Improve Your Fitness And Performance In The Strength Curve…
by: Brandon Richey
Improve Your Fitness And Performance In The Strength Curve…
So as the picture above displays…What is the strength curve? Well as the next best thing to Google..UmUmm (throat cleared)…I figured I would help with this discussion on today’s post. Hopefully your Google search can end right here.
So What Is The Strength Curve?
The strength curve is essentially a graphical measure of how the body applies force during a movement or in a certain direction involving a movement. In other words, if you perform a standing jump then a measured strength curve of this movement is going to show how the force of this movement is displayed on a graph by showing a line that initially descends downward and then immediately turns to ascend upward as the movement is executed.
Here’s another good resource for increasing that strength in the strength curve!
So coach what does this have to do with anything right? Well, the point is that this curve, especially during the ascending portion of the movement, demonstrates the amount of force production being performed by the trainee during the exercise. The more vertical the curve the more force production is being put on display.
Imagine that you are throwing a baseball. If you haven’t thrown a ball in a while then you know the speed and control of the movement are going to be off. The pitch is going to be slower and not as impressive as you once remembered your skill of throwing a ball to be.
However if you work to practice this movement on a regular basis, as well as the necessary exercises to strengthen your throwing pattern, then after some time you’re going to be better at throwing the ball with speed and efficiency which all require the almighty trait of muscular force! Easy enough, right?
Tame this beast to increase that strength curve!
Well the point here is that in order to get better at throwing the ball you need 2 things. You need specificity and strength. More specifically you need a specific type of strength.
The point is that in order to increase your performance and strength in the strength curve you have to train in a specific way. If you are looking to engage in the 12,15, to 20 rep range in a bodybuilding program by training body parts in isolation then you aren’t going to be able to more effectively perform the functional movements of a jump squat, baseball throw, or press that will measure out as an impressive vertical curve on the graph of the strength curve.
Trust me you’re better off swinging kettlebells in the snow instead! By the way I took this little video during Part 2 of Snowpocalypse here in Georgia last week.
Now you see that requires a great deal more effort by engaging multiple muscles at once while swinging the kettlebell and trudging through the snow in between swings. This kind of stress will help produce a more vertical strength curve for athletic performance my friend.
I hope you enjoyed today’s post. If so please feel free to post a comment or question in the box below. I also just wanted to remind you to come on over and LIKE my Facebook Page as well where you can catch all my other crazy updates, rants, and deals as well. Remember that most anyone can train hard, but only the best train smart my friend.
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Why Unconventional Strength Training?
My Interview With NFL Strength Coach Jeff Fish
The Importance Of Innovation In Building Strength!
Examining The Kettlebell Swing; Good For Strength Or Not?
3 Core Strengthening Exercises You Should Be Doing…
Improve Your Fitness And Performance In The Strength Curve…
