Topic: Discussion of Abajiev Interview & Video Lecture

[mikeburgener]

great interview!!!  there it is...the why's wheretofore's!!!  this is what gough et al have been talking about.....interesting comment...something to the effect (meaning anyway) that what they were doing was not working....so they changed....brought in the man!!!!

[Steve Gough]

I think there are some "gutty" comments made by Abajiev, somewhat akin to Suley's comments inre Bulgaria and the "heavy hands" they use to employ to maintain the status quo and keep people under their thumbs. Totally believable in my estimation, especially when you go back to the early '80's when the Soviets, employing the Bulgarian secret police as their agent provacateur (sp?), hired a radical Turk to assassinate the Pope (and he did, but the Pope survived). They went to great depths to keep people in line, most of which never made it to public knowledge. Has anyone ever wondered why/how the powers to be in the IWF have been able to stay in power for so long? I think if this interview piques your interest, than a natural to go along with it is the Suley bio. There is a perspective here much harsher than at first glance. It is a condition we face when attempting to train on the same level as countries who may have fewer rewards, yet greater aspirations. They set the standards that we must reach if we want to be able to compete with them on an equal footing. Otherwise we are kidding ourselves.

There is often quite-a-stir on our sister forum, goheavy, inre employing foreign philosophies. That somehow it is unAmerican to do so. Or that we should rely on our own ingenuity entirely. I agree greatly with the latter sentiment. But inre the first, could you imagine any army or nation going to war or into battle not having the best "intel" possible on the enemy? or underestimating your enemy's will (as we did in Vietnam) and the sacrifices they are willing to make to defeat you? Much of our initial rocketry and space program relied on captured WWII German scientists and their research. The Russians did likewise. It just made sense. It makes just as much sense for us to do likewise...

Steve

[Mike Wittmer]

To hitchhike on what Steve said, I think there are two areas that we need to look at to approach this problem.  One, is training methodology.  Steve's idea of sending a couple of coaches somewhere, Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, etc., for a few weeks to observe is excellent.  That assumes, of course, that the hosts would be willing.  Upon returning, a few clinics could be held around the country and the information distributed.  I remember, in the '70s, when Carl Miller did this.  Marty Schnorf had a couple of clinics with Carl, very informative.  Couldn't we do this now?

The second area involves selection.  We need to find ways to identifiy more potential champions and we need to keep them in the sport.  Perhaps some of our opponents aren't necessarily doing anything special, training wise, just getting a much larger pool to work with.

[Steve Gough]

Mike,

Thank you for adding/contributing to my thread. Recently I've had several emails backand forth with one of our number who wishes at this point to remain anonymous. He related to me a fairly indepth conversation he had with a Bulgarian coach (professor) at last years World University Games.
Apparently, the Bulgars take this coaching business fairly seriously, elevating one after appropriate schooling, etc etc to the level of "professor." This coach/professor (and he did have a lifter in that comp) relayed how in Bulgaria different (specific) coaches handle lifters throughout the various stages of their careers, ie from very beginners up to the very elite. They have some kind of talent search/placement in place for not only weightlifting but for other sports. I am sure that this was in practice when the Communists ruled and since this conversation was recent, the practice must still be ongoing. I would think that other countries have something similar to this approach. It would be interesting to see if Bulgaria is able to keep up with its prior accomplishments. The commies are gone, the well has either gone dry or the water line has become very shallow. In other words, they may be in a similar or worse boat than we find ourselves in... (ie selling their athletes to Qatar, and many coaches heading to foreign shores (say Jordan Ivanov).

What does this have to do with us? Absolutely nothing if we choose it that way. Of course we may come up with our own solutions, pulling ourselves together as a whole and marching forward like the army we really are (or could be). Realistically, we have to look at the way we are and have been and ask are we prepared to find our own solutions and thence move forward? Hmmmph! Well, show me the money! Because, if we aren't then maybe we should consider looking deeply into Mr. Abajiev's experiences, research and conclusions and see if their's something in there for us.

Steve

[Don Weideman]

History rests on the three legged stool of,

Idea + personality + zeitgeist

all must be present for change in a culture.

You may have an idea, but are you dynamic enough of a personality

to lead? If so, is the spirit of the times conducive to change and ready

for the idea in hand.

Without all this you are like a lion roaring at the wind, impressive but

helpless.

Yes history repeats itself, but not predictably.

[Steve Gough]

A day as a lion, rather than a lifetime as a lamb. Maybe we have all forgotten that sentiment. Maybe we should just fold like a chair. Sorry, I ain't into folding. And am I helpless like you so implied? I would say that any people who refuse to help themselves make themselves helpless.

Then, I ask, exactly what is the purpose of this forum? Have we capitulated before we have even started? Answer these two questions. If they are not what I expect I will gladly stop posting. For like John Thrush said last week, I, too, love this sport too much to be satisfied with mediocrity.

The personality most responsible for this forum, Chris Leroux, has been unafraid publicly to tackle the issue of drugs in our sport. Obviously he thinks that the time has come for someone/us to pull our heads out of the sand. He took his brainchild and guts and went out on a limb to create this forum. And from the numbers signing up I would guess that your questions are answered without me saying a word.

Don, I think you are baiting me. I think you want to see something positive happen here as a result of us coming together. If we don't ask we won't find out. If we don't act, we won't advance. If we want the same old tired thing, then that's exactly what lies in store for us. Come on guys, help me out here. No, help us out here...

[Don Weideman]

Steve

You are the personality. We have the Idea.

It's the spirit that must be manifested, nourished,

and let loose. This is the battle that must be

engaged, albeit with clear heads and a unified vision.

Heros are not born Steve, history creates them.

Keep fighting the good fight. If fortune smiles apon us

you may be our next hero. (Nobody wishes this more than

myself.) And to many you already are.

[Don Weideman]

And as far as other training systems go

and how to compete with them, I'm

reminded of "Patton".

     "Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!"

And because he did he knew how to defeat him.