Question your methods

[KyleAaron]

I've been training people with barbells since 2010. As most know, for most of that time I've trained people using more or less vanilla Starting Strength. I'm experimenting now with front squats for novices. Reasoning being, if you can front squat it, you can back squat it, but the reverse is not true; and if you can squat it, you can deadlift it, but the reverse is not true. Similarly the press and bench. So... just press and front squat? Add in cleans (for the young and capable ones) and you don't even need a rack, just a barbell.

My reasoning is that it's less load for similar results. This means that novice period of being tired all the time and having to eat like a horse with worms isn't so crazy.

It's only been a couple of months and a few lifters, but so far it looks alright. The interesting thing is that their front squat after a month looks better than people's low-bar back squat does after a month, but they feel it's worse. That whole thing of tipping forward and all that, it just makes them more conscious of poor form, whereas with back squats they can be oblivious and just grind it up.

From time to time you need to question your methods and try a different approach.

Tell us about something you've been reassessing lately?

[Ronin4help]

The dangerous part of adopting a method is it can cause you to be rigid. If you have one way of doing things (a method) than you are not going to implement other things (variable). So, if you have a 'method' then you need to constantly consider its effectiveness, particularly if you have a variety of different types of clients coming and going. However, if you remain flexible, then adapting to needs, desires, situations, complaints and moods becomes much more client friendly which helps retention and referral rates.

So, the question really becomes are they your 'students' or your 'clients'? There is a huge difference between the two.