Coming Back From A Lay-Off (Still Strong)

[Mike]

After not even looking at Hank (My Bruiser) for weeks I decided to take him outside yesterday and swing him a little. Amazingly I still somehow retained much of the strength that I had before the lay-off! The movements felt smooth and still quite co-ordinated, I only did a couple of sets but still, I was totally shocked at my performance.

What is it that makes CST more retainable than other forms of exercise? I don't get this with traditional resistance training! Has anyone else had the same experience!

[Scott Sonnon]

Proprioceptive Enhancement, one of the attributes in the "Wheel of CST", is that elusive "never forget how to ride a bike" quality. As opposed to strength based upon mass, nerve drive / neural force (or in CST speak - neurological sophistication) waits only for you to call upon it.

Welcome back, and say hello to Hank for me. :)

[rbibbs]

Interesting observation Mike.

Hypothetical explanation: We have empirically determined that usable strength is not simply a function of the cross-sectional size of isolated muscles, but more a function of the synergy among structurally interdependent muscle sets, and between core, transitional, and perhipheral structures. Further, that 'sensory motor amnesia' is the primary thief of usable strength (in the absence of pathology or genuine atrophy). "Weeks" is not long enough for SMA to reassert itself. 'Extended floor parking' of Clubbells doesn't countercondition neuromotor synergy; we continue to use and enjoy it (maybe why we refer to it as 'usable strength').

Another hypothesis: When analyzing short-term phenomena (days, weeks, months, lifetimes), I sometimes frame the query in geologic or evolutionary time to see what the long-term trend is. Linear weight training only dates roughly to the industrial revolution. Over the 100,000-some-year history of man, a great deal more strength has been developed by doing coherent work than by doing Nautilus. That should biologically predispose us toward retaining the results of coherent work over results of doing isolated arctuate exertion (which serves virtually no purpose in the 'real world'.)

I haven't 'paused' Clubbell training but then, I haven't had to like I always did with linear lifting due to localized overuse injury. I'd hypothesize that CST comes much closer to the 'natural' way articulate strength is developed and retained, than does 'conventional' strength training.

[Mike]

Proprioceptive Enhancement, one of the attributes in the "Wheel of CST", is that elusive "never forget how to ride a bike" quality. As opposed to strength based upon mass, nerve drive / neural force (or in CST speak - neurological sophistication) waits only for you to call upon it.

Welcome back, and say hello to Hank for me. :)

I was gonna say, it was like "riding a bike" but I never thought that this type of skill could get 'hard wired' like that.

This is just another amazing aspect of Clubbell training that I haven't experienced before. That, AND my striking power has definitely increased.

[Mike]

"Weeks" is not long enough for SMA to reassert itself. 'Extended floor parking' of Clubbells® doesn't countercondition neuromotor synergy; we continue to use and enjoy it (maybe why we refer to it as 'usable strength').

So roughly how long does it take for neuromotor counterconditioning to take place.

[Scott Sonnon]

Well, to be clear, it's not Clubbell that hard-wires, but rather the CST System which taps your innate neurological grace and poise. Once you actualize your potential, you can't 'undo' that access. The Clubbell ends up being our measuring stick of success uncovering our self-mastery through the CST System.

[Mike]

Well, to be clear, it's not Clubbell that hard-wires, but rather the CST System which taps your innate neurological grace and poise. Once you actualize your potential, you can't 'undo' that access. The Clubbell® ends up being our measuring stick of success uncovering our self-mastery through the CST System.

True, I just always link the two into one catergory, it's a bad habit.

Congrats on your PR too Scott! I haven't been posting here too much!

[Scott Sonnon]

Thanks, Mike. Good to see you around again.

[rbibbs]

Mike wrote:
"So roughly how long does it take for neuromotor counterconditioning to take place."

Solid personal evidence that 24 years is long enough. :evil:

To have 'misplaced' articulation, and to have recovered it, is perhaps to value it enough not to misplace it again, ever. Never would have lost track of it in the first place, had I appreciated "back then" how much fun it is. :D

[Scott Sonnon]

Nothing's lost, amigo. All those years were well-spent considering the insights you now have to share with people.

[Randell Waddell]

What an amazing resource we enjoy from your input, Rick.

Cheers
Randell :D