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Article & Video Discussion / Unilaterals Make You Weaker
« on: November 15, 2010, 04:09:12 pm »
Here was an interesting article from the sometimes good, sometimes bad T-Nation earlier this week that I enjoyed.
http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/unilateral_movements_make_you_weak
Arguing that the Split squat is a single leg exercise is and always has been rubbish, but also his argument is pretty absolutist in comparing pistols etc versus barbell squats.
I would also argue that getting strong on certain single leg exercises such as step ups and walking lunges (especially UPHILL walking lunges - but that does require a hill and the ability to carry your really heavy shit to a hill, and in some cases, a portable pair of squat stands to get some decent weight to walk up hill with onto the bar - unless you ar ehappe to clean it off the ground...but I digress) are extremely beneficial for running and jumping athletes, who were admittedly not really mentioned in the article.
Also, I have had back trouble recently and have not been able to squat or deadlift (ironically I was installing a new, very expensive, power rack into my gym when I injured myself - I haven't squatted on it at all
) and have been doing nothing but dumbell lunges and weighted step ups for about 6 weeks now. It will be interestign to see how much my squat has dropped off when I get back to it (and I am expecting a drop off - ass the author of the article noted - for weighted exercises the transfer doesn't necessarily go the other way).
http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/unilateral_movements_make_you_weak
Arguing that the Split squat is a single leg exercise is and always has been rubbish, but also his argument is pretty absolutist in comparing pistols etc versus barbell squats.
I would also argue that getting strong on certain single leg exercises such as step ups and walking lunges (especially UPHILL walking lunges - but that does require a hill and the ability to carry your really heavy shit to a hill, and in some cases, a portable pair of squat stands to get some decent weight to walk up hill with onto the bar - unless you ar ehappe to clean it off the ground...but I digress) are extremely beneficial for running and jumping athletes, who were admittedly not really mentioned in the article.
Also, I have had back trouble recently and have not been able to squat or deadlift (ironically I was installing a new, very expensive, power rack into my gym when I injured myself - I haven't squatted on it at all
) and have been doing nothing but dumbell lunges and weighted step ups for about 6 weeks now. It will be interestign to see how much my squat has dropped off when I get back to it (and I am expecting a drop off - ass the author of the article noted - for weighted exercises the transfer doesn't necessarily go the other way).
I mean when I write an article about a topic I am not that familiar with I usually have read something in one of my books, found it interesting, then I do a bit of research to find out what else has been written about it to make sure I understand the concept, then I sit down and write it up in my own way.