Topic: Why I Believe in the Naturalistic or Anarchistic Method of Weightlifting

[Matt Erdman]

This won't likely make a dent, but here goes.

You assume that physical superiority will also be accompanied by mental superiority. You assume that if a person does what he wishes, that he will not make any significant mistakes. Or at least that he will make fewer mistakes than if a knowledgeable and experienced person was advising him. I think the vast majority of the time, this will prove false. In philosophy, politics, religion, "science", ect, you can find many expert opinions that lead people in the wrong direction. In weightlifting there is a difference because because you have firm results. You can clearly identify athletes who are superior, and in most cases they will credit their coach. This allows you to identify principles that are effective.

The flip side is an athlete that has limited outside influence who does what he feels is best. Various people will come up with various things. Some may do well, and others will do horrible. Of those who are not doing well, some will try something else, and others will continue hammering away at the same things. Now if you consider the randomness of where the most physically talented will fall, you will need a huge population to get someone to come out with extraordinary results. The reality is that there will be a huge amount of outside influence. Most athletes will seek out information online and find all the various training ideologies that we are all familiar with. They will train, not based on gut instinct or personal results, but by arbitrarily picking something that they feel drawn to. Also the various athletes will not train in isolation, so the best will directly or indirectly influence the rest. So the reality is that the lifters are not left to their own creativity, but to the various pulls of society.

In the end, whether it is a person that continually encourages a lifter to follow his own path or a person who shows a lifter directly how to train, a coach is often the best solution. It is a rare person that will find their own way through the mess, and even more rare that one of those people will be the best.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Indeed, I do believe there is a relationship between talent in weightlifting, and indeed all sports, and intelligence. I certainly do not understand this relationship fully. But, the anarchistic approach in no way forbids the athlete from seeking good advice or information. In fact, it would allow the athlete to listen to what the coach says and thinks as well as listen and even try other coaches', writers, etc approaches, with full support. The ego of the coach is removed from the scene, so to speak, and the lifter is left free to follow the truth to the best of their ability, to apply their forces to the best of their ability and to the last moment, as Abajiev said. Personally, I think its arrogant for a coach to try and tell an already oriented lifter not to attempt something their heart desires to try.

[Shaun Le Conte]

I prefer a mix of freedoms. I think that an advanced lifter needs to be able to freestyle and train in an instinctive manner while considering inputs from others.

There are some practical reasons to not allow lifters to do whatever training they feel they need to do in the gym - new lifters need some  guidance, most lifters do not have their own equipment, the coach/facility owner does not want to allow free access at any hour, sharing platforms, minimizing loading and unloading of the bar.

I'd love to have my own equipment and train at any time I wish, doing whatever training I wish. Even in the best of times I have never been able to do that. I think it's best though.

[Arturo Gómez]

I remember when my brother and I, in Montevideo, lifted 5 kgs more per week.Training by training, we improved a new personal record in some exercise. We both were forbidden in our club (because we used "much kilos" and could broke the bars), we could not have in other clubs a pacifical ambient to train, everbody criticized our technhique, our distance of methods, but they not lifted that we lifted. And they were anabolic fanatics and we anabolic virgins.
The end: I bought bar, weights, and constructed a solid floor in my own house.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Keep in mind I was talking about a long term training approach, certainly not how I would deal with a 9 year old kid in my gym who never lifted before. Still, it is a perspective that would come into play very quickly with even a talented youngster. The role of the coach is to give feedback based on greater experience, not to be an authoritarian fun-destroyer.

[Arturo Gómez]

Other thing this point remembers me is the discussion Reengenierie x operative evolution
One side want a new rigid structure, still paying the coast of traumatical changes, and assuming the risks of great errors. They promises a probable paradise.
The other side says: well, this is functioning. Let it do function tomorrow better than today

[Matt Erdman]

The role of the coach is to give feedback based on greater experience, not to be an authoritarian fun-destroyer.

I think the coaches in the US who are really producing have that mindset.

[Jim Storch]

"The role of the coach is to give feedback based on greater experience, not to be an authoritarian fun-destroyer."

BINGO!!

Keep it fun and productive, the results will follow!