People often use the terms power and strength interchangeably, as if strength and power were the same thing. The reality is that they are different and you must have a strength development program that supports power development.

Many of the fitness professionals that you see working out on YouTube take long breaks in between sets. Some advocate 2 – 5 minute breaks between sets. The reasoning behind such long rest intervals is to allow ATP stores to replenish themselves so that you can push hard through the next set.

This way of training may benefit bodybuilders who want to get big and powerlifters who want to perfect a certain lift but, this type of training can become counterproductive for functional performance on the football field, boxing ring, basketball court, etc. Why, because in the real world, you aren’t going to throw a football and wait 3 minutes and throw another one, or wait 2 minutes between punches in a boxing ring. You have to train your body to optimally use ATP that is available ASAP, to throw the next punch or throw the next pass.

Let me explain ATP in more depth. Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is the molecule that your muscles run on. In other words, it is muscle fuel. Everything you eat is either turned into ATP or stored as fat and retrieved later as ATP.

Accordingly, if you want to improve athletic performance, you must train your body to operate with very limited rest intervals. Moreover, to perform powerfully your body must utilize ATP efficiently and quickly, allowing muscle to contract and relax very fast. When this happens, you will become more powerful.

 

Until next time …

 

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FastFunctionalStrength/

Subscribe on YouTube: https://goo.gl/3Pyh7R

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fast_func

P.S: Always check with your primary care physician before starting any weight or resistance training program.