Old School Strength Training in the New Millenium

Michigan State University's Strength Coach Ken Mannie writes that "The age-old adage, “What goes around, comes around,” could easily have its genesis in the strength/conditioning field. Thirty-plus years of being knee-deep in the trenches have taught me not to be distraught over methodologies or modalities that inexplicably become labeled “antiquated.” In due time, they are sure to resurface with the moniker “cutting edge".

Mannie is right. I couldn't agree with him more. He and I were graduate assistant strength coaches for the Ohio State Buckeyes the last time OSU won an outright Big Ten Championship. The 2002 National Championship year, the Buckeyes shared the Big Ten Championship with a team that they did not play that year, the Iowa Hawkeyes. But anyway, there isn't much difference the way he trains Drew Stanton, the current MSU quarterback and the way we trained Mike Tomczak, Ohio State's QB from '84. Now, there are a lot of new terms and training jargon that we didn't use back then...for example "ground based"....and "CORE training". Like Ted Lambrinides stated, "You can look through the exercise physiology texts and you won't find the term CORE anywhere". But, the principles are the same when we compare "Old School to the New Millenium." We didn't use PhysioBalls for Core training with the '84 squad but we had some great exercises that we used. In fact, we got a handful of exercises from martial artist (Bando) Rick Rossetter and kick boxing/ Bando expert, Dr Maung Gyi.

So today there are a lot of new terms, buzz words and catch phrases, but the bottom line is that you have to train hard. If you do, you'll get results. Remember the ASAP Athletic Strength And Power slogan...."to Think, Act and Train like a Champion". Basically, old school mentality in the new millenium.

until next time....Coach Cicale

For the complete version of Ken Mannie's "Old School Strength Training in the New Millenium" just click on the download: Download old_school1.pdf

The last outright Big Ten Championship Ring claimed by Ohio State was in 1984.

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