Functional training?

[Enigma]

This isn't so much an article for training advice, but more of a rant - I do love a good rant every now and again!

I work in a gym, I sadly don't have much involvement, but it does give me time to sit back and watch people. And there's one thing I've noticed which I just can't seem to make any sense of... PT's idea of 'functional training'.


It seems their idea of functional training is to get clients to stand on a bosu ball doing cable rows! Now, the question I ask is; what's bloody functional about that?!?
I don't like bosu balls for a start - anything that makes you stand with bowed legs and dodgy ankles is crazy in my opinion; but to suggest doing so is functional is beyond me.

Functional, is what it is, it's training related to tasks which you'd come across in every day life:

Lifting stuff off the floor - deadlifts.
Putting stuff above head level - overhead presses.
Picking something up - heavy curls.
Pushing someone away - bench press.
Pulling yourself up - pull ups...

To me, these movements have much more carry-over to the real world than twitting about on a stability ball.

Obviously there are other thing which you could do which would be more functional; such as carrying a sack or barrel [strongman type stuff], but being in a gym environment, this usually isn't an option.

I don't understand why training has become so complicated. It seems, as humans, we like to complicate simple matters - maybe we think it makes it more effective? I don't know.

Anyway, rant over!

[Bugz]

mate I TOTALLY agree!

Everytime my girlfriend and I are in the gym we have a quiet laugh when we see the 'Instructors' with somebody on these damn things.

The other thing which REALLY gets to me is when they have them following those plans, where they do around 30 reps with 1 plate on the machines!!!! Now, I know everybody is different in strength but this simply isnt at all taxing on their bodies. There is as much intensity to their workouts as there is reading an anatomy book on frogs!!!! You do not have to be a bodybuilder to train intense, anybody in the gym no matter who you are or why you are there should at least push themselves otherwise there is no point!!!!

Rant over too

Bugz

[Enigma]

I totally know where you're coming from there! Especially with female clients too.
It's a shame that women tend to shy away from taxing weights, especially with their benefits for better body recomp. Having the instructors doing that high rep/low weight shite only heightens the problem.

It's a shame really. I chose this 'career' because it's something I am passionate about- I'm a goal driven person; and I thought other people in the field were too. With the time I've had at the gym, I can see it's not the case. I have a feeling most PTs see it as a top up to their wages.

I've recently passed my door supervisor exams though, so just waiting for my licence to come through. I'll still continue the gym work [free membership ], but don't see the gym stuff being my line of work any more.

[Bugz]

For sure, I VERY nearly trained as a PT as I believe I can help others, I have one client I helped lose over 70lbs over the internet .

Right so where do you see yourself going now then?

I thought about doing door work too in the past, been asked a few times, but dont really know if it was for me tbh

Bugz

[treefrog]

Hi Enigma,

You seem like a knowledgeable guy, why not look at becoming a gym manager, the money's good and at least you get a say in how the gyms run and possibly set up?

I've worked the doors for many years and to be honest it's not what it's cracked up to be, occasionally you get put in compromising situations and in a no-win situation, police love an easy target!!!

I know what you mean regarding the PT's generally speaking, and personally think most over complicate and don't really have an idea about what really works(lack of experience I think), just look at their physiques!!!

I've even seen them produce posters and plaster them all over the gym (well known gym in Leeds) proclaiming bodybuilders don't have an inner chest because all they do is bench press and fly's, this from one of the many match sticks who have such a huge full thick chest, NOT!!! and carry out all their PT routines on the fit ball!

This is just generally speaking as I do know some PT's that really kick ass and know their stuff, just like enigma

Some good post mate keep it up.

[Bugz]

Great comments Treefrog

My friend who is a doorman is constantly telling me about fights he has, and to me sounds as though you cant win. You dont react you get hurt, you do and you could seriously hurt someone, get fines, or even time!

LOL, alot of PTs as you say can talk the talk. There is a gym instructor in our gym who told me not to do wide grip pulldowns, not functional! I then pinted him to my cousin, Kris Gethin, and as Kris isnt officially qualified he said he wont have learnt it. Man, I said look at his blummin physique!!!! Physiques say alot about somebody's knowledge, an AWFUL LOT!

Bugz

[Enigma]

It's not too bad down this end of the country to be honest. The only time I see issues kicking up would be in the Summer when our population goes crazy for a few months. Never say never, I know.

"He wouldn't have learnt about pulldowns..." Love it! Haha.

[Bugz]

LMAO I know! CRAZY