Why Strength Underpins Power, Periodization and Sport

Anthony uses force equals mass times acceleration to show that athletes accelerate better by producing more force, since mass can only be reduced a little and an implement such as a 7.25 kg shot cannot be changed. Because sport demands less time on the ground, force must rise to keep the equation in balance, which is why sprinters aim to reduce ground contact time. Strength and power are highly correlated, and strength can only be maintained for about two weeks without training. Periodization therefore sets an emphasis, never an exclusive focus: in a power block, strength is maintained by keeping intensity high and dropping volume. For a weak athlete, strength comes first. He suggests a bodyweight squat, 1.5 times bodyweight on the deadlift and twice bodyweight on the trap bar deadlift as very good strength. On specificity, sprinting, cycling, swimming and jumping all use the same triple extension of ankle, knee and hip. Sports differ in the quantity of each quality, so he suggests rotating squat variations, from goblet squats to back squats and deadlifts.