But I did. These guys have been a great help and encouragement through some tough times for me and they probably don't even realize it. - Pagangoddess
I've noticed quite a few form critiques around here lately that boarder on the ridiculous. I've been guilty of it too, so I'm not trying to point fingers. But I get the sense that some get so caught up with form (minutia) that progress is taking a back seat. A guy has a slight form issue and the immediate suggestion is to deload and fix it; or what is actually just the product of individual anthropometry gets pegged an egregious form breakdown; or a laundry list of form issues covering every minor detail, no matter how insignificant, gets thrown at the OP. The problem is made worse because the majority of us on this site are relative beginners. Like beginners in most areas of life who have reached a level of proficiency at something, we think we have it all figured out, so we tend to go a little nuts telling others where they are going wrong.
Anyways, I came across the following post on Rip's site today and I think it needs posting here too:
"Guys, I'm not trying to be a dick, first of all. But I do want to say a thing or two generally about some of the form critiques that I've seen here.
If you've ever attended one of Rip's seminars or watched his DVD, he talks a bit about distinguishing first-order form problems from peripheral ones. First-order problems should be addressed first, even though other problems might exist. Yes, it's a coach's responsibility to make sure that the trainee has the proper mental model in place before he or she attempts the exercise(s) in question. However, when learning a new movement, the trainee simply cannot focus on every form issue at once.
Take the squat as an example. If I have a trainee who isn't hitting proper depth and isn't gripping the bar correctly, I'm going to have the trainee focus on the depth issue first before addressing the grip (if I've taken the trainee through the proper learning progression, he or she KNOWS the proper way to grip but hasn't yet made it a habit). The grip, in this case, is the peripheral matter.
Getting to the point, if someone posts a video on the board, please try to focus on the first-order issues. Tossing out a million and one criticisms all at once will lead to further problems. The peripheral matters can be worked out later.
Secondly, those who have had the luxury to coach a good number of people for anything longer than, say, just a few months will understand my next point. Rip has a quote: the perfect is the enemy of the good. Recently, I've witnessed a lot folks hammering on itty-bitty hiccups in form that, I guarantee you, will not amount to anything in that trainee's (hopefully) long career. Small knee wobbles, a tiny bit of "butt wink," a minute bit of knee-slide forward at the bottom of one or two reps, will not amount to much in the long run. If I were to stop my trainees every time some little hiccup cropped up or, worse, suggested that they reduce the weight each time, then none of my trainees would have approached the level that they're at now.
I'm speaking from my own personal training experience, also. There was a time a while back when I would suffer paralysis by analysis every time that I trained because I fretted over every little hiccup or detail.
Only firsthand experience training a lot of folks can teach you when a "hiccup" is more than just a hiccup and should be corrected. All I'm asking is that you please be mindful of this when you're offering advice over the internet, especially those of you who aren't a trainer or coach and haven't had the opportunities to instruct that others here have.
Sincerely,
Stacey
http://www.startingstrength.com/resourc ... hp?t=13684
