In hindsight, I was probably experiencing something of a mid-life crises. So weighing in at 115 kg and feeling like I was running in concrete gumboots, I hit the gym in an all out effort to gain back something of the ‘glory days’. As I’m not one for doing things by halves, I also studied to become a personal trainer knowing that it was a lifestyle change that I felt would continue to challenge and motivate me. In reality it was probably more gruelling than challenging, but everything was proceeding in the right direction.

Poor dietary habits were gradually replaced and I trained with the same intensity as I studied. As a result, I improved my body composition immensely. I was making promising progress with my strength levels and was starting to glimpse a little glow of those former years.

Unfortunately, too much time slouched over my computer and sedentary lifestyle took more of a toll on my body than anticipated. Throw in a dislocated right shoulder in a freakish surfing accident ten years prior, and there was a recipe for injury in the mix.

I was fast becoming too strong for the connective tissue of my shoulder to handle. Unaware of the impending danger, I continued training hard until one day it all went pear-shaped. Amongst other stuff, I tore the labrum, which is a piece of fibrocartilage (rubbery tissue) attached to the rim of the shoulder socket that helps keep the ball of the joint in place.

Of course this created a huge amount of instability in the shoulder, an equal portion of pain, but mostly frustration with the sudden inability to train my upper body.  My shoulder specialist’s prognosis was that I had the shoulder joint of a man twice my age… that’s like almost a century! Not very encouraging considering I still felt half my age.

After having one bad experience under the knife and considering the lack of confidence my surgeon was exhibiting, I decided that surgery was not an option for me. So I went about rehabbing it the best way I knew how at the time.

Utilising conventional weight training methodology through corrective exercise, I managed to get my shoulder to a place where there was no more pain and felt reasonably stable. However, it all came undone as soon as I started to pick up the intensity. After repeatedly gaining ground only to lose months of rehabilitative work, I was becoming exasperated. This cycle continued for the best part of three years and to the point of near depression. What I was doing simply wasn’t working for me.

Going on the philosophy that nothing changes unless there’s real change, I knew that I had to find a different approach to training. After much research, I discovered that I wasn’t alone on this merry-go-round. I happened to stumble upon one of the largest training forums in the world today… GymnasticBodies.com. So, ‘long story short’, I invested in the foundation series, handstand 1 and stretch series of GST i.e. Gymnastic Strength Training.

There’s nothing new about strength training for gymnastics. In fact, we’re all well aware of the incredible feats of strength demonstrated by these ‘perceived’ superhuman athletes. Whether or not you’re aware of a new fitness trend emerging threatening to steal the thunder of other disciplines promoting ‘general physical preparedness’, GST is a phenomenon helping a multitude of adult population realise new heights in physical strength and flexibility/mobility.

There are several online outfits promoting this kind of training. I went with GymnasticBodies.com as I believe it’s backed by extensive research, experience and a collaboration of extremely smart individuals. None of it would be possible without, the now famous, Christopher Sommer.

Former coach for the USA Junior National Gymnastic Team, coach Sommer’s thirty plus years experience in training athletes to an elite caliber, has an obvious proven track record. Furthermore, I believe he is renown for training injury free athletes otherwise unheard of in gymnastics. I have to admit, it makes perfect sense considering the exercise programs strict protocols.

For example, every strength-based exercise (e.g. push up) there is a corresponding integrated mobility (I.M) movement. The I.M is specific to strengthening the ligaments and tendons associated with the push up.

Each strength-based exercise builds upon the next in a logical progression. The culmination develops the necessary strength and flexibility to perform seven foundational exercises for gymnastics i.e. the front lever, side lever, hollow back press, single leg squat, straddle planche, manna and straddle rope climb.

An interesting side note is that you only start getting into the maximal strength application through ring work having attained the foundational level of exercises mentioned.

Incidentally, there is no progressing with the strength exercises until your I.M is up to par. This is the testing part. You maybe a legend and absolutely nail the strength component, but spend an extra month or more bringing your mobility up to speed for that particular exercise. Which leads us to pose the question: Is this kind of training suitable for everyone?

The short answer is YES, but unfortunately no. Whilst this kind of training is hugely beneficial to absolutely everyone, it takes a person with a mature perspective on their training. I was recently asked, by another trainer (no names mentioned:), “don’t you get sick of doing so much mobility work”? My initial gut reaction was to punch him in the face! Kidding aside, the fact is it requires a great deal of discipline and restraint. We all want to throw tin above our heads and squat like a maniac, but as coach Sommer would say, “you have to earn it”.

So in answer to the original question, if you’re all about the slow game and desire to climb above the realm of mere mortals, then come join me on the journey of a lifetime! There really is no ceiling to this thing. The stronger you build your foundation, the higher you can climb.