Everyone’s being telling me what a great book this is so I paid my $86 and waited three weeks in anticipation. … I have to say I’m rather underwhelmed. Obviously its well referenced but in my opinion it doesn’t even come close to the Bible: Encyclopedia of Weightlifting.
Carson- well said!
What are some of the (or main) themes in the book?
Damn, all that anticipation and it’s a let-down.
I’ve been just gathering the money to order both it and Facts and Fallacies in the next few weeks …
What book are you talking about?
I presume it’s …
“Supertraining”
By Mel Siff
[Pub. 2003]
Supertraining contains an absolutely HUGE amount of scientific information on training and I would highly recommend that anyone serious about high performance training pick up a copy.
However, be aware that it is more of a textbook than training manual. The problem with it (from my perspective) is that it provides very little help from a practical perspective. I have read it all the way through cover to cover and while I was excited to learn a lot about the theories of strength development and get a better understanding of the research, I felt like I was left with little knowledge that I could directly put to use in my training program.
I don’t own “Facts and Fallacies” but I understand that has a much more practical side to it.
David W,
Why is Encyclopedia of WL so good?
What will I gain/learn from it?
Will it appeal/apply to the recreational lifter/trainer?
I have the book David, tell me what I should focus on.
I think the great thing about EofW is that you can apply it to strength training for any sport. Drescler is very careful to give both the postives and negatives of any issue and allow the reader to make their own decisions. Also, the book is set out very intelligently so that the reader can immediately find the area they are most interested in.
The sections on developing strength and ‘putting it altogether’ (periodisation) are particularly useful for the average strength trainer.
The Encyclopedia of Weightlifting tells you what to do. Supertraining tells you why you do it. Two different books, both are excellent and have much to offer the “student” i.e. anyone whating to learn more, when appreciated for what they have to offer. Facts and Fallacies is an excellent book as well. Mel Siff also had a series of what he called “Puzzles and Paradoxes” that were very thought provoking and stimulated much discussion. I used several of his “P&P” for classroom discussions.
david,
you payed 86$. wow. i seen it on sites for 60-65$. And i got lucky, got mine off of ebay for $50.
I think it is a good book to have referencewise. And i do agree it more from a scientific standpoint and some is dry reading that is hard ot understand. However still, good ot have in your own personal library.
My friend lent me ‘Facts and Fallacies’ I can’t say I learned a single thing :(. I think its writen more for gym instructors/personal trainers than strength and conditioning specialists.
David W. You are absolutely right the that target audience for Facts and Fallacies is geared for the exercise instructor and other fitness types. The Puzzles and Paradoxes are more for those with a good understanding of the exercise sciences. As I said before, the “P&P” are very thought provoking and excellent for stimulating discussions.
For those of you unfamiliar with Dr. Siff’s P&P, here is a short sample.
"The opponents of ‘plyometric’ (shock rebound) training stress the dangers of this type of shock loading on the joints and advise that it should not be incorporated into any sports training. One has to distinguish between plyometric ACTION and plyometric TRAINING in terms of the definition of the plyometric action to appreciate that this advice is virtually impossible to implement, since most sporting activities include running, jumping, recoil throwing and sudden changes of eccentric to concentric activity- and these activities all exhibit phases of PLYOMETRIC ACTION.
Plyometric TRAINING, on the other hand, refers to the formalisation of special rebound drills into a well-defined training package. But, if plyometric ACTION occurs so frequently in sport, is there really a necessity to devise special plyometric training drills? So, for the opponents of plyos we have a problem AND for its supporters we have another problem! Comment." Dr. Mel Siff
Originally posted by David W
My friend lent me ‘Facts and Fallacies’ I can’t say I learned a single thing :(. I think its writen more for gym instructors/personal trainers than strength and conditioning specialists.
You must be extremely knowledgeable David! Not a thing, come on? The book covers a wide range of topics applicable to S&C coaches. Plyos, chinese methods, rot cuff exercises, ab exercises, ballistics, PNF, warm-up etc.
May be you could recommend some S&C books you have found useful? Cheers
Enoka: Neuromechanics of Human Movement
Zatsiorsky: Science and Practice of Strength Training
David,
I agree that Supertraining is pretty much theory but I am learning alot from it and my understanding will help me coach. I started it a while back (ordered around Chrimstmas 2002), read a bit and figured I had to be in the right frame of mind to read it. I have started E of WL and find it is more practical.
About a month ago I got my copy of Dave Tate´s video of his Westside seminar (can´t afford attending his seminar as I have to fly from Europe). He goes into theory, and explains how they train (Clemson could give you a rundown) and then I went back to Supertraining. It made much more sense, because Simmons incorporates Russian ideas.
There is an interview with Louie Simmons on video, and he explains why he read as much Russian training theory as he could, and then came up with his training methods. He must have used the phrase ‘kick his ass’ or ‘kick your ass’ at least 6 times in an hour interview. He tells how sometimes when he does a particular exercise at a furious intensity that afterwards he is ready to do a ‘drive-by’. He has totalled over 2000lbs at over 50 years of age. He has MONSTERS in his gym. He has one goal - get strong. ONce a guy came into his gym, asked if he could train there, and Louie was not in a good mood. He immediately asked the guy, ‘Ya wanna bench 600 and squat 800?’ The guy was a BIT intimidated and perplexed, and replied, ‘I dunno.’ Louie told him to get out. Louie is a hands-on guy, obviously oriented to the practical side of strength training, but understands the theory.
I guess I am trying to say that if a motivated, driven (almost to the point of obsession), intelligent guy like Simmons can read Russian theory and then incorporate it into a system that consistently produces EXTREMELY strong people, I hope that I can learn from him and Dave Tate AND from the Russian ideas to incorporate their ideas into the programs I develop with my athletes.
I think that Supertraining is a valuable piece of work, and now I can put it into context a bit more. But it is NOT a ‘program’ book.
I know I rambled, but I am really pumped after watching the Westside video AND making the connection with Supertraining.
I guess it is a bit early to ask about Chris Thibadeau’s new book (see Testosterone site)?
If you go back and watch that interview again, Louie also talks about getting some ideas from Charlie using weights before sprinting. I had to chuckle when I heard that.