Ask Martin, Volume 1
Happy mother’s day! Like most other throwers I know, my mother has been very supportive of my throwing career as well as my schooling and professional career. Without her support and help I know I wouldn’t be able to pursue as much as I have or even possess the confidence to try.
Despite that introduction, today’s post isn’t just about mothers. One of the best parts about writing on this site is that I get a lot of e-mails from throwers across the world. Whether it is a high school athlete or masters thrower, I try to take the time to answer every question and help people learn about the hammer throw. My mother has reluctantly convinced me over the years that I do not have all the answers, but I do have some unique experience that I think can help others.
Most of the questions I get relate to technique or are follow ups to posts I do. Starting now, I’d like to start posting the questions that I think everyone might be interested in hearing. Here are a few to questions from hammer thrower Thomas DiCiaccio to start things off. If you have a question, please send it my way. I’ll answer almost anything, including tax questions if you are so inclined.
It’d be cool to know what Dr. B is like as a person and his coaching style. We all know about his amazing success as an athlete and a coach, but what’s the guy like in every day conversation and what would you say his coaching style is?
To put it in one word, Dr. B is very blunt in his coaching style. If we are doing something wrong, he tell us. And tell us again. And tell us again like a broken record until we start doing it correctly.
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Hello Martin,
I found you through Bondarchuk, you have a great site with good info. I was hoping I could ask a few questions. I’m a cricket fast bowler, was semi-pro, and looking to up my speed. I more or less coach myself since bowling coaches are so far off the ball that it’s not even funny. I learnt by asking Jeff Gorski, the jav coach, as the action is very similar and he has coached a cricketer before. After a lot of work, my technique is sound. So I am looking to optimise my training.
In terms of special exercises I do skin the cats, reverse trunk twists, overhead medball throws, windmill medball throws, medball sit up throws. I do theses a separate session to my weights work. Is there an advantage to putting my special throws and exercises work with my weights work like you do.
I noticed you use over/under weight hammers. How could this be applied to bowling. A cricket ball weights 160g, so is there any point in going lighter. In terms of going heavier, since we are throwing with a straight arm, is it safe to do so?
You are a big advocate of special strength, how do I know if I need more general strength, I squat 115, dead 150, and bench 75 at 75bw. And I can reach the rim at 5”10 height, 6”2 wingspan. I was hoping you could critique my training.
Mon: Heavy squats, posterior chain work, abs/lowerback
Tues: Above-mentioned special exercise and medball throws, PNF stretches, and technique work with cricket ball.
Wed: heavy bench, upper back work, abs/lowerback
Thurs: Same as Tuesday
Friday: Plyometric jumps, weighted jumps, posterior chain work, abs/lowerback
Sat: Same as Tuesday
Sun: Rest
In terms of periodisation, it is similar to Westside barbell’s concurrent periodization, but I don’t max out every week, instead I go 5/3/1 reps maxes for the havey lifts within a mesocycle. I assume you use block periodisation, I don’t think that would work well here, since I am not elite, lack the knowledge, and as crickets, we don’t have a set off season.
I know a lot of questions, so I understand if you don’t get round to answering everything.
Thanks for your time Martin, really appreciate it.
Jay
From my experience I have a few comments:
Hello Martin,
Thanks so much for getting back to me. About your first bullet point. So are you saying my numbers are sufficient, I know an awkward question. I mean Bondarchuk’s method work because the athletes already have big numbers in the lift, I’m guessing here, may be wrong. Can focusing on specific exercises with my weight room numbers work as well as it would for an athletes working with Bondarchuk.
Thanks again Martin,
Jay
I’m not saying that your numbers are sufficient. I’m just saying increasing those numbers shouldn’t be the main focus of training.
Strength plays a big role in the throws and yet it remains a lesser priority (and we aren’t all naturally strong). I’m assuming it plays an even smaller role for you, therefore I would focus on other things first. But just because it isn’t the main focus does not mean that it isn’t a focus. The numbers are pretty low, so whatever program you choose will increase them even without it being the main focus. In addition, special strength exercises will help increase your lifts. For me, I see improved results in the clean when I throw heavier hammers. There is a reverse correlation there.
ciao, (bello il tuo sito) volevo chiederti se sapevi con certezza qwuanto faceva di squat maximum Sedych e quanto Litvinov. Te lo chiedo perchè sono molto curioso, dal momento che so che avevano corpi differenti e stili diversi. Ho visto Sedych più voluminoso anche di gambe; sicuramente era più forte!
I try in english, maybe better 4 you.
I’m very very curios to know haw much had of maximum squat sedych and Litvinov.