Sport-specific training is exploding everywhere you look. Golfers, tennis players, football players – even pickleball and chess masters have exercise programs tailored to their game. But what about the vast majority, the everyday people? Do we have a program built for your specific needs?
There's no "Pick Up the Kids for Soccer Practice" program, no "Long Week in the Office" workout. Our default training program usually boils down to some form of bodybuilding: chest day, back day, leg day, arms, maybe some cardio tossed in. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that, but let's be honest – doesn't the average person move more dynamically than these typical bro splits?
If we want to find the right training program for everyday folks, we might be better off taking notes from athletes instead of bodybuilders. Think about it: would you rather be a bodybuilder, whose goal is to pose on stage, or have the ability to perform everyday tasks better while looking great? I already know your answer.
The difference lies in the training style. Bodybuilders chase a physique, athletes chase performance. And to reach these goals, you train differently.
When you train like an athlete, you work on traits like mobility, speed/power, strength, and conditioning. These attributes are crucial for our everyday lives and long-term health. Let's break them down:
Mobility: Full, pain-free range of motion in your joints. Putting on a jacket, turning around to hand your kid something in the backseat, fixing things around the house – mobility makes these everyday tasks a breeze.
Speed/Power: Explosiveness. Over 90% of us past 30 never sprint again. We just stop moving fast at some point unless absolutely necessary. But if we ever need to (let's hope not!), we can't. Use it or lose it, right? Plus, quickness even affects your brain!
Strength: The king of physical independence. Carrying groceries, getting off the toilet, picking up your kids – all ways strength impacts your daily life.
Conditioning: Cardio disease is the leading cause of death in the US. We HAVE to train our hearts. And even if that's not enough, don't we want to go for walks/hikes, travel, or just do anything without getting winded? I think so.
My reason for writing this? To bring more everyday athletes into the world of "sport-specific" training, even if you don't play a sport. Over the years, I've seen that when people move better, they're happier.
My program is specific to golfers, but let's be real – don't you need more of what golfers want? Mobility, strength, power, and conditioning? This stuff trumps the other training styles any day.
We don't swing clubs in my training program, Lift Heavy, Swing Fast – we train people to be athletes. Many of them don't even play golf, but they've seen how training for life mirrors training for a sport.
So, ditch the bro splits and embrace the athlete within. Let's move better, feel stronger, and conquer everyday life, one powerful workout at a time.
