I really do wonder if there’s any hope sometimes. I take a look at a group of people calling themselves strength and conditioning coaches and I find this question: (Coaches, looking at the content of this video, is this right or wrong?)
And what’s the first answer? (There’s no right or wrong, just what’s appropriate for the person.)
Of course. And the coach saying this looks like he’s never had a barbell on his back in his entire life. I also notice he’s certified by an organization that repeatedly shows very little understanding of anything related to strength training but which unfortunately certifies a lot of trainers. I won’t say which one but it starts and ends with an “A.”
We’ve run across this idea so many times that it just drives me crazy. But let’s go with this ridiculous idea because so many trainers now consider themselves “strength and conditioning coaches” that we need to start pointing out things that should be blindingly obvious.
So there is no right and wrong in regards to exercise form, correct? All form is correct, it’s just that some techniques are right for some and not others correct?
Great. Please take a look at this exercise form and tell me who this is appropriate for?
So who should squat like that? Come on “experts”! There’s no right or wrong, correct?
How about this?
So please tell us who you recommend squat like that? Who should squat with a rounded, hunched over back? Who should barbell squat with the right hand gripping the bar but barely gripping the bar at all with the left?
99.9% of the so-called trainers that tell you this stuff say it because they themselves have no idea how to squat, deadlift, or do anything else heavy. They aren’t experts because they haven’t done it themselves. They think reading a book and taking a weekend course makes them experts and it doesn’t.
Now I ask you this – why on earth would you pay someone for their time when they themselves can not tell right exercise form from wrong? What are you paying for? Why would you hire someone like this for personal training sessions? Would you hire a math teacher to tutor your kid that said there was no right or wrong answers? Does 2+2=5?
If your so-called trainer doesn’t have videos of himself and people he’s trained lifting weights, then don’t listen to one word he or she says about lifting weights. Start demanding more from the people you get advice from or you’ll wind up like the people in the videos above.