Kettlebell sport is an endurance sport. I've posted about that before, and the data supports that statement. The most reliable predictor of a beginning GS athlete's success seems to be success in another endurance sport. There is a very high degree of correlation between endurance sport success and GS. There is virtually none with absolute strength and GS success.
That being said, I noticed this video recently:
That's Ivan Denisov, the absolute world record holder in GS, achieving a Master of Sport World Class ranking in the Deadlift. The Deadlift is obviously a feat of pure strength, and the physical qualities required for this lift stand on the exact opposite of the spectrum from general endurance.
Denisov is an incredible athlete. In addition to GS, he competes in basketball, and he's run marathons in the past. I can't help but think that he does everything he does with thought and deliberation. There is a purpose.
I realize that Denisov is a world-class athlete, but I know he works a regular job like most GS athletes. He doesn't just train all day. So obviously this was a priority for him.
So why did he set out to achieve this level of pure strength, and what does it mean for the average amateur GS athlete? How should it affect how the average athlete trains?
I'm not offering any answers here. I am very curious what other athletes have to say. I welcome your comments.
-David
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He is in a gym all day actually and does train full time like a pro athlete. He coaches too but he doesn't have a regular job like the rest of us. He is a state paid athlete.
ReplyDeleteHe focused on the deadlift likely to see what he could do in a short powerlifting cycle. But he will be the first to tell you that it didn't help his gs.
OK, that changes things. I thought he worked a day job as an engineer. Thanks for the info, Cate.
ReplyDeleteHe does have an engineering degree(he has several degrees I think). So, that may be what created the confusion.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of what it means..I think in his case it just means he wanted to see what he could do. He probably focused on it some, but I'm not sure how much or how long. My guess is that his deadlift was relatively high without any focus.
I don't think it should effect how most GS athletes train. He wasn't doing it for his GS(as stated above) I think if a GS athlete is training for a meet, that has to be their focus (Obvious). If they want to do something different in the off season, powerlifting might be a good avenue for them.
Yeah, I went back and read an interview from 2011, and even though he is an engineer, he's been working as a coach and athlete for a while now.
ReplyDeleteI think Denis Vasilev took a couple years off from GS to focus on powerlifting. But it appears that all of the top lifters have an endurance sport background, or train endurance as a priority now, or both.