A More Direct Path To Strength And Muscle
History has some pretty interesting things to teach us. Greater weight, either through plates on the bar or advanced calisthenics will put on muscle and strength. But what if all of that is noise and we still have yet to reach the signal?
Years of training with overcoming isometrics and sporadic training with Maxick's muscle control have caused me to realize that any heavier or more difficult movement doesn't affect the muscle as much as we think it does.
This past week has been interesting for I experienced and received information from various areas that helped me to see things a little better.
I saw a video of a natural bodybuilder from a certain area of the planet with a certain leader…
…Talk about how progressive overload is not the only path toward building muscle. Progressive overload is where one tries to put heavier and heavier weight on the barbell. Or, in terms of calisthenics, seeking more difficult variations. I was aware of this somewhat as I had been getting back into higher reps for a few months and recommended it in my writings and book although for different reasons. But what he said set off a light bulb which was that our strength gains can sometimes be due to an improved efficiency of movement.
This is something I experienced in college when my roommates and I were training for an upcoming Marine Corps Marathon. We were all running several miles a day and the times on my Navy physical readiness test for my runs were greatly improved. But here’s the kicker, all that running didn’t make me better in terms of lungs or leg power but in the efficiency of movement.
Although I was faster on paper, I didn’t feel like I was faster or more conditioned. I later found out that other things would make me feel this way in a fraction of the time…
However, not all time gains on the track are due to the improved endurance of your muscles. Not all strength gains are due to the improved ability of your muscles to contract. But there is a way to get closer to the source…
Someone - “Please don’t bring up the name of your brand.”
…to the root…
Someone - “Oh gosh here it goes…”
…to your…
Nerve & Muscle!!!!!!
Someone -
I’ve been getting into applying the Maxalding(Maxick and Monte Saldo) principles to other areas of my training. For example, in the above video, I’m doing…
Staggered Squats
Archer Push-Ups
Archer Jack-Knife Pull-ups
All movements were performed with three reps in the Maxalding(contracting the appropriate muscles) fashion and with some lengthened partials at the end just because I wanted to.
To apply muscle control( or contraction isometrics) you’d pick an easy enough movement and while going through the range of motion you’d be contracting the muscles involved. In order to do this effectively and not ease on the tension you are generating within your muscles this training tool almost requires you to go slow.
It’s not the speed or the reps but the tension and the slight fatigue.
But this is not for everyone. Adding contraction isometrics to your movement, or adding it on top of overcoming isometrics(force on an immovable object) has a unique difficulty to it. It’s more mental than it is physical. Like trying to draw a perfect circle...
I’m still utilizing more advanced calisthenics movements from time to time as they can still provide a good indicator of one’s progress. But if you want stronger muscles, bones, and tendons it’s more than possible to apply this to any movement…
Heavier weights and more difficult calisthenics moves will strengthen you and build muscle. But this provides a more direct approach if you want to put in the mental leg work and once in a while test yourself with more difficult movements.
Having quality muscle on your frame has many benefits.
Improved metabolism
Better balance/coordination
Improved brain function
& more.
Notice I said “Quality” for I’m not advocating that anyone put on excessive amounts of this stuff. Your body will fight you.
This approach and most of the things I talk about provide more of the populace the tools to be healthier without any of the gadgets or pills.
In addition to this I know muscle provides another benefit…energy.
“Such a method of exercise (Maxalding) builds up tissue, revitalizes the whole body and creates reserve energy; the abstract commodity which establishes endurance and resistance to disease.
This is the reverse of the old fashioned method which often defeated their objects by exhausting the user. Staleness and boredom invariably follow mechanical and repetition work. The endless repetitions and the counting prevent intelligent concentration, and monotony is the deadly enemy of all living creatures.” - From Maxlading Brochure
In a world trying to rob us of our energy in ways subtle and in ways not so subtle there’s a way to fight back.
Thank you for making it to the end and let me know your thoughts below.
Until next time…
The following is a reference to a specific sci-fi universe but still contains within a helpful mindset to have in life.
