Dr. Michael Yessis  

I’d like to take this opportunity to share the many complimentary comments that I have been receiving in regard to the updated book, Secrets of Soviet Sports Fitness and Training.
Many readers have indicated that they thought the book was only about the Russian system of training athletes. They were pleasantly surprised and expressed their gratitude for the information and comparisons made with what is presently taking place in the United States.

They found the information not only informative, as it gave them a good overall perspective on what it takes to make a great athlete, but very applicable in their work and/or training. In essence, they thought the book was very practical and gave them many ideas of what they could do to greatly improve athletic performance.

Many readers were surprised to learn of the innovations made by the Russians over the years, many of which still have not been incorporated to any great extent in the US. They are now trying to get more information to see how they can use some of these innovative ideas and practices.

There are many other great comments but suffice it to say that the book is proving to be an excellent resource guide. The overriding impression is that the book gives them a very good idea of what they should be doing to get the maximum out of their performance or the performance of their charges.

If anyone has not read this book I hope you will seriously consider getting a copy as it may prove to be of great value in your work. You can get a copy from my website: www.dryessis.com

Be Well!

Dr. Yessis

Although this topic has been addressed before, it warrants even more attention due to the many articles and commentaries that continue to appear related to this topic. For example, in a recent newspaper article it was brought out how a Division I football coach was a great coach even though he had multiple losing seasons.

According to the athletic director the problem was that there were too many injuries and he just needed a good recruiting class to turn the program around. In addition, he was unable to offer a full complement of scholarships so that he was limited in getting the players that he wanted.

In the TV program 60 minutes Coach Weiss of Notre Dame was interviewed. It was brought out that although his team had a losing season, he was one of the best coaches in collegiate football. To be successful, he only needed a good recruiting recruiting class.

Many more examples can be given extolling the virtues of the coach with excuses for why he does not have a winning team.. But how can the coach be considered great if he is not capable of taking the talented players that he presently has available and making them into a great team? How do these “experts” who define greatness?

To my way of thinking a great coach is one who is capable of taking the talented athletes on the team and making them great. Almost all players who are recruited, whether it be on a collegiate or professional level, have some basic talent in order to be selected. All of them have potential for improvement.

However, it is obvious that the coaches do not know how to improve talent i.e. their technical and physical skills and abilities. Compare these coaches with Anatoly Bondarchuk, who is considered to be perhaps the greatest Olympic coach ever, and the answer becomes obvious.

Bondarchuk was the Soviet coach of hammer throwers and produced multiple Olympic and world recordholders. His throwers were so good that they took first, second and third place in four consecutive Olympic Games. No other coach has been able to come even close to these achievements.

He did not rely on recruiting as there was no league from which to select players. Instead he relied on improving players’ technique and physical abilities specific to the hammer throw. He was innovative in his training methods, many which are now incorporated by coaches and athletes in many different sports throughout the world. Based on his experience and education, he was capable of devising ways to produce the best athletes possible.

With sorrow, we rarely if ever, hear of coaches like this in the US. Instead we keep making excuses for the coach and creating virtues that are nonexistent. When a coach is capable of making a great team that is successful in competition with “limited” talent, then we can say he is a great coach. Until then, let’s face reality and stop making excuses for incompetence. Most anyone can be a great coach if he has the best players

If you’re interested in more information on the works of Anatoly Bondarchuk, read his book Transfer of Training. In it he brings out the results of a decade-long study of the worlds best athletes to determine the effect that different exercises have on sports results. It changed how and when I use many different exercises, especially those that are not specific to improving specific abilities.

You can also check out my website for more info: www.dryessis.com or listen to me on the radio at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/dr yessis .

Be Well,

Dr. Mike Yessis

It is not uncommon to get pain in the shoulders when doing the bench press. Typically, this is due to overuse especially when doing the bench press in exactly the same way and with the same equipment for a long period of time.

Very often the injury that causes the pain can be found in the rotator cuff muscles. These muscles may be over-stretched especially those on the back of the shoulder as you push the barbell up as high as possible. Thus, the key to prevention of such injuries is to be sure that you strengthen the muscles on both sides of the shoulder joint.

This includes the muscles on the back of the shoulder, mainly the infraspinatus and teres minor, which are the key muscles involved. The major muscles also involved include the middle trapezius and rhomboid. However, these muscles are typically much stronger and rarely get injured to the extent that the smaller rotator cuff ones do.

Equally important in prevention of shoulder injuries is to do other forms of bench presses. For example, use a neutral grip with dumbbells. In this case, the palms face one another as you extend the arms directly up above the chest. Do exercises such as incline and decline presses and front arm raises.

Also important is to use a lighter weight and press it up above the chest on the first rep, above the navel on the second rep, and above the neck on the third rep. This puts stress on the muscles at different angles so that they can respond with more all-around development of the shoulder muscles.

Some of the better exercises to develop the terres minor and infraspinatus include the reverse fly, bent-over dumbbell row with the elbows kept close to the sides of the body, bent-over barbell row holding the elbows out to the sides, and high cable pullbacks keeping the arm level with the shoulders as you pull the elbows back.

For more information on these exercises and how they should be executed see
Kinesiology of Exercise. Not only are these exercises illustrated with photographs but they have detailed explanations not found in other books.

This week we will discuss how parents can be more effective in guiding their youngsters to become better athletes. We will look at short and long-term development and what can be done during the years of specialization and non-specialization.

Join us for this much discussed, but little understood topic.

Time for the show is 6 p.m. Pacific standard Time (9 p.m. Eastern standard Time) on Wednesday, December 10.