This has become a very interesting thread, just some more of my usual rambling...
If being a jack of all trades master of none leads to a mediocrity that is far enough ahead of the average punter to satisf, why not? Perhaps a lower level of performance relative to potential across more more disciplines is better than a narrower focus. Or maybe not.
This is actually quite a statement. Many years ago when I decided to leave behind PL lifting I made a goal of a 40 min. 10K and a 2x BW bench. A buddy shock his head and said man that's two opposite ends of the spectrum. A very tough goal. He was right. My best 10K was 40:55 and my best bench was 315 at around 170 lb. Whenever I tried to improve on these numbers complications came in, injury. I always looked at it as a failure.
Ahead about 30 years and my daughter wanted me to run a half marathon with her. The furthest I had ever ran in my life was 10 miles and that was decades before. I used A+A training for the half marathon. Swings and only running twice per week at MAF. One day of running was progressively longer than the previous week building up to 80 min. The other run was only 20 or 30 min. Again, both at MAF. I ran the half all but the last two miles at MAF and finished. That was my goal. The three or four men in my age group that finished ahead of me did quite well. Could they do simple? I don't know and don't care, but I have my opinions.
Very, very modest goals. But on that day I had it all.
The daughter and I had a blast. Like most things like this you are surrounded by like minded people and they are fun. I told her we should try and do this each fall. I had already decided to do a TSC and made a goal for the TSC each spring and a half each fall before bow hunting becomes my priority.
The next spring I did the TSC. Again modest numbers. If I remember correctly I met or exceeded my goal in all three events. Again, that day I had it all.
I think pavel's programs have it all if you follow them by the letter.
Media and the bodybuilding hype have messed up the image of how a strong body should look like.
Personally I believe Pavel's programs have their place. To piggyback on your second statement that's where I think some get discouraged.
I always go back to what Perry Radar told me long ago. Press, row, squat, and deadlift from time to time. I have yet to find one of Pavel's programs that has the classic press, row/pull, and squat template. We can spend all day debating whether this is true. Whether swings and get ups or cleaning the bell to press it makes up for the squat and we'd never come to an agreement. Even in PTP I don't think the DL makes up for not squatting.
Where some get discouraged with these programs is that in a gym being able to do simple is most likely looked upon as odd, peculiar, eccentric, whatever. Because what is thought to be looked upon as strong is maybe a 300 lb. bench or a 400 lb. squat. Not ten get ups with a 72.5 lb. kettlebell.
But if all you want is to be able to live a fit and healthy life these programs make total sense. I'm preaching to the choir here. We've realized this and have our own ideas of what having it all might be. Bravo to all of you folks.
When the rubber hits the road. Specificity is the champion, and I at least can only apply so much of that toward a desired outcome without diminishing something else.
This is true to an extent. But most champions crossover from one sport to another very well. Mostly because they are "athletic". Micheal Jordan would be a perfect example. So if you're in that 1% this doesn't hold true. The problem, and Mr. Miller I agree with you on this is that most want to believe they are in that 1% when they are not. So to reach a high level yes they must be specific on the goal.
It's not what we do the hour a day in the gym (or whatever) that defines us; its what we do in the other 23.
So very true. Where most everyone falls is with nutrition. Like they say, the easy part is the hour in the gym. The hard part is the 23 hr. out of it trying to fuel yourself with healthy food.
And then there are those who eat crickets. : )
I will leave with this. Some of you have seen this and know it to be true. A young man has it in his heart to become some sort of special operations operator. Let's just say a USMC Scout/Sniper. He trains all the time. This cat is a specimen. He goes to the indoctrination and flies through all of the physical tests they throw at him. But when they make the selections he is left out due to his psychological exam. Some may think this young man has it all. Unfortunately maybe he's not healthy.