I have been asked this question thousands of times over the years. It is, in fact, the single most popular question. Everyone wants the best method of training, not just a good method. Fact is, “What is the best training routine?” is an incomplete question. It doesn’t address the most important details.
What details?
Simple, here, for example:
- Best training routine for whom?
- Best training routine with what goals in mind? Improve in sports? Lose body fat? Gain muscular size? Build strength? Increase endurance?
- Best training routine at what age? Sixteen, forty, sixty years of age?
- Best training routine for a beginner?
- Best training routine for an advanced trainee?
- Best training routine with what type of equipment?
- Adjustable plate loading barbells?
- Dumbbells?
- Kettlebells?
- Machines?
- Cables?
- How about bodyweight?
So, you can see where we’re heading. The “one size fits all” mentality has no place here. Training is an individualized activity. Furthermore, it is a moving target. It is subject to change as the individual changes. And, believe me, change is the one thing that doesn’t change! The individual ages, gets stronger, adapts to the exercise, etc.
The legendary martial artist Bruce Lee said it best:
“Research your own experiences for the truth. Absorb what is useful. Reject what is useless. Add specifically what is your own.”
This pretty much sums up the task at hand. Try to absorb as much information as possible. Find what works best for you, not someone else. That someone else is not exactly like you. In other words, experiment, experiment, experiment. The methods that don’t work for you, discard them. Don’t dwell on them and say, “Well, it worked for him, therefore, it has got to work for me.” Get a good idea of what was done by thousands upon thousands of weight trainees to obtain marvelous results. Study the training methods that made all strongmen strong.
The answers to your questions are there.
Yours for greater strength,
Bill Hinbern
Super Strength Training
