Re: Alvin Kamara Shows Off What May Be His Craziest Workout Yet
 

As I pointed out Palmer himself mentioned that he didn't have the natural talent of many of these players receiving this training. The fact is that the vast majority of great coaches were not very successful in their own sports. "Never was" ex busts can still teach others even though they didn't have the individual talent to excel themselves. They can also know what it takes to be great given the prerequisite God-given talent. I think you can agree that those seals don't have the God-given talent to play runningback in the ;) NFL, right?

Re: Alvin Kamara Shows Off What May Be His Craziest Workout Yet
 

I understand.

I try to get better by even half a percent every day in everything I do - both in my job and in martial arts. The best do it this way with what is called deliberate practice which is very different from the way the average person practices. It is fascinating to me to see how people become the best in the world at things and it challenges me to get better (sometimes what the best in the world say or do is not necessarily how they got to where they are at).

So, for example, in golf most average people practice by hitting the ball on the putting green or the long range green (you can tell I don't golf). One of Tiger Woods training methods was hitting the ball from a sand trap dozens of times a day with immediate feedback - this is deliberate practice. That's a skill Tiger obviously needed and the immediate feedback on getting better at that skill made him great at hitting the ball out of a sand trap.

It is really interesting stuff.

Re: Alvin Kamara Shows Off What May Be His Craziest Workout Yet
 

Hi,

There is no such thing as "natural talent." Unfortunately, that is a myth propagated by a lot of people and it is frustrating because it makes people think they are unable to achieve what someone else did.

Re: Alvin Kamara Shows Off What May Be His Craziest Workout Yet
 

Read Starting Strength and other books by Coach Rippetoe and you will discover this is non-sense by the trainer and by Palmer. A very heavy and correctly done squat, deadlift, clean, and press will do more for power than bouncing balls on an athlete's head, etc. Lots of trainers seem to sell this non-sense so they can get paid. It is frustrating for me to see it.

Re: Alvin Kamara Shows Off What May Be His Craziest Workout Yet
 

Perhaps "natural talent" is a misnomer. Some people are, however more gifted athletically. You do agree that there are different muscle types, right? Fast twitch and slow twitch. My older son swam competitively in Division I at UNO. He has slow twitch muscle fibers and any amount of training would not have made him successfully competitive at sprinting. However, he excelled at distance. Someone 5'2" would never be able to play center successfully in the NBA, for example. Wouldn't you say that there are limits physiologically?

Re: Alvin Kamara Shows Off What May Be His Craziest Workout Yet
 

Palmer didn't discount weight work. He says that is all necessary, but small technique work can get the most out of that power. The way he described it was a QB generates what we'll call 100 bars of energy when pushing off with his foot. That energy is transmitted through the body in a series of movements - ankle, knees, hips, back, shoulder, arm, wrist, hand and fingers. Some QB's could have what would be described as a strong arm and only be retaining 75 bars of that energy as the last finger leaves the ball. Other QB's can get close to the original 100 bars of energy by eliminating wasted motions and actually deliver the ball with more velocity and accuracy than the "strong armed" QB. He said there are trainers that specialize in getting the most out of those movements.

As for Kamara, yes, he's not going to be catching a colored stick while playing the game of football, but he is working out his spatial cognizance which has to help in quickly identifying a minute opening or placement of a defender's foot allowing him to react in a manner that could improve his performance.

None of this is meant to replace more traditional training methods. It just gives them what they feel is a special added edge. Even if that edge is only mental.

Re: Alvin Kamara Shows Off What May Be His Craziest Workout Yet
 

While I didn't read Peak, I did read a review that spelled out the philosophy behind it. It does make sense. My excessive reading days are mostly behind me. At least deep reading. Bad cervical discs and arthritic facet joints have made extensive reading somewhat painful. I have to be more selective.

Re: Alvin Kamara Shows Off What May Be His Craziest Workout Yet
 

This is why it is important to read the books and research. It's too long too explain here.

Re: Alvin Kamara Shows Off What May Be His Craziest Workout Yet
 

What Palmer is selling and this silly drill by Kamara is just non-sense.

Re: Alvin Kamara Shows Off What May Be His Craziest Workout Yet
 

What Palmer is selling and this silly drill by Kamara is non-sense.