The Missing Piece in Most People’sTraining

I get almost all of my clients doing some kind of jumping and some kind of medicine ball throw. Why?

Because for a pretty small investment at the beginning of a session - which also doubles as part of the warm-up - we can work on qualities that often get missed in regular gym training: coordination, power, confidence, and the ability to move well at speed.

As we get older, our ability to produce force quickly tends to drop off. Even if we’re strength training consistently, there are still a few bases that slower, heavier lifting doesn’t fully cover. I like to think of strength as building the engine. Athletic work helps you use that engine in real-world situations. Think slipping on mud and having to catch yourself, sprinting for a bus with a rucksack on, reacting quickly during a game of five-a-side, or playing with your kids without feeling stiff, slow or fragile.

This doesn’t mean everyone needs to be doing ultra strenuous plyometrics - although there’s absolutely nothing wrong with pushing them if built up sensibly! It might just mean low-level jumps, hops and throws which are progressed over time. Done well, this kind of work helps you become a better, more confident mover - not just stronger in the gym, but more capable outside of it.