High Performance Training - By Jim Bryan

I happen to like this name and it better explains how I train. Whether you call your training High Intensity Training, HIT, High Tension Training, (I like this too) Hard Training or any number of names or none at all. I think most of us reading The High Performance Training Newsletter train in a similar fashion. We may focus on different aspects but we have more in common than we have differences. Actually, the last statement could be applied to most anyone involved in a Strength Program. Why is this all so confusing to some? I’ll give you some of my ideas. Over the years I have noticed that some involved in the HIT movement have put off potential Strength Trainees, with an (I’m sorry I can’t say it any other way) arrogant attitude. Where this comes from I’m not sure…. and it’s not needed. Some of the more vocal 3rd and beyond generation want to tie intelligence and HIT together. In other words if you don’t submit to HIT your stupid. Personally, I could care less how anyone trains. The fact that you are working out with weights gains my respect. Just because someone can read Strength Training Studies backward and forward, gain no extra points with me. Especially if they spend most of their time on discussion boards instead of training. LOOK! You should have some muscle to show for your time spent. I’m not saying everyone will look like Mr. Universe but you should have SOME muscle. Even training with no knowledge can put muscle on you if you add weight and stick to it long enough. The arrogance is not needed and is not productive. I cringe every time I see the Internet HIT Experts going at each other.

Different goals also contribute to the confusion. Most here are involved with training athletes not bodybuilders. I have to confess that I no longer care much about body building as it exists today. Can’t make any sense of it anymore. I feel that a Strength Athlete should have some muscle, be able to use it, and be in good condition. Higher intensity training will help in all of these areas. Keeping things efficient makes for better use of time. The training template is easy. #1 Training should be safe. #2 Training should be efficient. #3 Training should be hard and increase in difficulty as trainee gets stronger. #4 Cut down on rest periods in weight room. #5 Exercise choice is yours. There are no “Instant Hero Exercises.” #6 Free weights or Machines? Your choice. Neither guarantee success. Hard work brings success. That’s about it as I see things. Pretty damn simple. Coaches are doing this without knowing it might have a name like HIT. Brief, Hard training. What a great concept! I wonder if anyone’s thought of it yet?

Do you HAVE to train to failure to still be in the “HIT CLUB?” Who cares? People worry too much about failure training. People continue to argue who’s idea of failure training is correct. I say give it a rest and let the Internet experts argue about it. We have training to do.

This is just my opinion but I don’t think there is any one expert on High Intensity Training excluding Arthur Jones. Arthur experimented and actually went into the gym (unlike some of the experts). He has left no one as far as I know to carry on. Some of his ideas have changed over the years, some haven’t. There is only one Arthur Jones. That’s it, he’s unique and I’m sure he has far more he could share but we’ll probably never find out. He’s tired of the effort needed to educate.

As far as the readers of HPT News go, We are doing far more right than we are doing wrong. New things come and go and some are quite intriguing. But one thing I know for sure, “There are no magic bullets, when it come to training.” You have to get off your ass, get into the gym, and struggle against the weight. God willing you can come back again and again and know that you are not alone. It’s easy to bitch on the Internet but it takes character to face the iron and steel. “Molon Labe!” (Written for HPT Newsletter, now out of circulation)


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