With my new found celebrity status as a contributor for T-Nation, I would simply like to thank all the little people I stepped upon on my way to the top. Thank you.
If I may be of any use during Prime Time, let it be so…
Re: … at least 8 hours of sleep per day.
A thread got started elsewhere on sleep minimums, optimums, and maximums, and then I remembered your 8 hour rule.
So, how much sleep do you actually get? Between the family, the jobs, the training, and your utter domination of the Highland Games, when do you sleep? How many hours are in a Utah day?
Also, Re: … breakfast and smoking. Is it ok if I have a few smokes for breakfast? Or no?
Thanks,
Bastard!
Dan,
I heard you’re running a 2 for 1 sale today.
- Do you differentiate training “in” throwing season from the “off” season?
If so how? - I keep finding my very low back injured each time I ramp up my throwing volume. Any suggestions for an old guy trying to get back into throwing?
Thanks.
old dogg
Dan -
My little sister did shot put and discus for the first time last year. She did fairly well, I think placed 2nd or 3rd at a few meets. She’s 15 and I’m trying to help her out a bit.
I’ve read some of your training articles at your site and am going to pass some on to her, so I was wondering what specific articles I should have her read? And would you alter any of the parameters for females?
I also haven’t seen anything regarding shot put on your site. Is there another resource you would recommend for shot?
Last question. She’s noticed that the girls that do the best seem to be rather hefty. My sister is probably weighs about 125-130 and doesn’t want to have to gain weight to excel. Does extra weight help in throwing or is it all about technique and strength?
One thing I work on and I mean I work on is the quality of sleep I get. At discus camp, I use ear plugs, an eye mask, Biotest’s ZMA and an OTC melatonin. At home, I don’t need the ear plugs…usually. At home, only in the harshest part of summer do I even worry about light.
So, yes, I get 8 plus a day. Usually. Stuff happens, sure, but I have made a committment to sleeping. I tell you, I didn’t always sleep well. My wife can tell you that I used to use relaxation tapes to get to sleep. So, now I have turned the corner…usually…on sleep.
It is probably the single best recovery tool, yet we tend to dismiss it out of hand. The Cuban O lifting team sleeps 9 hours each night and take a three hour nap DAILY.
As for your other question…depends on what you smoke, I guess…
[quote]BFG wrote:
Re: … at least 8 hours of sleep per day.
A thread got started elsewhere on sleep minimums, optimums, and maximums, and then I remembered your 8 hour rule.
So, how much sleep do you actually get? Between the family, the jobs, the training, and your utter domination of the Highland Games, when do you sleep? How many hours are in a Utah day?
Also, Re: … breakfast and smoking. Is it ok if I have a few smokes for breakfast? Or no?
Thanks,
Bastard![/quote]
I do. I throw heavier stuff in the off season, often just junk that resembles the actual stuff. I throw something probably every day without even thinking about it. So, off or on, throw.
Low back. Years away. Common story. Here is an idea: have more than one throwing intensity. I only throw 100% when the ring judge calls my name. The bulk of my throws are either drills, easy throws, or overweight stuff…
[quote]old_dogg wrote:
Dan,
I heard you’re running a 2 for 1 sale today.
- Do you differentiate training “in” throwing season from the “off” season?
If so how? - I keep finding my very low back injured each time I ramp up my throwing volume. Any suggestions for an old guy trying to get back into throwing?
Thanks.
old dogg[/quote]
I’ve actually had some excellent long term success with female throwers. I treat them the exact same (like dogs) and I find that female throwers are much tougher in training and need to be taught to hold back.
I have little on the shot because it matches what I know about the shot.
You just asked the “can of worms” question. You can be lean and throw far. Coaches tend to put “fat kids” in the throws. In high school, our “Fat Man’s relay” smoked most Varsity teams because we had four normal athletes who threw (and played other sports) not a bunch of goo.
Tell her to stay lean and muscular and throw damn far.
[quote]super saiyan wrote:
Dan -
My little sister did shot put and discus for the first time last year. She did fairly well, I think placed 2nd or 3rd at a few meets. She’s 15 and I’m trying to help her out a bit.
I’ve read some of your training articles at your site and am going to pass some on to her, so I was wondering what specific articles I should have her read? And would you alter any of the parameters for females?
I also haven’t seen anything regarding shot put on your site. Is there another resource you would recommend for shot?
Last question. She’s noticed that the girls that do the best seem to be rather hefty. My sister is probably weighs about 125-130 and doesn’t want to have to gain weight to excel. Does extra weight help in throwing or is it all about technique and strength? [/quote]
Excellent article Dan!!
When I was younger, I used to think that old people were really stupid and annoying. However, the older I get the smarter my parents and grandparents seem:)
I can’t let you get away w/out answering a few questions:) Seriously though, I’d appreciate just a minute or two of your time. Thanks in advance.
-
In your overhead squat article on your website, what do you attribute the “scary dad” strength thing to? In other words, how are dads so damn strong w/out even “working out?”
-
Do you still consider the overhead squat one of the best moves for all around strength because many strength coaches say they “don’t recommend it” because “it demands too much shoulder rom” or “it’s too awkward” or “it limits the load one is squatting as opposed to squatting heavier loads w/a back squat?” Or that “overhead squats take too long to get proficient at”
-
I know that you’ve stated before that you are not a big fan of assistance exercises (rev hypers, hypers, natural glute ham raises, good mornings, etc) and that we should focus on the “meat” such as: presses, squats, pulls, quick lifts, etc but what about the fact that some lifters are built for deadlifting and not for squatting/pressing and vice versa? In other words, are assistant exercises needed to help people overcome sticking points w/their weaker lifts?
-
How much of strength training is black and white and how much is in the grey area and instinctive?
Please continue to write TONS for this site because you are the bomb!
Wait, wait, wait…all you did was cut and paste this from the article forum.
I see through this clever ruse.
[quote]BPC wrote:
Excellent article Dan!!
When I was younger, I used to think that old people were really stupid and annoying. However, the older I get the smarter my parents and grandparents seem:)
I can’t let you get away w/out answering a few questions:) Seriously though, I’d appreciate just a minute or two of your time. Thanks in advance.
-
In your overhead squat article on your website, what do you attribute the “scary dad” strength thing to? In other words, how are dads so damn strong w/out even “working out?”
-
Do you still consider the overhead squat one of the best moves for all around strength because many strength coaches say they “don’t recommend it” because “it demands too much shoulder rom” or “it’s too awkward” or “it limits the load one is squatting as opposed to squatting heavier loads w/a back squat?” Or that “overhead squats take too long to get proficient at”
-
I know that you’ve stated before that you are not a big fan of assistance exercises (rev hypers, hypers, natural glute ham raises, good mornings, etc) and that we should focus on the “meat” such as: presses, squats, pulls, quick lifts, etc but what about the fact that some lifters are built for deadlifting and not for squatting/pressing and vice versa? In other words, are assistant exercises needed to help people overcome sticking points w/their weaker lifts?
-
How much of strength training is black and white and how much is in the grey area and instinctive?
Please continue to write TONS for this site because you are the bomb! [/quote]
[quote]Danny John wrote:
Wait, wait, wait…all you did was cut and paste this from the article forum.
I see through this clever ruse.
BPC wrote:
Excellent article Dan!! [/quote}
The poor kid couldn’t even pay enough attention to edit the Excellent Article comment.
Okay okay you got me:)
[quote]BPC wrote:
Please continue to write TONS for this site because you are the bomb! [/quote]
Coach,
Since you are so old, I just wanted to let you know that the above was indeed a compliment.
Thanks for the sleep response. I didn’t expect so much, but I truly appreciate it. I do not have any issues sleeping. My only issue is finding enough time to sleep. My days continue to have 24 hours.
Nah, I don’t smoke nothing.
Since you like throwing stuff so much, have you ever just picked up something and tossed it only to find out that someone actually wanted it? Only now it is in a hundred pieces and 200 feet away! Surely you have some good stories on “stuff that Dan John threw that he shouldn’t have”!
Thanks again,
Bastard!
[quote]BFG wrote:
BPC wrote:
Please continue to write TONS for this site because you are the bomb!
Coach,
Since you are so old, I just wanted to let you know that the above was indeed a compliment.
Thanks for the sleep response. I didn’t expect so much, but I truly appreciate it. I do not have any issues sleeping. My only issue is finding enough time to sleep. My days continue to have 24 hours.
Nah, I don’t smoke nothing.
Since you like throwing stuff so much, have you ever just picked up something and tossed it only to find out that someone actually wanted it? Only now it is in a hundred pieces and 200 feet away! Surely you have some good stories on “stuff that Dan John threw that he shouldn’t have”!
Thanks again,
Bastard![/quote]
Indeed!
It was a very HIGH compliment.
[quote]old_dogg wrote:
Danny John wrote:
Wait, wait, wait…all you did was cut and paste this from the article forum.
I see through this clever ruse.
BPC wrote:
Excellent article Dan!! [/quote}
The poor kid couldn’t even pay enough attention to edit the Excellent Article comment.
[/quote]
Poor kid? How old are you?
I didn’t think it would be a big deal so I intentionally included the entire post, because as stated by another poster, it is INDEED a compliment for Dan’s most recent article and also contains some questions.
What’s wrong with that?
Let’s see: I almost killed a girl in High School with a disc when she walked into the sector at about 162. I threw about 165. It missed her head by about three inches. I threw a hammer and almost killed a Utah State football player once. I threw a 28 pound weight and slipped and almost took out my daughter, Kelly.
Other than that…no.
[quote]BFG wrote:
BPC wrote:
Please continue to write TONS for this site because you are the bomb!
Coach,
Since you are so old, I just wanted to let you know that the above was indeed a compliment.
Thanks for the sleep response. I didn’t expect so much, but I truly appreciate it. I do not have any issues sleeping. My only issue is finding enough time to sleep. My days continue to have 24 hours.
Nah, I don’t smoke nothing.
Since you like throwing stuff so much, have you ever just picked up something and tossed it only to find out that someone actually wanted it? Only now it is in a hundred pieces and 200 feet away! Surely you have some good stories on “stuff that Dan John threw that he shouldn’t have”!
Thanks again,
Bastard![/quote]
No, nothing “wrong” with that. Certainly, it isn’t the same as the mass executions of the Stalin regime.
Yet, somehow, maybe, I don’t know, perhaps, could be…
Is copying a post in one forum perhaps just the first small steps in the ultimate destruction of civilization as we know it? I’m thinking…maybe…
[quote]BPC wrote:
old_dogg wrote:
Danny John wrote:
Wait, wait, wait…all you did was cut and paste this from the article forum.
I see through this clever ruse.
BPC wrote:
Excellent article Dan!! [/quote}
The poor kid couldn’t even pay enough attention to edit the Excellent Article comment.
Poor kid? How old are you?
I didn’t think it would be a big deal so I intentionally included the entire post, because as stated by another poster, it is INDEED a compliment for Dan’s most recent article and also contains some questions.
What’s wrong with that?
[/quote]
Dan,
I’ll incorporate the lower intensity advice. I should know better at my age, but it seems to be a common issue I run into. I intellectually get the need to “back off” intensity whether throwing or lifting but it gets harder to implement in practice.
Maybe the same line of thinking around the 40 workout plan would help me as an approach. One of many sessions, rather than an individual one. Thanks for the suggestion.
old dogg
[quote]Danny John wrote:
I do. I throw heavier stuff in the off season, often just junk that resembles the actual stuff. I throw something probably every day without even thinking about it. So, off or on, throw.
Low back. Years away. Common story. Here is an idea: have more than one throwing intensity. I only throw 100% when the ring judge calls my name. The bulk of my throws are either drills, easy throws, or overweight stuff…
Sarcasm and humor don’t work well on a forum. I was just messing around. In any event, you were kind to overlook my lack of skill with the quote function.
Indeed, I am very old.
[quote]BPC wrote:
old_dogg wrote:
Danny John wrote:
Wait, wait, wait…all you did was cut and paste this from the article forum.
I see through this clever ruse.
BPC wrote:
Excellent article Dan!! [/quote}
The poor kid couldn’t even pay enough attention to edit the Excellent Article comment.
Poor kid? How old are you?
I didn’t think it would be a big deal so I intentionally included the entire post, because as stated by another poster, it is INDEED a compliment for Dan’s most recent article and also contains some questions.
What’s wrong with that?
[/quote]
[quote]old_dogg wrote:
Sarcasm and humor don’t work well on a forum. I was just messing around. In any event, you were kind to overlook my lack of skill with the quote function.
Indeed, I am very old.
BPC wrote:
old_dogg wrote:
Danny John wrote:
Wait, wait, wait…all you did was cut and paste this from the article forum.
I see through this clever ruse.
BPC wrote:
Excellent article Dan!! [/quote}
The poor kid couldn’t even pay enough attention to edit the Excellent Article comment.
Poor kid? How old are you?
I didn’t think it would be a big deal so I intentionally included the entire post, because as stated by another poster, it is INDEED a compliment for Dan’s most recent article and also contains some questions.
What’s wrong with that?
[/quote]
Yeah you are right. Sometimes it’s hard to clearly understand that “between the lines” stuff. It’s all good though. No harm done to his “poor kid:)”
I’m still waiting on the answers though:)
I’ll tell you what I will do. I will use a bunch of fancy language with charts and graphs and all and you will use your excel spreadsheet between throws and a wireless system back to me to insure a bunch of easy technical throws.
Or, you could do what I do. Throw in the backyard and fear losing the implements to rivers, animals and brush. Worked for me…
[quote]old_dogg wrote:
Dan,
I’ll incorporate the lower intensity advice. I should know better at my age, but it seems to be a common issue I run into. I intellectually get the need to “back off” intensity whether throwing or lifting but it gets harder to implement in practice.
Maybe the same line of thinking around the 40 workout plan would help me as an approach. One of many sessions, rather than an individual one. Thanks for the suggestion.
old dogg
Danny John wrote:
I do. I throw heavier stuff in the off season, often just junk that resembles the actual stuff. I throw something probably every day without even thinking about it. So, off or on, throw.
Low back. Years away. Common story. Here is an idea: have more than one throwing intensity. I only throw 100% when the ring judge calls my name. The bulk of my throws are either drills, easy throws, or overweight stuff…
[/quote]