There’s a guy that roams about my blog, and I’m thankful he’s here. He goes by the name of Coach Stevo and has a website of his own that’s pretty nifty. After some blog post of mine, he told me that my ideas were similar to what was in Easy Strength, written by Dan John and Pavel [...]
There’s a guy that roams about my blog, and I’m thankful he’s here. He goes by the name of Coach Stevo and has a website of his own that’s pretty nifty. After some blog post of mine, he told me that my ideas were similar to what was in Easy Strength, written by Dan John and Pavel Tsatsouline, and that I needed to read it. So, I did.
I’m a pretty critical guy when it comes to training materials. When I heard Dan and Pavel were the authors, I prepared for a marmalade of RKC talk. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that [Seinfeld moment].) But when I read about training, I want the madness and not necessarily the methods. I don’t care so much about “programs,” as I do about rationale behind them.
But I have to say that Easy Strength could very well be the best book for a general trainee wondering how to organize their physical preparation for a sport. As usual, Dan John finds a way to incorporate the “easy” into the scientific. Pavel cites many notables through out the book, such as Verkoshansky, Siff, Francis, and other overseas coaches. The book is a bridge between Western coaches and Eastern coaches. Dan John quips from a more anecdotal perspective. Pavel, on the other hand, uses many examples from other athletes and coaches.
Harking back to a series I wrote, How to Prepare Yourself for a Strength and Conditioning Job Without Going to College, this book is a nice fit in stage five. It distinguishes between barbell athletes and non-barbell athletes, and how each of them have different needs. It assures you that there is a “strong enough,” and that barbells don’t create athletes.
As alluded to, however, there is an RKC vibe to it. But if you can comprehend this book, you’re better off than most. That’s not to say that the programs within its pages are the end of all things, but if you keep your mind open and your feelers going, you will be better off after having read this book. With the season of giving right around the corner, consider this for your list.