What Confucius Would Say About Lifting.

If you have been following me on Instagram, you would have seen that I have began some of my posts with a certain quote that I find relevant to the content I intend to share. So on the topic of quotes, who better than the man of wisdom himself, "Master Kong", to give us some thoughts regarding lifting that are relevant to the things he says.

Confucius says <insert stereotypical Chinese accent>..

1. When it is obvious that goals cannot be reached, do not adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.

This is very straightforward when related to lifting. It tells us that it is important to be willing to try different methods if your progress begins to stagnate. Be it more strength work, be it cross training, switch things up to keep the body guessing and even adapting but keep the eventual goal the same.

2. A man who does not think and plan ahead will find trouble right at his door.

This one is specifically to attempting a lift. Many go in with the intention of "grip and rip", almost becoming mindless. If you do not visualize how the lift is going to be, your body cannot prepare physiologically. The last thing you want is not to be able to remember what you thought of before the lift because then it becomes impossible to put the correct steps in place to repeat it.

3. All good things are difficult to achieve, and all bad things are very easy to get.

When it comes down to lifting technique, it is easier for you to fall into the path of frustration as you keep making mistakes. But the ability to distinguish a good lift is what will allow you to get better if you have the patience for it. Don't end up doing lift after lift without resetting and reflecting so that you can distinguish the difference. That's how you build a feel or an awareness for the lift. 

4. The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect [his] work must first sharpen [his] tools.

In order for your lifts to feel right, it's not just a matter of learning the lifts but putting in the necessary layers upon your movement patterns. This can be mobility, motor control, strength etc. Do the work to improve every aspect of your lifts so that there are no lagging components in your technique.

5. Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.

I find this one very personal. Working with many individuals at my workshops and seminars, you can see the frustration they have at the start of the day. But giving them the concepts and principles which make sense empowers them with better knowledge of the lifts. So when they hit the hands-on lifting component, they have a completely different perspective on the lifts. More importantly, they end up feeling better about their movements and the desire to improve further now that they have felt the difference can be seen as a takeaway for them and most importantly very rewarding for me.

Of course there are many more truths spoken up the man himself. But I find these ones to resonate really well particularly to lifting and my experiences in the sport. Hope that sheds some light into your lifting journey as you continue to enjoy this sport of self-discovery and achievement.