Here watch this....

I would like to say that it surprises me at some of the things that are posted on media outlets about performing exercises, but lately nothing surprises me. I was watching a video the other day and was quite amused and appalled at the exercise being performed and the "coach" giving encouragement for the improper technique while weight is loaded on the bar. The aforementioned exercise is a power pull, at least that is what the title states. Scary took the words right out of my mouth when he said it looked like a weighted jumping jack.

In the video the athlete sets up with the shoulders in front of the bar, his weight is not shifted to his heels, and the back is not set. The athlete then proceeds to dip his shoulders on the start and jerk the bar off the ground, pull the bar as high as he can then lean into the weight to give the illusion that the bar is traveling higher. As the athlete pulls he splits his feet as doing a jumping jack and then moves them back in same motion to drop the weight. Three reps are performed and with each rep the technique breaks down even more, if that is even possible.

What really gets under my skin, besides the fact that this was actually put online, is that technique was obviously not a priority. From the set up to the execution of the exercise, not once was there a cue to remind the athlete of technique, "get that pull, get that pull" is the only thing said to the athlete. No technique and no reiteration of proper form.

All I see here is an athlete that will more than likely be on the road to a having an injury. It might not happen right away but if he stays with how he is performing this exercise, than it will be inevitable that at some point something will happen. Technique needs to be stressed and the intensity lowered. It really is that simple, if an athlete can't perform a lift properly than lower the weight and have him perform the exercise until proper form is achieved. The "coach" needs to see that and not worry about posting a video on something just to put something online.

So to sum it up, technique technique technique...plain and simple. If proper technique is not taught and coached consistently and continuously before the bar is loaded and then, during the progression, you are setting your athlete up for eventual injury.