I'm curious how many people have ever used this concept (muscle confusion) in their "in-water" training? If you look at some of the more creative training out there (Race Club) you see this happening...
I've been watching the senior age groupers training under Brad Hering here at MAC and its awesome to see them doing this type of "cross-fit" training...they have a strength coach from Sweden who worked with the national hockey team and is doing a lot of very cool stuff...and the kids are getting killed...but loving it. Lot's of fast swimming up onto deck into plyo work, core work...
Maybe they're excited because it breaks up the monotony of a 7-10,000 yard workout ...
Are they really doing the drylands throughout the practice rather than just at the beginning or end like most teams?
Periodization is bullshit.
I don't really periodize either.
And if my workouts could somehow be construed that way, I'd have shorter "periods" than typical.
I'm curious how many people have ever used this concept (muscle confusion) in their "in-water" training? If you look at some of the more creative training out there (Race Club) you see this happening...
I dunno. The idea with muscle confusion is that the nervous system isn't completely efficient at the "confusing" or new movement, so (in theory) the muscles have to work harder to make up for this lack of coordination. It's actually kind of similar to unstable training, like slosh pipes. The first time anyone bench presses, it's kind of funny because they look like they are pressing a slosh pipe.
But the main point of pool work is to get extremely efficient at certain movements. It's actually the opposite of muscle confusion. So anytime you switch to confusion mode in the pool, you're straying from the desired technique, and working more on muscular factors. Which isn't totally bad, but you don't see strength coaches from other sports doing much pool time, do you? It's not the best place to work on that stuff. Kind of the reason we use weights.
I'm curious how many people have ever used this concept (muscle confusion) in their "in-water" training? If you look at some of the more creative training out there (Race Club) you see this happening...
I've been watching the senior age groupers training under Brad Hering here at MAC and its awesome to see them doing this type of "cross-fit" training...they have a strength coach from Sweden who worked with the national hockey team and is doing a lot of very cool stuff...and the kids are getting killed...but loving it. Lot's of fast swimming up onto deck into plyo work, core work...
FWIW, I think that if you are able to improve muscle strength, flexibility and core strength it will help your swimming. However, I remain to be convinced that kick-boxing, etc translate into greater pool speed.
I think there is no substitute for doing the right things in the water.
YMMV.
A more logical approach would be along the lines of undulated and conjugated periodization. Muscles don't get "confused", people burn out or get injured because they don't cycle their training around periods of full intensity followed by periods of reduced workload. It is also ideal to train specific qualities in intervals in order to be a more well rounded athlete. For example, a period of speed training, followed by a period of endurance training, etc, etc. Has nothing to do with muscle "confusion" That is simply an outdated term.
FWIW, I think that if you are able to improve muscle strength, flexibility and core strength it will help your swimming. However, I remain to be convinced that kick-boxing, etc translate into greater pool speed.
I think there is no substitute for doing the right things in the water.
YMMV.
Hmm...I'm inclined to think Nathan Adrian and Michael Cavic may disagree.
Com'on Paul, who cares? They didn't win. Nothing to learn there.
Touche'
Same goes for the entire Auburn program and Brett's Hawke's training philosophy...
YouTube - Faster Fast Sprint Freestyle Training for Explosive Speed & Power with Richard Quick, Brett Hawke and Bryan Karkoska
