.  Combine them both effectively and get huge results!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF STRONGMAN AND GYM LIFTS?  POST IT UP IN THE COMMENTS!

- Joe Hashey, CSCS -