Dayz
Level 8 Valued Member
I completely agree with everything you're saying here, and it's 100% consistent with what I've already said. The problem is people taking minimalist training - and it's rationale - out of its very specific context.But certainly no one has become extremely good at tennis or marathon running (or any non strength-focused sport like powerlifting) by following a maximalist strength program.
I always thought that was the main argument for minimalist programming - it gets the strength part of training done while not exhausting time/energy/recovery ability of a given individual. So, say, a tennis player would be better served by doing a minimalist strength program and focusing on actually practicing tennis rather that doing a maximalist strength program with sport practice taking a back seat. The same argument goes for violent occupations (enemies aren't going to stop trying to kill you because you need to recover from heavy squats) and for most regular people (whose "sport" that consumes most of their resources is just making a living and fulfilling other obligations).
It also goes with the idea of diminishing returns from strength. Sure, you can't get a 500 kg deadlift out of Power to the People. But unless you are a strongman or a powerlifter, you don't need a 500 kg deadlift, it will not further enhance anything you do as compared to one you could get out of PTTP.
Of course, this reasoning does not apply if maximum strength is your sport. No one, certainly not Pavel, would recommend doing a minimalist strength program to powerlifters, weightlifters, strongmen, Crossfit Games participants and so on.
Edit:
And just to emphasise, while this is true, nowhere have I or anyone else to my knowledge indicated this. So I'm not sure if it's a strawman or just a side point?But certainly no one has become extremely good at tennis or marathon running (or any non strength-focused sport like powerlifting) by following a maximalist strength program.