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Anyone follow this dude? His squat and deadlift form advice are dog shit. His strict press uses damn stretch reflex. Not sure about his bench technique. Anyhow I'd advise anyone here taking technique cues from Mr. Thrall to stop and go find a real powerlifter to learn from.
I've only watched a few of his instructional videos, which were fine, but I don't know about the rest. He is part of Barbell Medicine, which IMO knows their shit and have great programming, although he may have made some videos before he was part of the team. Can you give specifics?
I've only watched a few of his instructional videos, which were fine, but I don't know about the rest. He is part of Barbell Medicine, which IMO knows their shit and have great programming, although he may have made some videos before he was part of the team. Can you give specifics?
His deadlift advice. He says to avoid sitting back but that's the only way I can create tension. Barely broke the floor trying his way. Also he preaches a slumped over squat. Feels very weak compared to keeping the torso moderately upright.
His deadlift advice. He says to avoid sitting back but that's the only way I can create tension. Barely broke the floor trying his way. Also he preaches a slumped over squat. Feels very weak compared to keeping the torso moderately upright.
Ah i see. Those little pointers are just nuances and would take that with grain of salt, although would be more helpful for a beginner. Personal preference trumps most of it IMO. Just like little things like head position, foot width, grip width, rolling the bar vs starting at midfoot for deads, etc. Not sure what he means by slumped over squat. That depends on multiple factors include bar placement, body mechanics/leverages/strengths.
As someone who has never watched an Alan Thrall video, thank you for posting specific examples of videos/points of advice you disagree with to promote discussion.
As someone who has never watched an Alan Thrall video, thank you for posting specific examples of videos/points of advice you disagree with to promote discussion.
If you’re into powerlifting and want to refine your technique, I’m not sure why you’d be watching Alan Thrall videos when people like Boris Sheiko, Ed Coan, etc exist. Technique will always need to be tailored to each individual, but there’s definitely a deeper pool of knowledge to draw from for general advice than the Alan Thralls of YouTube. Watching his videos if you haven’t seen ones from Sheiko et al. is like eating the crust and throwing the rest of the pizza away.
He’s relatively weak and brings nothing new to the table, like many YouTube lifting channel characters. I haven’t seen any of his material in years, but that’s probably the gist of what I said back then.
If OP was trying to promote discussion, specific examples people could comment on would be nice. For example, what’s wrong with using the stretch reflex for pressing? I’d appreciate some context.
I think he uses starting strength style techniques like the stretch reflex in the “press 2.0”, his close leg deadlift technique is taught also by the barbell logic guys who are or were part of starting strength, although that technique is not the standard starting strength technique, and for his squat he changed it up from high bar atg to low bar starting strength style. He’s part of barbell medicine which was founded by two starting strength coaches who are both actually really strong and seem balanced in their approaches. Anyways he’s relatively entertaining if I have nothing else to do I might click on a video of his, seems like a nice enough guy
He's basically a licenced Starting Strength coach nowadays, from what I remember. A lot of his instruction videos the last couple of years have been textbook SS.
(I don't follow him religiously though).
Personally I quite like the way SS teaches the big four movements. At least I get the thought processes behind the teachings.
Some of the squatting stuff is a bit fubar, but I mostly dislike the part about suicide gripping the bar, not the low bar part, or the "hip draahve" part which is commonly misunderstood.
Using stretch reflex in the ohp? I'm assuming we are talking about the "hip moving forward then
back" style. I do something similar to that, and it feels quite natural. I wouldn't do it for a jerk or push press, but then again my limited understanding is those are very different movements.
Sitting back in the deadlift? Don't really know what Thrall or Rippetoe say about that, but my guess is they meant not literally sitting back, as in physically moving the hip down and back when initiating the deadlift. I'm pretty much on board with avoiding that too*.
Unless it happens to put you into the preferred starting position, I guess. It is only a problem if you start out in the correct position and then move out of it when you "sit back". Maybe some people start out with their hips/butt too high and then move down into position when lifting the bar. It's just not how I personally do it. I do get that you usually want to load some tension, so to speak, when initiating the lift and not lift from a completely static position. I'm more of a hip thrust kind of guy than a sit back kind of guy, but again that's just me. meh whatevs
He's basically a licenced Starting Strength coach nowadays, from what I remember. A lot of his instruction videos the last couple of years have been textbook SS.
(I don't follow him religiously though).
Personally I quite like the way SS teaches the big four movements. At least I get the thought processes behind the teachings.
Alan and BBM does not want to be associated with SS or Rippetoe in any way shape or form. SS vs BBM are completely separate entities and follow totally different training modalities. Yes Feigenbaum and Baraki were SS coaches, but has cut ties for a while now. Anyway I've seen Alan at a local PL meet before. Maybe one day I'll train at his gym since it's only 30 min away from me and I have a friend that goes there on ocassion. I'll specifically ask him these questions if I do, lol...
I get why you would think it's impressive. The length took some years and dedication, I get that. But the distribution of the hair is downright awful. That is not a full beard. That's a few 'tache hairs connected to a neckbeard. Unless he's going for some kind of ironic Nouveau-chic Amish/incel look.....but it's clear his cheeks are fucking bald. His facial hair is the equivalent of slapping on a big spoiler and painting a racing stripe on a rust bucket '96 Civic. Or like guys who are receding at the temples that go for mohawks because their hairline has been obliterated.
We see you trying to hide what you're really working with Alan, but you can't fool everyone.
Sitting back in the deadlift? Don't really know what Thrall or Rippetoe say about that, but my guess is they meant not literally sitting back, as in physically moving the hip down and back when initiating the deadlift. I'm pretty much on board with avoiding that too.
I'm weak as fuck so don't listen to me; but, this ^ sounds good to me too.
Cues are funny things; in your (the OP's) head "sitting back" may actually be loading the posterior chain which is obviously a good thing.
I do wholeheartedly agree with the general consensus though; that beard is fucking ridiculous.
Alan and BBM does not want to be associated with SS or Rippetoe in any way shape or form. SS vs BBM are completely separate entities and follow totally different training modalities. Yes Feigenbaum and Baraki were SS coaches, but has cut ties for a while now.
May be. I know there was some drama and subsequent split between Barbell Medicine and Starting Strength, and that Feigenbaum has been vocal in his critique of some of Rippetoes dogmas. If Thrall works with/for Barbell Medicine now instead of SS, good for him.
But there was definitely a time when Thrall was affiliated with Starting Strength, and were posting videos both teaching excercises the SS way, and defending SS against detractors. He once made a video defending the "Rippetoe squat" against specific critical individuals like Jordan Shallow, but I can't seem to find it online atm.
I hate 5x5 and starting strength, mad cow, and anything remotely related to 5x5. So sick of people at work coming up to me and asking of if I do 5x5 after that found some goofy app for a phone. I feel like throat punching them.
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