More Isn’t Better, It’s Just More

Coming from a BJJ background where the mindset is "more is better", more sparring, more conditioning, more drills and did I say more rounds of rolling (it's what we call sparring)? This "more approach" eventually leaked into my strength training and I soon learned the hard way that more isn't better, it's just more.

You see...

... strength is an addiction. It's fun and even more so, it's empowering.

I remember when I first fell in love (addiction is a better word) with strength training and more specifically, strength training with *the kettlebell* to improve my strength strength endurance for BJJ...

I would here many people/coaches say, "it's just a tool".

But it's SO much more to me than that. Like Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) the kettlebell is a way of life.

It represents:

• Discipline
• simplicity
• efficiency and 
• tough love

YES! Much like BJJ indeed. So, maybe it is a tool but you know what...

It's the best damn tool in the box!

As with a new love (read, addiction) I just couldn't get enough. What started out as a 2 x per week practice turned into a full-fledged 6 day per week obsession.

It got to the point that...

... If I wasn't training 6 days per week.

I "was moving backward" and not progressing, it turns out...

More isn't better, It's just more

5 years ago this "more is better" approach reared it's ugly head when I came across the barbell deadlift.

The "more" I pushed to build a bigger deadlift...

... the more it (the deadlift) pushed back.

I couldn't understand why I wasn't improving?

I mean...

I was getting in all my snatches, swings, clean and presses, deadlifts, and mobility work...

...oh and don't forget 4 days a week of BJJ.

But you see my friend, that was just it...

My deadlift wasn't improving because I *was* getting in my snatches, swings, clean and presses, deadlifts etc...

That's when I realized that more isn't better, it's just more.

The moment I *began taking out* all the additional work I was doing guess what?

Yep.

My deadlift SHOT up!

Oh and my recovery between rounds and training days of BJJ increased too. I'm not sure if this hits home with you at all but I guess the message I'm trying to get across is...

Keep the goal, the goal.

Want to build a bigger deadlift? Then do *that*.

What to tone up and build muscle? Then do *that*

If you have a coach that has designed a plan for you to achieve a particular goal...

STICK TO IT!

Add nothing more and leave nothing out.

Because here's the deal...

If your coach writes you a plan and you add something else, like more cardio or more strength training days, guess what...

You're no longer doing their plan...

... you're doing your own plan.

Which means, they cannot be held responsible nor can they take credit for any results you may have.

In that case...

Save your money.

So remember, more isn't better, it's just more.