“Don’t take my word for it…”
Shared by Breanne Smedley
Whenever I am teaching something new, there is sometimes a tendency for students to be a bit skeptical.
It’s something I encourage, actually.
As learners, I think we should always operate with a healthy amount of skepticism.
Always doing our own analysis, research, and testing.
I also have realized that answering questions like: “Why do we put our hand like this when blocking, rather than like this?” with “Because I said so.” doesn’t get very far.
A better approach, that I have found leads to optimal learning is to tell my students to test for themselves.
Ok, block this ball with your hand parallel to the back wall.
Test, see what happens. (Hint: likely the ball will be blocked out).
Now, block this ball with your hand angled to the center of the court.
What happens? (Hint, the ball will likely be blocked toward the court).
The other day, Brett had a student who was attempting a 3 rep max (3RM) back squat in his class.
Brett had already spent most of the semester teaching the proper mechanics of the squat.
Heels just outside of hips.
Weight in heels.
Chest upright.
Externally rotate knees.
Engage glutes, hamstrings, quads.
Lower to parallel or below.
Stand up with full hip extension.
As this student was attempting his 3RM, he repeatedly stopped his squat about a quarter of the way down.
Brett, noticing, reminded him that he needed to drop to parallel or below in his squat.
The student, questioning, responded with, “Even with this much weight on the bar?”
“Yes, even more important with that much weight on the bar.”
The student, looking skeptical, finished his 3RM with less weight, but dropping to parallel in his squat.
Later in the day though, Brett received an email from the student.
In it, he linked a medically reviewed article entitled “Squat Depth: How Deep Should You Squat?”
The article explained the biomechanical and muscular benefits of squatting at parallel or below.
In addition, the student included a couple of sentences in the email,
“Not the only source that supports this. In other words, I see your point.”
“Don’t take my word for it,” Brett always says.
Do your own research. Analyze. Test.
It doesn’t matter how much knowledge or experience the teacher has.
Team Six Navy SEAL leader Dave Cooper, who has developed some of the greatest SEAL teams in history has been known to say similar things.
After outlining plans, asking questions like,
“Now let’s see if someone can poke holes in this” or “Tell me what’s wrong with this idea.”
We who consider ourselves life-long learners do the same.
But, don’t take my word for it…
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#mindfully evolving
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