This posting is going to have a look at what function strength plays in your speed-agility training curriculum. Let’s have a look at a few terms.
Absolute strength – the greatest total power you are able to produce, your one rep ceiling is your absolute strength
Starting Strength – a function of how many muscle fibers that you are in a position to instantly tighten
Look at it this way, if you snatch a heavy weight from the ground you can strain your back. However should you pick it up slowly this would not take place. Starting strength (from this example), simply measures the most load that you’re capable of
lifting off the ground with no harm.
Relative strength – your strength per lb of body mass
Reactive Strength or Plyometric Strength – measures your ability to soak up and exploit strength whilst going from an eccentric contraction to a concentric contraction.
What’s the importance of these phrases to your exercise plan?
The higher your absolute strength, the more your starting strength. The higher your starting strength, the quicker your acceleration, the faster your acceleration, the higher your explosiveness or your capability to attain your upper speed more rapidly. Think about, “Is my speed and agility training growing my absolute strength for those muscles that are important in my sport?”
Relative strength is important since the more your relative strength, the greater the power you can produce. This helps you in a couple of ways; your nervous system is better conditioned and will also cross over into your agility, and you’ve got less stuff to drag around. This also crosses over into speed.
A reasonable question to ask is whether or not your speed and agility training
improves your relative strength. Keep in mind when working out for speed and agility your relative strength is more key than your absolute strength. Note: you should not be concerned too much with reference to bulking up because a 10% increase in LEAN body mass is equal to a 30% boost in strength.
Last of all, we have reactive strength. This kind of strength has a important part in agility, it makes it possible for you to swiftly change course and dazzle your opponent with extraordinary moves. It also enables you to jump higher when running (but not a great deal from a standstill stance). It also plays a role in running speed although there’s better ways to work out for it if running speed is what you are after.
What’s the take away home from this article? In order to correctly work for speed and agility you should include strength training workouts in your practice. You should also adapt it for the activity you are involved in. There are no shortcuts however there are efficient ways of reaching your goals (whatever they might be).
If this has baffled you some you should….
Here is a food for thought question for you. Why do sprinters (50, 100 meter dash, basketball players, quarterbacks etc) maintain ripped abs without explicitly training for them? Naturally you must bear in mind that starting strength is different for different muscles groups and can be trained independently. Knowing what muscles play a role in the movements most essential in your athletic endeavour enables you to focus on them and create fast and efficient results
If you liked this article, you can find more information, tips, and videos by going to: more Speed and Agility Training.
Tags: speed agility, speed and agility training, strength training workouts
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