Smart Stuff from Steve Maxwell

Appeared July 25, 2006

Hope today finds you with rich blessings from the Almighty. The more top level strength coaches and real intellects of the strength and conditioning world I get to know I find that we all operate off of very similar philosophies.

I also find that they are less close-minded than the average trainer. That open-mindedness allows them to experiment and find the things that really produce results. Here are some really brilliant things that a top level trainer conditioning specialist and world Jujitsu champ, Steve Maxwell, recently wrote. It’s smart stuff so pay attention.

“I started exercising at 11 when my Dad bought me my first York barbell set. My home town, Carlisle (PA) was close to York, the then mecca of olympic lifting. Dad would take me to the old York gym to watch the Olympic lifters. There, I met many of the old time weightlifting champs including, Bob Bednarski, Joe Dube, Ernie Picket, Tony Terlazzo, the great John Grimmick, Steve Stanko, Bob Hoffman and others I cannot remember. These were the fathers of American strength training. The influence these men had on me as a young kid is deeply ingrained. Later, as a high school and college wrestler, PE teacher, coach and trainer, I met dozens of other professors, coaches and mentors that helped mold and shape my ideas along the way. Some of the things I learned over the years are:

1. There is no one right way to do things, there are several right ways to do most things. The important thing is to do what is right for you

2. There is no one all, be all system of exercise. each system has advantages and disadvantages. Educate yourself and intelligently select the best system that meets what it is that you wish to accomplish

3. No one piece of exercise equipment can do it all. each piece of equipment is a tool. Learning to chose the right tools for the job comes from experience.

4. Have a set goal and work towards that goal. Realize that as you mature, your goals will change-that is a good thing.

5. Do not be afraid to try new ideas. don't get stuck in a rut, experiment.

6. Pick an exercise system that you enjoy and can stick with, but realize that in life we have to sometimes do things that we don't enjoy and exercise is no exception.

7. No mater what system you employ, put your health first and foremost. Exercise should build ones health and wellbeing. If your exercise regimen is producing injury and pain, you need to take a hard look at why you are doing this to yourself. A superior system of exercise should prevent injuries and make the body more resilient. If you take care of your health, work on your ability to do things (function), then your muscles (form) will take care of themselves.

Steve Maxwell”


Very smart stuff!

Emphasize your health, get stronger to prevent injury, use training that builds you up instead of breaks you down. There is no one way. Much of the road you’ll have to discover for yourself even if someone else lays out a very detailed system for you.

I don’t often post something so extensive that someone else wrote, but this is brilliant stuff and Steve is a top-class guy. Truthfully most of your top level conditioning guys, whether they promote a particular system or not all believe along these same lines. Is it a coincidence that we’ve all reached similar conclusions from separate pathways?

No it’s not. It’s because these findings represent the truth of what it takes to achieve physical greatness. Just like most of the real training systems around the world, when you investigate them deeply, hold most of the same principles, they just use different tools to get the job done. It’s because there is a specific formula for superior physical ability. High and low reps, strength and conditioning, consistency and variety, basic and unique exercises, all molded together make for the greatest training.

Does your workout include these? If it doesn’t, somewhere you’re missing the boat.