Analysis of Strength Qualities

Finally, we can cover the third style of strength that can be trained (there are more than 3 but this can cover the majority of athletics). This brings us to the wrestling comparison. Wrestlers need to have impressive strength, they need to have impressive speed and they need to have excellent endurance to display their strength and speed over a long period of time. This is strength and speed under long duration/tension. This quality is different from the strength needed as a strongman or as a shot putter BUT the training can be similar. However, the training may sacrifice some strength gains to focus on the ability to repeat an effort over a long period of time.

2. Positions/joint angles of sports.

If I can be entirely clear, most of my discussions with Dr. B were based specifically around throwing. However, I would bring up other sports occasionally and as I have developed my training system throughout the last decade, much of what he discussed was similar to what I have noticed within my own training.

Sports like throwing have very clear cut joint angles and positions. This is similar to sports like Olympic weightlifting and even sprinting. These are movements that are incredibly repetitive. The positions are generally identical when analyzed from a training perspective to a competition perspective. By recognizing the repetitive factors of joint angles, we can understand the ranges and mobility needed in a pretty simple light to enhance the training for those competitive movements.

Sports like wrestling, football, field hockey and various other field sports have a bit more variation. Sure, sprinting is involved, but so are opposing forces from opposition players and even external objects such as a ball or stick become involved as well. Then as coaches, we need to analyze the difference between bilateral and unilateral loading. How frequently might a wrestler be in a unilateral position vs. a basketball player? Is the wrestler in a loaded unilateral position? Are they taking a shot with a lead leg, perhaps even fending off a shot while on one leg!

By recognizing the positions and joint angles, we are able to determine the strength and ranges needed to optimize power output for various competitive events.

3. Comprehension of muscle motion

The comprehension of muscle movement is the long lost stepchild of joint angles and strength quality needed. What does this mean specifically? This can be defined by the three types of muscle motion.

Is the motion an eccentric motion? This could be referring to the elongation of a muscle, typically involving a “braking” system. Think of a cornerback in football, they go up for an interception, they grab the ball and then land on the ground. As they land, their muscles go through an eccentric contraction, therefore demonstrating the need to potentially train this muscle motion for football.

Moving into the next motion, the concentric movement is used constantly and is a shortening of muscle mass to produce force. This leads to a joint angle change and is generally the most dominant muscle motion in athletics.

Isometric movements are another movement that can be training in various ways. This is a way the body generates force WITHOUT changing the length of the muscle. Think of a wrestler hanging heavy on an opponent's head while in a tie-up. Their wrist and elbow joint may not change at all but they are still contracting their muscles during this period.

By training each muscle motion within given sports, we are able to enhance sports performance-based of the breakdown of the quality needed.

These are the three most dominant factors that go into comprehending strength qualities that need to be trained for sports. By no means are these the ONLY qualities that need to be factored but they are the dominant qualities analyzed. Start by checking strength type needed, move over into the joint angles trained and study those factors while analyzing muscular motion!