Bridging Science and Practice: The Revolutionary Approach to Strength & Conditioning
Denis Logan- Automated Strength Coach
S&C Coach and Educator | CSCS, NASM-PES, USAW, USATF | Providing S&C professionals the education, tools and programs that they need to accelerate their careers.
"You have to feel it before you can understand it."
?This insight from Bryan Mann, shared during our recent conversation, fundamentally challenges how we approach strength and conditioning.
As someone who has spent 30 years bridging the gap between the weight room and the research lab, Bryan's perspective flips our traditional approach to coaching on its head – emphasizing experiential learning before theoretical understanding.
?
The Hidden Crisis in Strength & Conditioning
?Let's begin with a sobering reality:
Approximately 80% of athletes are training sub-optimally, following programs that don't align with their specific needs or sports.
?When I discussed this with Bryan, he pointed to a crucial insight from his journey that began in 1992 as a powerlifter: the disconnect between scientific research and practical application isn't just a knowledge gap – it's an experience gap.
This insight extends far beyond program design – it's a fundamental principle that can transform your entire approach to coaching and athlete development.
Just as Bryan emphasizes that better coaching comes from first experiencing the training effects yourself, better results come from bridging the gap between feeling and understanding.
The Science of Experiential Learning in Strength & Conditioning
Before we dive into specific strategies, let's understand why Bryan's "feel first" approach is so crucial.
When coaches personally experience training methods before studying their mechanisms, they activate what neuroscientists call "embodied cognition" – the direct relationship between physical experience and cognitive understanding.
It's this principle that Bryan has used to revolutionize how we teach and implement strength and conditioning concepts.
Understanding the Practice-Theory Connection
As strength and conditioning professionals, we operate in an environment that demands both practical expertise and theoretical knowledge.
Bryan's approach shows us that these aren't separate domains – they're interconnected aspects of mastery.
Think about your typical coaching scenario: you're simultaneously a movement specialist, a physiologist, and an educator. Each role requires distinct knowledge bases and skill sets, but they all begin with direct experience.
Evidence-Based Strategies for Coaching Excellence
Let's explore these strategies through Bryan's lens of experiential learning and scientific understanding.
1. The Power of Velocity-Based Training
Bryan's work in VBT revolutionized our understanding of force production and power development.
This wasn't just theoretical research – it came from years of practical observation and personal experience.
Implementation Protocol:
- Experience different velocity zones personally
领英推荐
- Track velocity changes across various loads
- Develop intuitive understanding through practice
- Create systematic implementation protocols
The Compound Effect of Integration
When we bridge the gap between feeling and understanding, we create what something that I’ve heard referred as the "Practice-Theory Loop."
This system creates a positive feedback cycle where better experiential understanding leads to improved theoretical knowledge, which in turn supports better coaching.
Understanding the Practice-Theory Loop
1. Personal Experience: Start with direct physical practice
2. Observation and Feeling: Develop kinesthetic awareness
3. Theoretical Study: Connect experience to science
4. Application Enhancement: Leverage integrated knowledge for better coaching
?
Resources
?
Moving Forward: Your Action Plan
?As Bryan emphasizes, the key to improvement isn't choosing between practice and theory – it's integrating them effectively.
?Start with these steps:
?1. Experience key training methods personally
2. Document your observations and feelings
3. Study the underlying mechanisms
4. Implement integrated coaching practices
?
Ready to dive deeper into these concepts?
Join me for an extended discussion with Bryan Mann in my latest podcast episode at automatedstrengthcoach.com/the-road, where we explore these principles in greater detail.
Remember: Excellence in strength and conditioning isn't about choosing between practice and theory – it's about bridging the gap between feeling and understanding, one experience at a time.