does anyone "coach" other lifters in the gym?

[rollingthunder]

just curious. i 've been lifting for 30+ years, on and off, and i "think" i know proper form, technique, etc. for different lifts.

occasionally, i'll see some younger guy in the gym (heck, they are ALL younger guys!) doing an exercise with what appears to me to be poor form. i generally just go about my business and keep to myself, but i sometimes feel like i want to approach one of these guys one time with a suggestion to do the exercise with "proper" form, but i'm not sure i'll get a positive response...unsolicited advice and all.

i have a copy of mark rippetoe's "starting strength" in my gym bag and have thought of just showing the guy the "deadlift" section, (or whatever) and saying, "hey, you might want to check this out".

anybody here offer advice with favorable response? pretty much keep quiet? again, i'm just curious...

[MuscleInk]

Wow! I could kiss you....but I won't!!! This is my proverbial hot button with people at fitness centers. All too often I see people with incorrect or really bad form. I agree, more often it tends to be the younger guys who are so bull headed about trying to lift as much weight as they can to impress those of us in the gym who actually couldn't care less. Sometimes it's the same guys who finish a set and then stand in front of the mirror flexing what little muscle they have, admiring their achievement.

I rarely offer any help unless someone asks but like you, proper form and technique is a huge issue for me. Without proper form, rarely do you achieve full muscle contraction. ROM is usually limited and isolation of correct muscles during the exercise is lost. I see it in just about every exercise. One of the most common are the cable pull downs for tricep extensions. Many guys bend over, flair the arms, rotate the shoulders, bend the hips, and the list goes on. It seems every part of the body is doing the exercise BUT the triceps!

Triceps are by no means the only muscle group affected by poor techniques. I've seen it in bicep curls, squats, calf raises, bench press, leg extensions, shoulder presses.....you name it. It's not only a lack of muscle activation that's a concern to me but the increased risk for injury. I often think that with every new membership it should be mandatory for new members to spend one week with a trainer learning how to use the equipment to properly engage the muscle the equipment is designed to train. Unfortunately, many trainers at large franchise fitness centers are also NOT trained on corrective form techniques.

[canesfan804]

Funny thing is some of the younger guys want to know if their form is up to par. I actually ask a few of the older guys esp on squats and deadlifts. Just to be sure Im not losing form when adding weight. So feel free guys to give advice. Usually after the first time they will ask you on other exercises if they want help. If you dont see them fixing form after that then better luck next time.

[MuscleInk]

Funny thing is some of the younger guys want to know if their form is up to par. I actually ask a few of the older guys esp on squats and deadlifts. Just to be sure Im not losing form when adding weight. So feel free guys to give advice. Usually after the first time they will ask you on other exercises if they want help. If you dont see them fixing form after that then better luck next time.

You clearly have a good head on your shoulders and you raise an important concept. At some point the load being lifted (or pulled) will exceed the capacity of the target muscle(s) and your form will "break" engaging other tissues (ligaments/tendons) and body parts to succeed at the lift. Once your form breaks, the benefit diminishes.

[canesfan804]

I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night. I actually just got back into gym about 3 years ago after 5-6 out. Was just too busy trying to chase a buck. So now I catch myself seeing younger guys lifting and sometimes catch myself trying to keep up. Mostly chest and arm days cause they usually dont do squats or deads lol.

[MuscleInk]

I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night. I actually just got back into gym about 3 years ago after 5-6 out. Was just too busy trying to chase a buck. So now I catch myself seeing younger guys lifting and sometimes catch myself trying to keep up. Mostly chest and arm days cause they usually dont do squats or deads lol.

Another huge mistake young guys make. If you don't have a good set of strong wheels, you'll likely break down and not get very far. If a tree has a small trunk and a thick heavy canopy, it'll break and topple.

Most guys like chest and arms because its aesthetic - it's what people notice. These guys don't realize you'll grow bigger and faster if you work the legs more often than the upper body....and of course eat right!

[Sfla80]

I guess it's only my gym but I do think I pride myself on good form. But sometimes I'm not sure. But in most gyms I go to, just to ask a guy if they are using this bench, I get looks like we are gonna fight. So over the years I've taught myself, by watching and reading.

If this board had its own gun it would be amazing, but reality is most guys at the gym aren't very open to helping or what have you.

I said in a previous thread I've been told no for a spot. So if I can't get a spot not going to ask proper technique.

[MuscleInk]

I guess it's only my gym but I do think I pride myself on good form. But sometimes I'm not sure. But in most gyms I go to, just to ask a guy if they are using this bench, I get looks like we are gonna fight. So over the years I've taught myself, by watching and reading.

If this board had its own gun it would be amazing, but reality is most guys at the gym aren't very open to helping or what have you.

I said in a previous thread I've been told no for a spot. So if I can't get a spot not going to ask proper technique.

That's unfortunate you've had that experience but I'm sure its common. I've learned over many years how little adjustments in form and technique lead to enormous improvement in size and performance.

[canesfan804]

I guess thats not you in your avi goode80. Cause that would not have ANY prob gettin a spot at any gym Ive been to. Seriously thoI saw you said that about a spot a few days ago and thought what a dbag the person who told you no must be.

[baseline_9]

I'm a form freak lol, I like to train with tight form but have given up helping others....

It's not worth it, your just wasting your time.... If sum1 wants advise they will ask you and I would always jump at the chance to help if sum1 asked me a question related to training....

[MuscleInk]

I'm a form freak lol, I like to train with tight form but have given up helping others....

It's not worth it, your just wasting your time.... If sum1 wants advise they will ask you and I would always jump at the chance to help if sum1 asked me a question related to training....

I'm the same way Baseline. I see broken/incorrect form all the time and it drives me nuts, but most people would likely tell me to mind my own business if I offered help. When they do ask, I'm more than happy to teach and instruct....but I rarely get that chance.

[Times Roman]

I've offered advice only a couple of times, and each time I asked my self why do i bother.

There was another time some blokes were discussing shoulder pain and how they can't lift because of it. So I attempted to explain TB500 to them. They looked at me like I was crazy.

TBH, I think that most of us are fairly open to new ideas here, which is why we are here in the first place. But, and unfortunately, this is not typically the case in the gym. I think it's simply an awareness issue, and most are unaware of the advances being made in this "sport"

[canesfan804]

I did read some of the stuff you had posted on TB500 and was thinking of giving it a shot for my shoulder. Damn thing has been hurting for over a year. It is alot better but still hurts. I have just recently been able to touch my chest with the bar doing bench again. You still use it dont you for maintenance.

[2fat2bb]

Ive only ever given real basic advice to complete newbies who obviously know absolutely nothing. Last little thing I advised on was to the little Indian fella in my old gym who was using straps but wrapped round the bar the wrong way so kept dropping the bar. He used them for every lift and Im guilty of waiting a long time before telling him how to use them properly, as it was too much fun watching him butcher his workout.

By the same token I knew it was pointless telling him he should have waitted for his grip to fail before using them etc. As they say, you can lead a horse to water, blah blah blah.

Biggest problem I see around me is guys wanting to build big muscle but not understanding bodybuilding isn't weight lifting. Well that's my opinion anyway.

[krugerr]

I often use this type of conversation as an ice breaker. For some reason at my gym, guys avoid eye contact and dont talk to each other. It's like we're all hostile enemies.

I typically train alone. I try to only ask the guys that I see training often that seem to know their stuff. I'll just ask them for a spot or something, thank them. Next time you gym, it's just a simple 'alright mate?" When you turn up. After a couple weeks it's ok I think to discuss form etc. I'm overly humble tho, I tend to say "hey, can you watch my form on this lift?" Was it ok? Etc,

I have tried to be the helpful Samaritan, but it is seldom appreciated. I saw a couple of young kids the other day, the tall skinny one decided they were going to go do some heavy deadlifts. I'm not exactly sure if what they did is a real exercise, the only link it had to deadlifting was the bar was an Olympic one. It was horrendous, his friends came over and he then proceeded to explain all about the Deadlift and it's importance to lifting...

I was just stunned. Some people can't be helped.
If I'm asked to spot, or watch form though, I'm always up for it, I'm not a gym god, but I know good form and training. I had help when I was young, I feel it's my job to help the younger lifters, if they want it of course!

[kronik420]

no ones asked me about form and technique yet..

had one guy ask me about diet, thats it...

if someone asks me for a spot, ill spot them and if their form isn't right ill just say "next set try this..." and then their like "ahh that was much easier" or "gee i could really feel the burn that way.." im like "yea..."