Dooley Noted: 11/22/2015
I am a movement specialist. Catalyst SPORT is built upon the principle of teaching authentic human movement in a safe environment with minimal equipment.
Therefore, I had abandoned my former days of using bodybuilding as part of my training.
I had been coached into phrases of dogmatic thinking by our world of movement professionals, like, “Train movement – not muscles,” and, “We train movements – we don’t build statues.”
But I wanted to see for myself how bodybuilding could supplement my 5 days a week of movement training and met-con.
The truth of the matter is there is room for both in a training cycle.
Here are some things I’ve noticed in just my first few weeks of adding back in some bodybuilding components.
1. Bodybuilding pumps the local tissues with circulation and neurological stimulation, helping to increase the demand of stabilizer muscles.
2. Bodybuilding at higher repetitions helps with the psychological and exercise efficiencies of doing higher rep schemes with movement programming.
3. Training in smaller, focused ranges can promote rehabilitation for strained tissues. I found this to be true with shoulder and hip, when combining this type of training with movement training.
4. Hypertrophy work (i.e., lighter weight with higher reps/sets) can increase the cross sectional area of muscle mass. While the work may not neurologically program strength, it builds tissue mass. And the more mass you have, the more potential you have to get stronger.
5. My grinds for heavy pressing and pulling have increased in efficacy in mere weeks, since one must grind out higher repetition schemes in bodybuilding pyramids.
Thus, bodybuilding techniques have the potential to create a better muscular environment upon which to build strength.
Some amazing movers and athletes like Bruce Lee incorporated bodybuilding components into their training, as an enhancement to their movement training.
While my training and coaching will always focus on movement, I’m confident that some bodybuilding may help me provide a more viable environment for strength, mobility, and stability.
Enough with dogmatic thinking. Let’s learn from each other and pick the techniques that edge us toward our goals.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
