“If you see any athlete running on the track, it’s a reflection of what they practice. So if you see us running fast, that is how we practice. That is how we train." Bernard Ouma [Head of Rongai Athletics Club (RAC), coach to Elijah Manangoi, George Manangoi and Timothy Cheruiyot].
Bernard continues: "I develop the athletes in strength, speed, and endurance. Everything I do is geared around running fast, so when it comes to strength training where we hit the gym three times a week, I have a simple philosophy: to run faster, you must strengthen the muscles you use to run.”
Too often, over the decades we have encountered people who have passed-through Vorsprung: enthused about the Vorsprung methodology, seen improvements in their health, life and sporting performances, then, have drifted away - back to the 'old school'…
It is such a shame. Evidence, studies, science, experience and examples never, seem, to be good enough for people to maintain a new methodology.
But, it is no different to thinking of your car or computer, et al. How would you expect to function a car on low fuel? How would you expect to function a computer, if it is clogged with too much data?
We understand these values, in the context of material objects, yet we can't seem to process these same values when put into the context of our own health, bodies or improvements.
It is very simple: we know, that running to run faster; cycling to cycle faster; swimming to swim faster; has taken us so far. It is has been a brilliant servant and produced some wonderful moments in many sports. However, the 'wonderful moments in sports' that we appreciate and watch are no longer produced the old school way. There are numerous new elements, that, are progressing people's performances.
There is a saying: 'it's easier to find ten 1%s, than to find one 10%'.
This is how the modern world is. This is how we have developed, evolved, adapted. This is good! Embrace it!
No - it doesn't make life more complicated. No - it doesn't make life harder. No - it doesn't take-up more time: on the contrary, in fact.
One of these '1%s' is gym work.
The Vorsprung Dynamic Gym session, comes in a variety of adaptations. The basic structure of them all is to enhance limb and joint strength; core muscles; balance; and co-ordination. Plus, the added Vorsprung twist - neuro-dynamics - that will improve communication from the-brain-to-the-body and from the-body-to-the-brain.
Each exercise, then, each routine has been researched and field-tested over ten years before it has been approved by Vorsprung. Every exercise has been through numerous rigorous tests and assessments. Viewed by orthopaedic consultants and consultant physiotherapists, before they could be deemed safe whilst remaining effective. At Vorsprung, we have also devised the exercises and routines so, that, any ability can perform them: small adaptations can be made for wheelchair users, for example, or elite sports people.
They all perform on a wider scale: physically, neurologically and holistically. Whilst remaining true to the ethos, that, Vorsprung and Ouma espouse:
“In order to run faster, you must strengthen the muscles you use to run.”
This can be applied to any form or sport, or movement.
For Vorsprung, we believe all movement is centred at the hips. The swim kick, running, cycling, rowing, dance, balance et al. We put alot of emphasis on strengthening and mobilising the hips, in doing so, relieving the stress on the knees and pulmonary system.
Ouma, too has the same views: “you use your hips as a pendulum. This is a pivoting point for running. If the hip is to go at a faster frequency, the hip has to be strong. So most of my training works on very particular muscles.”
[Foot Note:
As with all Vorsprung sessions, work-outs and practices they are experiential. In this case, the nuances and subtleties of how to execute and benefit from the Vorsprung Dynamic Gym Sessions need to be taught by an experienced Vorsprung practitioner.]
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