Lessons from the Big Game

Working my way through a continuing education module this weekend, I heard something that really made my ears perk up.

Martin Rooney of TFW was giving the lecture, and he was talking about some of the different systems that are out there, and how his (and our) philosophy is different.

What he said was this:

“You don’t have to do the extraordinary, you have to do the ordinary extraordinarily well”.

What he meant by that is you don’t have to do some of the crazy stuff that is out there on YouTube that only about .03% of the population can even attempt, never mind perform well. You have to focus on mastering the basics first, then worry about the fancy stuff. Even some of the exercise progressions in here are not appropriate for everyone who walks in the doors, sometimes for a very long time.

Simple exercises are not always as simple as they seem.

For instance name an exercise that:

• Activates the stretch shortening cycle
• Increases heart rate
• Elevates core temperature
• Fires up the Central Nervous System
• Strengthens the foot (if performed barefoot)
• Works shoulder mobility
• Works thoracic extension

That’s right, it’s the Jumping Jack.

Usually treated as a “throw away, too easy” exercise, there is far more to it than that. Master the jumping jack and you have a lot going on!

I was reminded of this concept during the Seahawks dismantling of the Broncos last night.

From where I sat, Seattle’s defense was not doing a lot of fancy stuff. They stuck to what they do, which is go hard after the passer, stay in their lanes, go fast to the ball, and tackle cleanly. This is all “basic” stuff you learn in PeeWee which led to them earning the title of NFL Champions.

There is a lesson to be learned here.

Don’t worry about all the stuff that you are “not currently able to do”.

Focus on mastering what you can do, and getting a little better, every single time you step into the gym, every single day.

“You don’t have to do the extraordinary, you have to do the ordinary extraordinarily well”.

That’s what leads to being the best you that you can be!

Make It Happen,

Coach Dean