Comments on: I Respect the Little Guy with Good Form

By: Darrin

Darrin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:12:59 +0000

Phil – true enough. “Good form” and “perfect form” are not the same. I might argue that you can still work really hard while doing great form, but to do so you need a good spotter. It is easier to challenge yourself if you are willing to let your form stray a hair. But for beginners, it’s nearly impossible for them (due to their inexperience) to know where the line between “good enough” and “not good enough” is when it comes to form. So, for beginners, I’d still strongly recommend strict form. Then, if you do decide to deviate as you advance and set personal records, you know what you are deviating “from”.

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:47:37 +0000

On the other hand, there is nothing more annoying than some 135lb nerd who does everything with “perfect form” and thus never challenges himself. Form is very overrated. Barbell rows are an example, the guys who use “perfect form” with 135lbs slow and perfectly controlled peak contraction blah blah blah… stay small forever because they never challenge themselves. Chances are the guy slinging 300+lbs with less than perfect, but still decent form is going to be much bigger. The little guy with perfect form gets no respect from me because chances are he isn’t working very hard.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 16:35:42 +0000

Dan- Haha, you’re not just sort of a big guy at 6′11″. And the 6′3″ “little dude” — yeah, I know how some people are :-)

By: Dan Allen

Dan Allen — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 12:09:03 +0000

I agree with you. I’m sort of a big guy (6′11″, 275) and when I started lifting in high school, I spent a great deal of time on form.

There’s this little dude at my gym (about 6′3″ or so) who has the worst form possible. I’ve tried to give him gentle advice, but you know how some people are. So I just have to laugh at his monkeyness.

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 20:17:09 +0000

Sean,

You make a great point. I think alot of us have seen the ego tripper in the gym. Funny that some of them are big guys. Even if they used good form and less weight, it would still be more than most other people because of their size.

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 01:01:22 +0000

Good form is very necessary. Even though it is tempting at times to rack on the plates we must not let our egos get in the way. As the old saying goes if you’re going to do it, do it right.

What good is a squat if you are only going halfway down? What good is a press if you are only lowering it halfway down? I know from experience if you don’t put out the effort to lift correctly you will end up stalling and de-loading and risk injury.

Another good article Jason, I’m finding as I read through your site i agree with a lot of your views on training. I too got much more respect for the guy squatting 135 atg then the ego tripper barely moving 4 or 5 plates.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:44:29 +0000

Mehdi,

I know what you mean. It’s hard to balance pushing the limits and perfect form when you’re giving it your all. And of course pushing your limits is different from stepping outside of your limits. This is probably a great topic for a future post.

By: Mehdi

Mehdi — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:03:26 +0000

Perfect technique is hard to maintain as the weights get heavier. But for submaximal weights we should strive for perfect technique.

Strength doesn’t happen overnight – except for the genetically gifted – it takes time to build.