To be unbalanced or not?

[jujigatame]

PTTP, NW etc. Great work.Simplicity rocks, no doubt!

BUT what about balance between muscle groups? (Strength, mobility, size)
Do I have to think about this since I don`t have a condition?
Pavel talks about balance in NW at least, but do you think of balance when you build a routine?

This popped to my mind when I was thinking about doing the Fighter Pullup prog.
Do I have to do pistols for legs, maybe Ghr for hamstrings, dips for pressing.....just wondering what do you think?

One model is (From Coach Sommers GB)
press, pull, core and legs in every workout.

[ctfoster84]

Originally Posted by jujigatame

PTTP, NW etc. Great work.Simplicity rocks, no doubt!

BUT what about balance between muscle groups? (Strength, mobility, size)
Do I have to think about this since I don`t have a condition?
Pavel talks about balance in NW at least, but do you think of balance when you build a routine?

This popped to my mind when I was thinking about doing the Fighter Pullup prog.
Do I have to do pistols for legs, maybe Ghr for hamstrings, dips for pressing.....just wondering what do you think?

One model is (From Coach Sommers GB)
press, pull, core and legs in every workout.

Yes, and no. Heavy deadlifts and some form of press pretty much hit everything. Swings and TGU's pretty much hit everything. Pistols, and one arm push ups? You guessed it, everything. Coach Sommers GB utilizes the press, pull, core, legs routines because a lot of the exercises work the upper body very, very well, but are found lacking in the development of the legs. As for core training, well its gymnastics and I'm not sure theirs anything they do that doesnt work the "core".

[greg57]

Balance is a funny notion, look at bodybuilders who obsess over it and ask yourself are they really balanced? Maybe in appearance. I grappled with this going from bodypart spits to full body workouts. I think it is impossible to actually work out every muscle in one session, but doing whole body workouts counter intuitively gives you the best balance. Why? Because compound movements force your weaker links to catch up. Also looking at strength from a longer perspective helps you consider that for a while you may do more shoulder dominant overhead pressing for a while, you can do a bit of chest dominant pressing later on. Here with cycling you can reach a more dynamic balance of doing one thing for a while and something else for a bit after that. I much prefer this over trying to evenly work the body every day or week.

[ZKP]

Originally Posted by greg57

Balance is a funny notion, look at bodybuilders who obsess over it and ask yourself are they really balanced? Maybe in appearance. I grappled with this going from bodypart spits to full body workouts. I think it is impossible to actually work out every muscle in one session, but doing whole body workouts counter intuitively gives you the best balance. Why? Because compound movements force your weaker links to catch up. Also looking at strength from a longer perspective helps you consider that for a while you may do more shoulder dominant overhead pressing for a while, you can do a bit of chest dominant pressing later on. Here with cycling you can reach a more dynamic balance of doing one thing for a while and something else for a bit after that. I much prefer this over trying to evenly work the body every day or week.

Here Here!

[jujigatame]

Good points there. Doing lots of big moves like deadlifts tend to strengthen you allover, and balance also. Overthinking and overdoing get you into undergaining

Although in NW Pavel says that you "need" a big pull (deadlift, clean etc.) once or twice (5x5 f.e) a week and rope skipping for calves.

[avilezj]

Originally Posted by jujigatame

Good points there. Doing lots of big moves like deadlifts tend to strengthen you allover, and balance also. Overthinking and overdoing get you into undergaining

Although in NW Pavel says that you "need" a big pull (deadlift, clean etc.) once or twice (5x5 f.e) a week and rope skipping for calves.

That's basically the things that NW doesn't hit

[Atl]

You can't be "balanced". That is an idea fostered by people seeking cosmetic gain, but it can't be achieved because it is not the nature of humans to balance...we specialize dependent on our need. This is why we are the dominant species on Earth. Every other animal has one specialty, but humans specialize to whatever they are doing.

[Avenue]

Originally Posted by Atl

You can't be "balanced". That is an idea fostered by people seeking cosmetic gain, but it can't be achieved because it is not the nature of humans to balance...we specialize dependent on our need. This is why we are the dominant species on Earth. Every other animal has one specialty, but humans specialize to whatever they are doing.

I think there can be a certain level of uniformity of muscle build (in terms of aesthetics) but I certainly wouldn't stress over it. As you said, people are going to adapt (and look different) based on the movements and activities they perform.

[EricJMoss]

its relatively easy to build balance. balance your pushes with your pulls and vice versa. thats part of the basis behind pavels programs. the deadlift (a pull) balanced out with side presses (a push). the tgu (a push) balanced out by the swing (a pull). assuming you are doing full body movements all your muscles will come into play and everything should be brought up together so that one thing isn't overloaded at the expense of others.

unless you are compensating and/or have dysfunctions.

[jujigatame]

One thing that popped to my mind while jogging last night:
If you compare ANY person who trains regularly to a "office worker" whose workout is to walk to his/her car the active person will propably do better....

Or any other inactive person.