[TUES] The Battle of Can Versus Should
Uh, yeah. I absolutely can and probably will eat that entire pizza, DARREN.
Whenever we are starring down the barrel of any life attempt that’s in clear excess of our limits, can and should begin to battle for space in our mind. Just this once, I’m going to save you the arrogance of telling you were that line should be drawn in your personal life, but in the gym, I have no problem presumptuously telling you what to do.
The pizza example is obvious low hanging fruit of that dichotomy, but many seemingly innocent encounters are presented to us in the gym nearly every day.
Learning the difference between should and can is a very important part of long-term success, because we have to know when to back off and when to move forward. When we should let “can” win, and when we shouldn’t.
You might see the board and see that the most challenging load option in a PPB is a load you’ve moved a few times in a strength tier. But just because you can move it five or six times, should you attempt to do so at a near max pace with your position likely exposed to numerous faults?
No. You should not.
Maybe it’s 4×5 back squat day. You’ve rattled off three sets of five reps at 145 pounds with relative physical ease and very solid, but not perfect position. Your partner tells you that can do more and your coach says you look good. You feel like you can as well, but you’re nervous because it’s foreign weight. Should you?
Yes. Yes you should. Enough boxes are checked to make that a fine opportunity to expose yourself to sensible new stimulus.
You’ve been away on vacation for two weeks. Your third day back has a two rep deadlift option at weight you’ve repped dozens of times. No big deal. So can you do it? Of course. Should you?
No. You should not. There’s little to be gained from a single two-rep day but lots to be lost in this scenario.
As you can see, can and should do not live in a vacuum. Every can and should opportunity has a host of factors and influence to them, and you must be aware of them all relative to the task at hand if you are going to ensure you succeed long-term and avoid setbacks that are so easy to side step if we just use common sense.
Give the “cans” a couple of wins here and there, but for the most part, try to be self-governed by “should.”
If you can’t self govern, then give your keys to your coach.
-Dave
Tuesday, 1.30.18
First, for Skill.
12’ of Split Jerk Practice not to exceed 50%.
—
Then, for Conditioning.
400m Run
50 Renegade Rows
30 Squat Jumps w/ Single Leg Landing
50 Wall Balls
75 Ring Rows
800m Run
Uh, yeah. I absolutely can and probably will eat that entire pizza, DARREN.
Whenever we are starring down the barrel of any life attempt that’s in clear excess of our limits, can and should begin to battle for space in our mind. Just this once, I’m going to save you the arrogance of telling you were that line should be drawn in your personal life, but in the gym, I have no problem presumptuously telling you what to do.
The pizza example is obvious low hanging fruit of that dichotomy, but many seemingly innocent encounters are presented to us in the gym nearly every day.
Learning the difference between should and can is a very important part of long-term success, because we have to know when to back off and when to move forward. When we should let “can” win, and when we shouldn’t.
You might see the board and see that the most challenging load option in a PPB is a load you’ve moved a few times in a strength tier. But just because you can move it five or six times, should you attempt to do so at a near max pace with your position likely exposed to numerous faults?
No. You should not.
Maybe it’s 4×5 back squat day. You’ve rattled off three sets of five reps at 145 pounds with relative physical ease and very solid, but not perfect position. Your partner tells you that can do more and your coach says you look good. You feel like you can as well, but you’re nervous because it’s foreign weight. Should you?
Yes. Yes you should. Enough boxes are checked to make that a fine opportunity to expose yourself to sensible new stimulus.
You’ve been away on vacation for two weeks. Your third day back has a two rep deadlift option at weight you’ve repped dozens of times. No big deal. So can you do it? Of course. Should you?
No. You should not. There’s little to be gained from a single two-rep day but lots to be lost in this scenario.
As you can see, can and should do not live in a vacuum. Every can and should opportunity has a host of factors and influence to them, and you must be aware of them all relative to the task at hand if you are going to ensure you succeed long-term and avoid setbacks that are so easy to side step if we just use common sense.
Give the “cans” a couple of wins here and there, but for the most part, try to be self-governed by “should.”
If you can’t self govern, then give your keys to your coach.
-Dave
Tuesday, 1.30.18
First, for Skill.
12’ of Split Jerk Practice not to exceed 50%.
—
Then, for Conditioning.
400m Run
50 Renegade Rows
30 Squat Jumps w/ Single Leg Landing
50 Wall Balls
75 Ring Rows
800m Run
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