Lost all faith in personal trainers

**James Copping** · 09-04-2008 09:13 PM

There was 1 that I thought knew his stuff back at my gym in Newmarket. He purchased a set of kettlebells and pulling sled for the gym and was impressed when I taught him about the bands.

In the last 3 days though he has destroyed what was left of my confidence in personal trainers with comments along the lines of

Him "Bench press really hits the biceps hard doesnt it"

Me "No, its chest shoulders triceps and upper back"

Him "But when you are lowering you have to contract your biceps"

Me "Ok whatever, just hold my wooden board on my chest for me"

Upon reading a personal training plan he wrote, the split was as follows:

Biceps/Triceps 12 sets each

Shoulders/back 12 sets each

Chest/legs (something else I cant remember) 12 sets each

I asked him why the guy is doing 2x more sets for arms than legs, on top of the bashing arms get from chest/shoulder/tricep lifts he replied.

"Its an arm intensive program, they arent normal sets, most of them are 21's, have static pauses and use dropsets"

On asking why the guy was cheating EVERY rep up, whilst using the bicep "isolator" (a wierd necklace that fixes your elbows). "Its part of the program".

I then saw him deadlifting and that was the final straw, his form was atrocious, bent back and he was making his clients do it that way too, aswell as getting them to clean and jerk with no coaching, just showing them pictures (one of the pictures was infact of a high pull/snatch which he claimed was a C&J, it clearly wasnt!)

Rant over.

AlexTemper · 09-04-2008 09:21 PM

Heh, to be fair on the few times I've done 1 rep max at 180kg with Bench it's hit my Biceps "a little" controlling the negative but to the extent that he alludes to.

Sounds like he's caught Big Gunz syndrome

**Bison** · 09-04-2008 09:23 PM

Most are idiots who simply can't be told anything because they've got a certificate with a gold badge on it. Very few have impressive physiques, go figure!

**James Copping** · 09-04-2008 09:25 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by AlexTemper

Heh, to be fair on the few times I've done 1 rep max at 180kg with Bench it's hit my Biceps "a little" controlling the negative but to the extent that he alludes to.

Sounds like he's caught Big Gunz syndrome

Yeah, I said something about them just being a stabiliser after my set, but he insisted there is a deliberate contraction.

And Bison, he's fat weak and has "the endurance of a sloth" according to my boxing friend

AlexTemper · 09-04-2008 09:29 PM

It's all based on theory with very little practical experience.

Hell the majority can gain the qualification without doing any resistance (I hate that term) work.

AlexTemper · 09-04-2008 09:31 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by James Copping

Yeah, I said something about them just being a stabiliser after my set, but he insisted there is a deliberate contraction.

Heh, nice. So the object of a deliberate contraction is to smash the clients ribcage up as hard as possible then?

**James Copping** · 09-04-2008 09:33 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by AlexTemper

Heh, nice. So the object of a deliberate contraction is to smash the clients ribcage up as hard as possible then?

I presume so yes.

AlexTemper · 09-04-2008 09:36 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by James Copping

I presume so yes.

Hmmm, I'm not familiar with this variation

**bwlc** · 09-04-2008 09:53 PM

I just cringed when I read that, truly awful. I saw an instructor telling someone that upright rows are good for chest the other day, does that beat your story?.

**James Copping** · 09-04-2008 09:55 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by bwlc

I just cringed when I read that, truly awful. I saw an instructor telling someone that upright rows are good for chest the other day, does that beat your story?.

LOL, its a close 2nd