What is a Constraints-Led Approach: Constraints-Led Conjugate

Written by: Kevin Cann The constraints-led approach (CLA) is a teaching/coaching methodology that utilizes task, environmental, and performer constraints to elicit self-organization in skill development.  This is viewed more as a “hands-off” approach to coaching where the coach creates an environment that offers learning for the performer instead of using a lot of verbal feedback. Typically, we see a program of high frequency competition lifts with a coach that gives verbal feedback through the viewing of Read More

Coaches Coach, Players Play

Written by: Kevin Cann I love sports, always have.  Being from Boston I am a huge New England Patriots fan and I have had the pleasure of getting to watch a 20-year dynasty up close and personal.  I read a book by Michael Lombardi titled “Gridiron Genius.”  This was a book that covered his experiences and knowledge from being an assistant on the New England Patriots coaching staff.  Probably the closest information to seeing how Bill Belichick operates. I Read More

My Rare Injury and Distribution of Forces and Learning from Experience

Written by: Kevin Cann Last week when I was benching, I felt a snap on the eccentric portion right on the inside of my elbow.  10 years earlier I had torn my bicep on that same side, and I knew I had just done the same thing, except to my triceps this time. This is a very rare injury in powerlifting, especially for a drug free lifter.  The good news is it could have been much worse.  I Read More

When to Use the Submax Effort Method in a Conjugate Program

Written by: Kevin Cann A conjugate program is a thinking man’s game.  I think this fact deters many coaches and lifters from doing I, and in many cases is why certain people do not see success from running this type of program.  It doesn’t take too much knowledge or thought to write a top set followed by some backdowns with all competition lifts in the name of “specificity.”  Throw some cues in a comment thread of the lifters’ Read More

Why We Bench in a Straight Line

Written by: Kevin Cann This is a hotly debated topic in the lifting world and I feel that it always has been.  Should you bench in a straight line, or should you push the bar back towards the rack?  However, you decide to do it, you need to be sure that your accessory work is building the right areas. First, when you read the articles of those arguing for a bar path where the bar goes back Read More