Weak Things Break
“Weak things break” is my favorite quote from the late Louie Simmons of Westside barbell. Louie, a well known powerlifter + coach to the strongest lifters in the world.
I’ve taken this quote to heart. As I progressed in powerlifting and strongman I stayed focused on one thing- WEAKNESS DEVELOPMENT. We are only as strong as our weakest link. What a great way to look at all areas of life…
Lifting heavy taught me about my weaknesses. If my core was weak- my back would hurt. If my lats failed me… the elbows would flare out on the bench. This causes pain in the shoulders. Every little detail matters when squatting and deadlifting 700+ lbs. Every detail matters when you have 450+lbs on your chest.
You are stronger than the weight you have on the bar. But with Improper form and not understanding how to leverage the body properly, you don’t lift to your potential. You probably are not training your weaknesses either (most people aren’t) For 3 reasons.
Didn’t know “weakness development” was a thing
Not properly assessing the weakness
Not doing the proper exercises for the weakness
Doing the same 10 exercises a week may have worked to get you where you’re at now
But it will not get you where you want to go.
-Train your weaknesses
-Add in the exercises you don’t like doing (often the ones you need most)
-Raise your expectations. You’re only as strong as your believe.
Do Hard Things