Yep, waste of time to try to help people.

[jude-o]

Deadlifting day! Always a happy day, somewhere between the terror, blackouts and gallons of sweat. :-) My gym has two platforms, side by side; I take one, and a kid (probably 20ish) takes the other. He picks up the bar...and drops it! Again and again, deliberately. 'WTF?' I ask myself. After the second set of this, I decide to ask him what he's doing (if only because it looks stupid.)

He explains to me that lowering the weight is a waste of effort. I tell him that the controlled lowering portion is actually the more effective part of the lift, causing more microtrauma and muscle growth, and that he's short-changing himself by just dropping it. His exact words were "I don't give a f*ck who you are, I was trained by a top powerlifter to do it this way!"

Well, I'm certainly nobody, but stronger than this beanpole, so I slowly gaze over at my bar, where I'm stiff-legging for reps about a hundred pounds more than he's pulling for singles...then slowly gaze over at his bar and smile. "Hey, whatever you want to do man."

God, I hate teenagers/young adults. Puny little brains, like the dinosaurs.

[krakken]

What a loser, 1) for not taking your advice. 2) for being an idiot. God, I hope that he was not serious about the part about him being trained by a top lifter...lol

[JOHN GARGANI]

and what commercial gym is this that would allow a member to do such a thing???


I would imagine almost all places would put a stop on that pretty quickly...

[Wooly_Ace]

Originally Posted by JOHN GARGANI

and what commercial gym is this that would allow a member to do such a thing???


I would imagine almost all places would put a stop on that pretty quickly...

x2. I workout at a large chain (24 Hour Fitness), but that would never be allowed. That kind of idiocracy (not sure if that's a word, but it fits) cracks me up at the gym.

[ServoScanMan]

Originally Posted by jude-o

Deadlifting day! ... .... I tell him that the controlled lowering portion is actually the more effective part of the lift, .....

Excellent advice. Too bad he is just to SMART to listen to you.

I just showed my 13yr old son how I do bent leg deadlifts. When I lower the weight I also bend my legs to allow the glutes, hams, and quads to come into play. I showed my son how I actually let the barbell rest slightly between lifts, hince, the name deadlift. I stressed the word 'gently' when I was explaining to him about placing the weight on the floor.

[Bookman]

This is EXACTLY why I don't talk to people in the gym. If I saw a guy trying to f a 45 plate, I'm sure HE thinks he has a good reason. I move on.

[Jules Verne]

Originally Posted by jude-o

Deadlifting day! Always a happy day, somewhere between the terror, blackouts and gallons of sweat. :-) My gym has two platforms, side by side; I take one, and a kid (probably 20ish) takes the other. He picks up the bar...and drops it! Again and again, deliberately. 'WTF?' I ask myself. After the second set of this, I decide to ask him what he's doing (if only because it looks stupid.)

The guys working out in the college gym (football players mostly) used to all do this with DL. They even had pads laid out and used the super thick, rubbery barbells. At the time I just assumed this was part of DLing to do with 'saving' the back from potential injury. Actually come to think of it they may have been mostly either doing Olimpic lifts, or practicing portions of the lifts (i.e. DL, clean, snatch etc..). They would drop (with guidance) the weight from the top of whatever pull they were doing, sometimes from a considerable height which looked like it needed quite a bit of practice in itself. Usually they were using 'light' weights with perhaps 5-12 reps.

Anyway this reminded me of that and so perhaps this is a taught technique that has some reasoning behind it?

[ntrllftr]

Originally Posted by JOHN GARGANI

and what commercial gym is this that would allow a member to do such a thing???


I would imagine almost all places would put a stop on that pretty quickly...

You would think so. Actually I do go to a "commercial" gym because its cheap.
But there is a guy who does deads at my "health Club" he drops the bar almost every time for the past couple years that I know of. I mentioned something to the manager once a long time ago. What happend? Nothing.

Originally Posted by Bookman

This is EXACTLY why I don't talk to people in the gym. If I saw a guy trying to f a 45 plate, I'm sure HE thinks he has a good reason. I move on.

I use to be the polite guy and try to correct people. The opperative word is USE to. Now I put my mp3 player on full blast and have tunnel vision.
When I am done working out and someone asks for advice I will give it then.
Other than that I let people do what they want and if they do something stupid I will just shake my head and move on.

[rsheele]

Most people will think that their form is fine and what they are doing is great.
But just dropping the weights isn't just bad form, it's just plain annoying and should be stopped.

as for effing the 45's.....I always try to find an empty part of the gym for that part of my routine and I'm sorry if I offended you.

[design2]

I can remember going to the gym (major university state-of th-art weight training facility) and on certain days everywhere I looked people were using bad form on BBs, DBs and machines. It was dizzying. Unfortunately many guys have this ugly thing about getting directions and getting advice. Those who are really serious about lifting have done the research (like from this list), asked questions, sifted through the BS, and learned the proven correct way of doing any and all routines.

You will always have the fools who are determined to stay a** holes, no matter how much you want to help.

design2

[Shreddedgeek]

Waste of time yes, on that person, but if it were me I would have listened. Or at least stopped the exercise and researched it.

I agree it seemed or might be a waste of time, but perhaps you did set a seed that his ego might allow to grow in the privacy in his own mind.

I find that if someone is really out of hand, I can't but help to keep my mouth shut, especially if i think they are going to injur themselves.

[Whiskeyjack]

This reminds me of the time in the '80s Bill Pearl came to our gym. He did several classes and privately assessed each member who wanted it for potential. He said some very nice things to me at that time and I took his advice (and still do), but when he came to another young buck and gave him some advice the guy responded with "I listen only to Arnold." He'd never met Swarzenegger and never would.

[greenamphibious]

yet anpther reason I don't train at a gym but at home... no idiots and no unsolicitied lifting advice. I just don't get dropping weights on the floor or the need to slam the plates on the floor while deadlifting. Slow and correct form with a little less weight will get ya further.

[1stindoor]

I find this interesting because I work out in a military gym, so there's always a bunch of soldiers in various states of physical fitness. I'm quick to ask someone (even if he's wearing an MP3) for a spot or advice.

[greenamphibious]

Originally Posted by 1stindoor

I find this interesting because I work out in a military gym, so there's always a bunch of soldiers in various states of physical fitness. I'm quick to ask someone (even if he's wearing an MP3) for a spot or advice.

when I was still active the Marine Corps gyms were the best! they were all old school gymgs that looked like prison yards and no one was a tool or they'd get taken out back! I guess that is why I love my garage so much... no frills

[giantfan43]

I work out at home .. I don't miss the dopes at the gym ... there were so many. I would occassionally offer some help or tips if I saw someone needing it, but for the most part I kept to my own. I would never hesitate taking advice from some of the big guys there though. That was always a welcome treat !

[bodyhard]

Originally Posted by jude-o

Deadlifting day! Always a happy day, somewhere between the terror, blackouts and gallons of sweat. :-) My gym has two platforms, side by side; I take one, and a kid (probably 20ish) takes the other. He picks up the bar...and drops it! Again and again, deliberately. 'WTF?' I ask myself. After the second set of this, I decide to ask him what he's doing (if only because it looks stupid.)

He explains to me that lowering the weight is a waste of effort. I tell him that the controlled lowering portion is actually the more effective part of the lift, causing more microtrauma and muscle growth, and that he's short-changing himself by just dropping it. His exact words were "I don't give a f*ck who you are, I was trained by a top powerlifter to do it this way!"

Well, I'm certainly nobody, but stronger than this beanpole, so I slowly gaze over at my bar, where I'm stiff-legging for reps about a hundred pounds more than he's pulling for singles...then slowly gaze over at his bar and smile. "Hey, whatever you want to do man."

God, I hate teenagers/young adults. Puny little brains, like the dinosaurs.

Was he dropping the weight like from his waist down or are you saying that he just went down fast and caused it to slam down?

When I am dead lifting extremely heavy weight no way am I slowing down the descend, that will put too much pressure on my lower back. I usually put two added mats on each side where the plates reside so when I am coming back down from a single it doesn't slam down.

Now I don't drop the weight, but I do come down pretty fast, in control but I don't slow down the descend, not on a single anyway.

[Luke Whippo]

well all olyimpic lifters drop the weight because the exact reasons this young buck described, the goal is to focas on the positive (not the neg.), however there must be some control on the drop (hands on the bar)?

so really this young buck makes a vaild point

was he useing steel plates? if so then you have a right to complain (thats damaging the eqipment), if they are bumpers, who cares?

he's young, he'll learn, one day, sometimes on their own.

[EYE FOR DETAIL]

The Gym I Belong To,if You Grunt Too Loud Your Told About It.
I Can't Imagine Dropping Weights Unless By Accident,being
Asked To Leave. As For His Response Back To You,that Deserves
A Bitch Slap...j/k

[bodyhard]

Originally Posted by EYE FOR DETAIL

The Gym I Belong To,if You Grunt Too Loud Your Told About It.
I Can't Imagine Dropping Weights Unless By Accident,being
Asked To Leave. As For His Response Back To You,that Deserves
A Bitch Slap...j/k

Yeah I have to agree about his response, **** the guy was only trying to give him advise and he comes out of his face like that, yup slap the little turd!

[ASWEDE]

Some people you just can't help. My rule is I don't give advice unless it's asked. His response back to you was out of line though. Young, dumb and full of............

[EYE FOR DETAIL]

Originally Posted by bodyhard

Yeah I have to agree about his response, **** the guy was only trying to give him advise and he comes out of his face like that, yup slap the little turd!

OH....HE WOULD OF KNOWN I WAS PISSED,I DOUBT HE WOULD OF
FOLLOWED ME TO THE LOCKER ROOM......IF YOU KNOW WANT I MEAN

[Luke Whippo]

typical olyimpic "cleans pulls" are done like a deadlift, some are heavier and performed as a "clean pull deadlift" most guys drop the weight, this is to save energy for working on "pulling form".

again the steel plates are the issue, damaging them, not really whats a better way to train.

where they bumpers, or steel, was there pads on the floor/platform?

[Ingersoll]

Originally Posted by Bookman

This is EXACTLY why I don't talk to people in the gym. If I saw a guy trying to f a 45 plate, I'm sure HE thinks he has a good reason. I move on.

Exactly. The thing I see people trying to lift too much on is the bench press. Skinny kids who think that strangers in the gym actually give a damn what they're doing, so they load two 45 plates and just about kill themselves trying to bust out 2 reps. Back arched, veins popping out of their skinny little necks, red as tomatoes. If I'm close enough I keep any eye out so that the guy doesn't hurt himself. But if I'm too far away, I assume someone closer will help out if need be.

As far as the kid in the OP goes, I don't so much mind if he thinks he knows better, it's the fact that he's such a dick about it.

[Jimislash]

The thing is that people are going to lift whatever way they want, and most of them do not take good advice nor are they able to discern it from bad advice. The problem with this guy was that he was rude in his response. If a guy in the gym takes his time out to critique my workout, regardless of his actual abilities, I can take a second or two to listen and nod without being rude. There was no call for rude behavior in this instance.

[jude-o]

Was he dropping the weight like from his waist down or are you saying that he just went down fast and caused it to slam down?

Just dropping it from the waist, no effort to even guide it.

where they bumpers, or steel, was there pads on the floor/platform?

Bumpers with a light rubber mat, so at least he wasn't damaging the equipment. Not a big deal. It was the attitude that really amazed me. A kid who already knows too much to even hear out somebody else is in for a hard life.


[Luke Whippo]

Originally Posted by jude-o

Bumpers with a light rubber mat, so at least he wasn't damaging the equipment. Not a big deal. It was the attitude that really amazed me. A kid who already knows too much to even hear out somebody else is in for a hard life.


thanks for the answer, he was in fact doing something legit, for legit reasons.

His attitude was ****ty, he's still in a tough guy age (age 20) but thats no excuse. and thats why he may be a beanpole, he's 20, that won't be the case when he is 30, if he's still training.

I see threads here of the over 35 crowd ranting and calling people horrible names (behind their computers) about others in their gym, "know it alls" this kid pretty much took your "microtruma and muscle growth" using more controlled negatives advice as "know it all" he may not even want to train negatives that day? so he did what most people on this forum does, says f---- off, only he said it face to face.

[BurritoMan]

I try to never give people advice in the gym. Most of the time it will not be wanted by them. Every now and again people ask me for advice though in which case I'll happily give it (in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king).

It's hard though because a lot of people in the gym seem to have little clue what they're doing and it's hard for me not to tell the guy doing 365 lb deadlifts - one of the only ones who deadlift at my gym - that his back is very rounded and he could be headed for an injury. But I button my lip.

I have occaisionally asked people why they were doing partials but always got a blank look back

[jude-o]

he was in fact doing something legit, for legit reasons.

I'm afraid the legitimacy of it escapes me. Perhaps you can explain it to me, because his argument that you'd get more strength gains by neglecting the negative so you could get more reps on the positive is, IMO, simply bull.

[mr.iowa]

Sorry for your bad experience with the young lad when you thought you were trying to help.
But,, the young guy came across as arrogant and rude but he was right.
I have been around lifters quite awhile. I have a daughter who competes in collegiant powerlifting and dropping the weight to the platform is common.
Even if he had only one rubber-plate on the lifter is always concerned with technique and performing the lift with complete explosion and not concerned with quitely returning the bar to starting position.
If you have never been around Olympic Style training/powerlifting it would seem very annoying and loud. But, believe me,,, this is the style of lifting and that is why they are called "BUMPER PLATES".
Olympic style Deads, cleans, snatches, high pulls, etc.. all are fast explosive lifts with the bar slamming down at he end of the lift. The bar is definately not stopped from falling or try to slow it down because this would cause injury, but the lifter can definately hold onto the bar or slightly catch it on a bounce to keep the lift safely on the platform. Even when warming up with very little weight or starting a new progressive cycle where your kilos are very light you will always train the same way by dropping the weight.
If this style of lifting is not understood or annoys the gym, then they should post a sign that says "NO Olympic Style Lifting"