Dooley Noted: 5/18/14
Saturday, I had the honor of attending Master SFG Jon Engum’s “Flexible Steel” Level I workshop in Toronto.
The seminar was hosted by my friend and fellow SFG Geoff Girvitz at Bang Fitness.
Essentially, I got to hang out with my friends and call it education!
And it was.
The brilliantly strong Jon Engum showed that the ability to overhead press the 32 kilo EIGHTEEN times must also be matched with extensibility and stability.
In order to get past plateaus, flexibility has enormous strength opportunities within its eccentric loads. Since full concentric contraction can be gained from a longer lever, flexibility helps the athlete become stronger.
Jon awed me with his simple suggestions that unlocked my ability to improve my range but also lift heavier weight – in an 8 hour period!
We worked from head to toe, showing how distal parts of the kinetic chain can affect adjacent or even proximal parts.
For example, a strong attendee’s toe and ankle mobility was locking up his flexibility in the thoracic spine. After addressing his foot, his 48 kilo press became more effortless and less shoulder constricting.
I have tried to do the splits for 35 years, and Jon’s mixture of strength and flexibility drills helped me get the closest I have ever been in one day!
If you are strong and not flexible, consider this seminar to unlock your mobility.
If you are flexible and not strong, consider this seminar to learn how stability can make you flexible in the right places.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley