Did Ben Johnson (or any of Charlie’s 80s crowd) ever fail on a lift?
If not, was everyone just really good at figuring out the appropriate weight, or were they very conservative, or what?
If so, did they get spotted up, or just end the set without making it, or something else?
Well when you have been doing it for a few years you get pretty good at guessing. That is part of coaching!
Agreed. Absolutely.
But so the idea was basically to go just short of where failure would be, and not to actually fail? And they basically got it just right every time? I am just trying to understand the intent.
To fail at the loads they were capable of lifting, would have been a challenge for their spot partners as well. It’s also safer on the spot partners if you go short of failure!
Charlie has been clear on the ‘short of failure’ on several occasions. They were not trying to break records each time they went to the gym.
An athlete knows they are getting stronger, not just by the amount of weight lifted, but also by how comfortable / uncomfortable it felt.
Also, if one were to go to failure or very near failure, the last rep would be slow, would mess up the mecahnics of the lift, would encourage cheating technique, ego damage, dissapointment and lower self esteam every time you don’t break a record, and from the scientific point of view;
A slower rep with struggle, can have a dampening efect on speed and explosiveness.
Also; there is a theory;
If Joe Bloggs lifts ‘x’ weight at ‘y’ speed (with slight speed reserve, and some strength reserve); it would be better than Joe Bloggs lifting slightly heavier weight, also for ‘y’ speed, with no speed and strength reserve.
Some body other than me, might be able to clarify and give an explanation why.
Also, the slight reserve, has less chance of injury, and also takes less time for the c.n.s to recover from.
Can you honestly imagine trying to go for max reps in squats or deads’ three times a weak? (On top of all that sprinting).