Dan Green Challenging Westside

In the run up to GPC Nationals I have been reading all things Dan Green given this monster of the platform (2030 at 220) is coming to Melbourne to lift on the same platform as Thomo. How fucking funny, his bench is more than my total!

Dan wrote an article recently where he challenged the 'conventional' Westside barbell training philosophies effectiveness for raw lifters. Check out the article.

http://www.jtsstrength.com/articles/2013/05/29/west-of-westside/

What I loved about the piece was that it  challenges the status quo. I am an analyst by background and too often in business individuals espouse theories that have no associated evidence. Even in my short history in the sport I have noticed individuals slavishly follow accepted wisdom even if it is clear that the evidence doesn't support the theory.

Now there is  fine line given too many newbies challenge everything rather that just getting under the bar for 2 years and lifting. However bottom line is there is some basic principles that seem to work  and work well.

The sections that I found most interesting were around box squatting and bench press. Now everyone knows that the box squat is best, helps you learn to sit back drive from hips etc blah blah blah. But for a newbie that tends to take you away from a natural sit through your hips that non geared lifters need.

Now I am sure there are lots of fine coaches out there that will provide lots of feedback that it works for them and their trainers. Perfect if it does work and you have the evidence then great but as Dan Green points out the benefit doesn't seem to carryover to regular squats. In fact last year after lots of box squatting my re acquaintance with non box squatting was laughable as all of the box squat cues seemed to give me a comical sit back that just didn't work. Now maybe if Markos or Louie or some great coach was guiding me it might have been different.

Dan's view on the bench is more more about a traditional focus on big chest and less elbow tuck as can be plainly seen on his benching videos. Again this is something I need to focus on. Earlier this year as many of the guys I see do a traditional exagerated tuck and arch and push the short range of motion.

However I noticed the sweet spot in my pushing is when the bar is over the chest which echoes Dan's view. His points are that you should focus on driving horizontally with the legs and pushing back over your shoulders and getting the elbows flared earlier as the bar moves into the sweet spot.

Now whether this article proves to be on the money is not the point I want to make rather it is about an individual (allbeit the best in the world) taking responsibility to challenge accepted wisdom and based on evidence establishing what works for him.

Pretty good lesson for all of us especially a newbie lifter like me!

Stay Strong
Thomo