A Defense of Functional Training (Response Video)
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
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The video that I'm responding to: • Functional training do...
Another one that I bring up: • Functional Training is...
An excellent video discussing what is and isn't "functional training" that hits the nail on the head perfectly: • 'Functional Fitness' H...
My post, including some studies to back up some of my claims: www.thebioneer...
No hard feelings toward Natural Hypertrophy! His video was measured and nuanced and well put-together. I welcome the discussion.
That said...
Despite having been around for a long time now, functional training still receives a lot of hate and misunderstanding. I have some theories as to why that might be, which I will get into in the video.
Primarily, though, this video serves as a defense of functional training. This is partly in response to Natural Hypertrophy's video and partly to content from the likes of Starting Strength.
Here, I hope to explain why functional training needs to exist, what it can offer, and what it actually *is*. Functional training can mean lots of different things to different people, but it primarily means "training for a function." This DOES change the way you approach your training and it is a useful term as I hope to demonstrate.
Attacks against functional training often seem to focus on semantics and technicalities. Sure, everything is "functional." But every exercise can also offer some form of hypertrophy when practiced enough/with resistance. That doesn't undermine the usefulness of the term "bodybuilding."
This turned into a bit of a rant but it's something important to me that I wanted to share. This is my take on the whole debate, as it stands right now.
I wanted to make something like this for a while but Natural Hypertrophy's video served as a catalyst.
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Feels like it boils down to people being annoyed they can't do the things you do even though they lift weights and they are sour about it i don't do all your exercises but i think about them all and use the ones i feel like i need to do because i'm not good at them, apologies for the ramble i'm not low, thank you for sharing
Squarespace looks awesome! I don't currently need a website, but I'll definitely check it out when that changes.
It's defence, not 'defense' unless you're American. Please use and preserve our English language and avoid adopting unnecessary Americanisms. xx
What about Supra Functional! ??
Was there every a point in your training life where you told yourself "I'm going to use this as a real Superhero!" Like RZA of the Wutang clan was looking into a bullet proof suit and car to be a real hero? Did you ever consider really becoming Batman.
Honestly being fit, mobile, strong etc. basically feels like having a superpower compared to the average sedentary untrained person.
I hope you spread this message to everyone, like me.
Agreed
Without a doubt, very well said! It 100% makes a difference for sure
Oh ye most people are basically disabled, comfort money and a easier childhood makes one weak as hell. Its rare to meet a truly battle ready person,not only for battle but just anything physically challenging
@@JonDoe-wo3ec So I should be proud to be born in one of the worst country in Europe?
Looking forward to listening to this tonight as I train. You were cited as the representative of functional training in my video because I consider you to be the best "functional" channel on UA-cam, and it's always a good idea to go for a "high hanging fruit" when strawmanning an argument (although most of the criticism I have for "functional training" are things I never heard you say.)
I'm probably not going to make a response to this (unless you end up bringing up ideas I truly disagree with) since I already know we agree on most points, but I believe it important to keep the discussion around training specificity going to make sure that the audience heads down the path that will be best suited to their final goal. Cheers!
Thanks man! In honesty your video served primarily as a catalyst - I wanted to respond to a bunch of common criticisms and this seemed like a natural way to do it! You made good points and, as you say, we agree in many ways. I also agree there are some definite bad practices in the world of functional training that you point out - and I want to make the case that we aren't all like that! No hard feelings whatsoever - I value the civil discussion. And hopefully it might send some traffic your way, who knows :-)
@@TheBioneer Healthy discussion and respect between you two is good to see, need more stuff like this on fitness youtube!
Love both of your channels!
Great to see an adult discussion, rather than more UA-cam drama.
@@TheBioneer ELLO UCHUB
This is legit some of the most wholesome discussion if seen between 2 members of the fitness community. No jabs, no back handed comments, just two people who want to learn and teach others as much about their craft as they can.
Listened to this while doin my workout and I always appreciate your input and take on things and how explain it so incredibly well. Always keeps me experimenting and growing as a person, Great work ADAM!
My walks through the park have taken a turn. It is now carrying a log, climbing a tree, chopping up a hill, whatever I can think of...making my walks much more fun, interesting, and effective.
Thanks man!! 💪🏻💪🏻
@@TheBioneer No Sir, thank you.
You have opened my eyes to how much fun a simple creek crossing, open field or hanging tree can be.
I can't move like a kid, but I can Bioneer like one.
Jesus christ is the truth the way and the life and the only way to get to heaven accept Jesus as lord and savior and be saved believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is lord and savior and be saved
@@jamie49868 Congrats on your progress, keep going.
Also, Adam wasn't thanking you, he was thanking JaxBlade
What's often overlooked by people who claim that gym strength is all you need is that it is the movements you don't practice that are often the ones that injure you. Unless I do something stupid (like ignoring signs from my body), bench press within a certain weight range will probably never injure me. You know what will? Twisting in my car seat and reaching behind me to grab something without thinking about it. Leaning sideways to grab something lightweight. Taking a tumble after an unexpected step down (or up). Lifting and carrying bulky or oddly shaped furniture.
Training these odd movements for someone who doesn't have a UA-cam channel or a fitness job is a lot like learning self-defense for someone who isn't a martial arts instructor or professional fighter: the biggest benefits come at the beginning. Adding functional training as a small fraction of your overall training yields massive dividends even if you never learn to backflip, or pistol squat, or do clapping push-ups.
If someone injuries themselves performing one of the basic everyday movements you mentioned it is due to a lack of mobility, either that or they have a pre existing injury. The best way to improve mobility is to do mobility work. Most weight lifters avoid mobility training. When adequately performed in conjunction with effective resistance training, the individual will not get injured in the ways you mention. So called functional training is really just another excuse to avoid stretching
@@timothyvonvictory7105 the secret is strength through length
@@timothyvonvictory7105 i feel you're missing the point
@@timothyvonvictory7105 First, get your terms straight. Mobility and flexibility are not the same and should not be conflated. Stretching even more so, considering how much research is out there about stretching having little or no correlation with injury prevention. Secondly, it's pretty clear that you don't understand what "so called functional training" is; if mobility training is exercising to increase the range of motion, functional training is exercising to express strength through that range of motion. It's literally the thing you are advocating but better.
@@cenauge bitch about terms cause you know your wrong. Functional training is a joke. High Intensity Training renders it obsolete. And yes there is tons of research to prove it. Not that you care. The main point is that high intensity training delivers everything that so called functional training claims to in a SIGNIFICANTLY safer, more effective, efficient way. So what the hell is there to argue about??
I don't care what others do, but I'll just give my experience: since I started doing all kinds of variety in exercise and some of these 'functional' movements ( I didn't label it that, I just do what I enjoy), I've noticed every day life is so much easier. Walking, carrying, lifting, gardening,energy levels etc just seem so much easier and I just feel better over all. But that's just me. You do you.
When folks enjoy what they do they are more likely to stick to things also. Nicely done finding what you enjoy!!
Yes. And there is functional training for older people to help them complete their activities of daily living without injury.
#1 Functional priority: Stay out of the assisted living facility... Don't allow ego to override age, inherited frame size and genetics. Moderation, and sparing your time and energy for other interests. Not obsessing over sleep, rest, and diet routines to then exclude yourself from other aspects of life. Everything Adam expresses is valid in this video is valid. We must each apply it from our own perspective, and objectives, and I believe that is the underlying message.
You and Natural Hypertrophy are my two favourite UA-cam fitness videos. Top two. I always love healthy debate, and I love the tone you've taken in this video. I'm sure Natural Hypertrophy would love to engage with you.
This is one of the best channels on UA-cam. I've pulled a crazy amount of information from it, along with your books, to add to my own training. If you are open to any requests, I'd love to see more information about dexterity, agility, explosiveness, and the mental aspects of training. Also, if you ever decide to branch into podcasting, I'd give that a listen as well. Thanks for all your hard work and determination.
A podcast for me too 👌🏼
A podcast would be mad dope
The fact that your videos are usually based on the concept of functional training makes you my favourite UA-camr when it comes to fitness.
It's crazy people make responses from a twitch reaction as oppose to really trying to understand were the bioneer is coming from. Do you think Bruce Lee would be Bruce Lee if he didn't try to bring all forms of fighting together?
Great video Mr. Bioneer. My favorite part was when you talked about how not everyone wants to train to be at a desk job but they want to be there own superhero, I really resonated with that 💪
It’s too bad that you had to make this video. In my past I have been a power lifter, a bodybuilder and a farmer. My strength as a farmer/laborer was so much more useful than as a bodybuilder or power lifter. Especially as a power lifter I’d get quickly gassed with any cardio. If I could stand in one place to do everything I would have been awesome but that is not life. Bioneer you helped lead me down the road to become fully functional and strong at the same time. I’ve never felt better 👍
You are a polite and nice person. I wish you the best and thanks for all the great content.
I'm in functional training for injury prevention. I routinely move people who are twice my bodyweight and I've had multiple dislocations and partial dislocations in my hips and shoulder girdle and that hurts! I didn't enjoy taking 6 weeks off for a dislocated clavicle and I am not enjoying the clicking in my sternum every time I push instead of pull (for which I lessened my work hours to let it recover rather than continuing to work 80 hours per week and definitely having something disfunction) . Your channel is heaven sent. I love that I can incorporate a couple of movements and my sore spots slowly resolve, it doesn't take all day and it doesn't take a lot of the "go" out of me that needs to be dedicated to my patients.
So when I was doing my certification as a personal training specialist, we divided things into functional training and performance training. Functional training being what we give to the average person to improve general fitness and health and literally everybody can benefit from. Performance training being sport specific and much more specific movements that aren't necessarily good for everyone but can create great benefits for the athlete in that given sport.
I appreciate your content here on this channel as a 51 year old guy who can still keep up with my teenager and his friends your functional training has saved my joint mobility and help me exceed others of my age with very few injuries along the way and as you get older you appreciate the increased balance increase strength the ability to hang ,climb a rope if you need to as a construction worker it helps everyday with things I do in my job
I find that certain practices are pretty damn functional, a lot of martial arts, contemporary dance, gymnastics, even swimming. So many good stuff there in terms of HIGH functionality.
Yes!! Planning a video on this!
You just named some of my favorite activities. Add Parkour, juggling and just “childish” games like hide and seek and we have a good time 😄👍🏻
@@TheBioneer You rock! I'm new here but learning lots.
What the Bioneer explains at 8:17 is exactly how I started my fitness journey. Training to be “strong” is what most people would say. Kevin Hart has a great bit about this.
“Why you that big for no reason?! If you’re that big and work at T-Mobile answering phone calls”
And what they really mean is ego. "Me big man! Me attract women, scare other men! Me superior!"
@@stevenscott2136 you sound insecure
@@stevenscott2136 Guys like you can't mind your own business.
Had to help someone move recently. And can honestly say that the training I have followed from here helped immensely. So a huge thank you Adam for the effort you put into this channel, books, and training program.
Got your 2.0 program and I'm starting it today. Pre-Covid times I was doing really well with the big compound lifts (deadlift, squat, press, pull etc.) but through having a desk job, working from home, and the childcare/school from home, it threw a major wrench into my routine. I became more stressed, sedentary, and gained weight. My husband and I recently decided to clean up the weight area and get back into lifting. We also decided to add a treadmill so we could get more cardio in during inclement weather. While unpacking it, I could lift it my end fairly easily (yay for deadlifts!), but had great difficulty MOVING with it. I came to the conclusion that being able to lift heavy is fine and all, but then what? I couldn't do much past lifting straight up and down. Forget lifting while maneuvering around corners and down stairs (we did manage eventually). I love practicality and efficiency. The big lifts were very efficient when increasing pure strength, but I found that for my purposes, they weren't completely practical. I'm also a couple of years away from the big 4-0. I want to maintain my ability to move as I age. I've seen the decline in my parent's abilities to move while just doing everyday tasks. But I don't just want the ability to still be able to move when I'm older, I want to move and do it well. Better than well, actually. I've always heard it said that you should define your goals before starting a program, but I never had any past "get stronger/look better/be "in shape"." This time though, I want to be an all around superhero. I want to run faster and farther. Lift more and harder. Move powerfully and with ease. I want it all. I wasn't sure where to find that or what exactly I was looking for, but then I found your channel and it all clicked! This is exactly the mentality that I was looking for! Nerdy / "for fun" reasoning and all! So, thanks for all you do. You are truly an inspiration! But enough from me, I think its about time I start training like Wonder Woman. :-)
Thank you! That's awesome and good luck with the training! Exactly: you never *just* need to pick something up!
Dude, no need to defend yourself. That guy is an idiot! Bodybuilder trainers at my gym always complain about their backs, shoulders and knees. They walk like robots. Today a trainer was attempting a deadlift of 405 and he has a bad back and knees. That is the problem with heavy weights. You will always injure yourself. Since I've been training functionally for a year and with lighter weights and more reps, zero injuries. Done with that done with the heavy weights. Also, I do the ATG program with Ben Patrick and I am actually getting a lot stronger working all those supporting muscles. I don't need heavy weight training to lift heavy weights. Keep up the good work Adam! We need more people like you and Ben!
Bioneer and NH are two of the channels I watch the most, and to see such a mature interaction through the videos and in the comments from everyone is commendable.
Not everyone has the same goal with their training, and not every style of training leads to the same results. I was confused for a long time by training for "strength", when what I really wanted was "performance". Those training styles are quite different, and one definitely makes you feel more like an "action hero" than the other, which is what I want.
I want to be an action hero, and so long as I focus on improving my performance, my body will reflect that. I might not get as big as a body builder, but I don't wanna get that big anyway!
Thank you for the content you make; it's exactly the kind of training I enjoy!
Mr bioneer my man!
U are a real hero to me at least.
You have intelligent argument for your training routines.
Thank you for all the motivation you have been giving us, keep it up man!
I really like natural hypertrophy he has a series on philosophy and it's absolutely great, saying that I disagree with his comments on functional training, but generally 99% of his content I agree on and find insightful
Also, a response to people saying "when would you ever need to sprint or climb or lift someone"....I personally train "functional movements" (and carry medical in my car/on me) so that if disaster strikes (car accidents, natural disasters, etc) I can respond and hopefully be able to help others. You are your own (and those around you) first responder when literal seconds count. To assume otherwise is irresponsible and downright dangerous.
If someone asks that questions, I'm like why the f*** exercise at all? What, you want to look like a bodybuilder? That's an even bigger waste of time in terms of comparison...
I think joint longevity benefits from functional training due to the optimal distribution of forces. Also, postural skeletal maturation; especially for women and their shoulders and back.
Absolutely love your work, primarily for the positivity, enthusiasm, and creativity in exploring, developing, and generously communicating the various ways humans are capable of moving. I am indifferent to the terminology (even if I can appreciate the arguments your critics make about framing it as ‘functional’) because the body doesn’t care what you call the ways it moves. At your core, you and others I learn alongside (Mark Wildman, Peter Attia, etc) are helping people understand how we are meant to move and how to be better, in a sustainable way, at doing those things (standing up straight, running, gripping, picking things up, rotating well, throwing things, balance, carrying things, jumping etc). Whether it’s for play or work or sport or aesthetics or longevity etc, that ability to just move well as a human under reasonable loads for reasonable times across reasonable distances simply improves any of those things. I like your geeky enthusiasm for super heroes but a super hero to me is anyone that can pick their great grand kids up or crawl around and play with them without hurting themselves; I want to be that guy one day and I know that means learning to move well now and continuing to develop that every day forward. Thank you for what you do and how you do it.
I find a lot of detractors of “functional training” seem to be people who don’t work for a living that assume anyone who gives a shit about fitness also does not work for a living. When you run, climb, jump, carry, swing, and lift things for your job, the value of pure strength as a measurement of fitness falls through the floor.
It's great to see a debate that doesn't include "HoW fRigGin dArE YoU!!!"
Frankly functional training just makes sense. Martial arts coaches both MMA and even traditional arts have been promoting specificity in conditioning exercises for years. Also in addition to your channel I watch Mark Wildman and Resistance Band Training and they both emphasis mobility in training for everyday life. Dave just made a video about how rotation and movement exercises are crucial to maintaining physical prowess as we age. Your approach works just fine. There's even variety to keep from getting bored by monotony and the individual can play around with the various ideas to see what works best. You're leading us down the right path, Adam!
After being in and out of the gym for more than a decade, I can confidently say that I am far more impressed with someone who can do walking handstands and control themselves perfectly in space than someone who can lift huge numbers. I can count on the former for a myriad of things and that is what I strive towards. A very strong generalist.
I would say that confidently, too, if I was "in and out of the gym" for more than a decade.
@@nerzenjaeger Instead of pussy-footing like a coward, be up front. Even the feeling of anonymity is not enough for you?
Speak clearly. What's your understanding of my statement? You think im in 30%, out 70%? 50-50? 10-90? 90-10?
I love this channel because he doesn’t focuses on specific type of training. I feel like all his videos focus on functional fitness. I’m a plumber in Texas. It’s hot, humid, did I mention it’s hot? Lol. Is a plumber you need to be able to work smart in the heat and move as to make every motion count as to not waste energy and hurt yourself. This type of training it’s very useful, beneficial and needed, because I see a lot of older guys in my field that are busted up and miserable because they don’t train on their time off. I have found when I don’t work out in my personal time, my performance on the job site sucks because I’m stiff and I get winded easily. Functional training is truly a game changer. As I said I love this content and I’ll let everyone I know to come and check out this channel. Love y’all.
We should change the name of functional training to optimum health training
I'm glad you made this video. If you make a living selling ideas like functional or super-functional training, then you should be able to defend them intellectually. It shows that you're not disingenuous, and if anyone was inspired by you, but then saw functional training called into question, and saw no response from you, then they might have given up on something that was good for them. So I think it's a good thing for you to respond. I also think you responded in a polite, respectful manner.
The push back against "Functional Training" is because of many (I'm not saying All, I said Many as those who Speak the Loudest = become the "Normal" of what people perceived what the group preach for) of who practice Functional Training, came with "Your Training isn't Functional" & "All Those Big muscles are just aesthetic not functional". Those words are what most people see that gives Functional Training THE Bad Rep.
I believe practicing both will give us the best results, as one fulfill the other, just like relationship 😂
I'm a Senior in high school and I started training at the beginning of the school year, I've wanted to train to be better in every regard, not just one as in my life I've always been a little bit of everything all at once. your videos have really helped me with that mentality so thank you and keep up your amazing work! your an inspiration to us all!
Now I haven't seen NaturalBodybuildings video, so I'm not specifically pointing at them in this - But I've noticed that it's become very much more common nowadays for fitness content creators to rely less on their own ideas and instead hope to gain traction by shooting down others. Another example here is MovNat who recently on their Instagram made a few videos where they did comparisons between more typical gym exercises and the MovNat versions and portrayed the gym exercises in a dull and unintelligent light, refering to the gym as the 'human zoo'. To someone like me (and I would guess many here), who incorperates several different styles in my training, it just made me want to distance myself from MovNat more.
Same thing goes in a lot of youtube videos, where everything is about showing why everything else is wrong, rather than why your ideas could be right. It really shows who is genuine about their ideas and who is not, and that said, thank you for not taking that road @The Bioneer, and also for turning this into a fruitful discussion rather than an argument!
I started hanging everyday, and deep squatting daily for a minute long each several times a day. Make sure I do pull-ups, pushups everyday on top of regular training
I feel ten times better around my neck, lower back, and shoulders, also no more clicking on my shoulders. I love it. The biggest surprise was no more FEAR OF BENDING OVER. lol to trust I can do it, is very rewarding.
One of my motivations for wotking out is my family. I have grandparents that need to be lifted sometimes, so i train to be able to carry them without the risk of dropping them
Totally agree with everything u have said, when I was younger I just wanted to be big and and strong but as I've gotten older my thinking has changed, basically I've noticed that feeling older is basically losing strength mobility and flexibility so now I'm older I feel that functional training is definatly the way to go in terms of feeling younger for longer as I age
totally agree, I used to lift heavy weights, and I never really built bigger muscles except my legs with squats and deadlifts the risk of injury was so high, but I discovered because of age mainly I changed my training to body weight and resistance bands which I love using and now your strength techniques, I am bigger and more muscular than I have ever been and I am in my sixties, the more varied ways I challenge my body the better it responds. p.s so jealous of those muscles ups, I would love to get to that level. also this channel is awesome thank you I cannot praise it enough Its motivated me so much
The 100% most functional exercise isn't deadlift or pullups. It's easy to answer, it's walking.
That's why I try to put long weighted hikes in my training.
Fully agree with your message.
True.
Well it depends on what your function is. If you’re an athlete or wrestler then yes deadlifting and pull ups is the most functional and more functional than merely walking.
@@BruceWayne-fj9bm no even if you are those type of athletes. You will still need to walk more often than that.
There is literally nothing you do more than walking.
If you had said a disabled athlete in a wheelchair. Then I would accept your point.
@@BruceWayne-fj9bm Specificity. The most functional activities for those athletes is still going to be variants of their sport, not distilled repetitive movements.
I'd say off-trail scrambling is far more functional than weighted walking. May be biased, just returned from circumnavigating Lake Tahoe, but I don't think simply walking (or running) on a groomed surface is a very good idea. Variety of movement is functional. Repetitive motions dig deep grooves and everything outside the groove gets more rigid ans fragile.
When I was a labourer, if I'd had this channel, I might still be a labourer as it could've helped me sustain my work rate and injury protection..... I rate your work highly as lots of exercises are things I discovered in a sense during my normal working life. Strength came along, an ex-navy man taught me to lift and move with weight, and I was a very powerful man. Big up yourself.
I just wanted to let you know that I happened upon your channel because I am always looking at people who train (which ever method they personally enjoy) and you popped up as a suggestion. I “continue” to watch your work because you seem like a very genuine and honest person and one who enjoys what he is doing. Keep it going and I’ll keep watching 😉 We all train different and it’s beautiful, let’s learn from each other.
As an acrobat, including functional training has been extremely beneficial to my performance! I initially started going to the gym again because of an injury, but gaining especially more core and pull strength has made my training so much easier!
I like when response videos at times have no drama and there is common ground. I agree with both of you and glad you still use bodybuilding, but like you said on the side to compliment the rest of your routine. I can agree with that and just adding the basic things you mentioned could go a long way to help your body age better.
I appreciate your writing an article to go with every video. I am one of those guys who likes to read, especially, when the videos are slow and waste so much of my time. (BTW, your videos are much, much more engaging and fast-paced than other content creators. I had no problem sitting through this rather long video.)
Love your channel. Precisely what I was looking for for a long time.
You are the go-to guy for fun and good wo workouts. There is no need to defend your philosophy on training as it is well thought out, interestingly presented and works.
People should copy you.
Natural Hypertrophy and Bioneer are not a duo I thought i’d ever see, but as two very rational, intelligent, and respectful creators i love that your paths intersected. Both make an incredible effort to further ideas over egos and put the rest of the website to shame!
I love both your and NH channels. I agree with you on this one, although I partially agree with NH as well, atleast under the premice that your definition of functional training os different than for example Joell Seedman or Athlean X deffinitions of FT. It is easy to use FT as a marketing term for con artists, and such con artists need to be very adamant at attacking people who criticize them, use buzz terms or confusing language to create a cult following. Like you said, bad apples are everywhere, but I believe this is where NH is coming from.
Anyway, I love how you adressed his video without animocity. Been viewing your channel for a few years now, keep up the great content.
27:27
Coming from someone who is naturally bulky as well, it is so nice to see someone admitting that genetics have greatly helped them achieve their fitness goals.
I see way too many people claiming they simply worked harder than anyone else and that genetics don't play any role. That's just disingenuous and francly disrespectful towards all the people who tried just as hard without having very suitable genetics. Of course you still have to put in the effort, but someone who is gifted in that regard is always going to progress faster.
So thanks for being so humble and acknowledging your priviledge so others won't be discouradged when they don't get the same results.
Let us not forget the concept of General Physical Preparedness. Being fit and strong enough to turn ourselves towards any physical activity - sport, running, playing with any kids in our family, moving house - and doing these things well enough without having to train specifically. My take on functional training is that it is any training that applies to the majority of physical activities, whether you call that general or non-specific, and thus builds general physical preparedness. It should be the foundation of any training programme, with specific training being built on top of it.
I love your functional approach so much I keep a grip trainer in the bathroom. Not very good at remembering to do calf raises near the kettle but I'm working on it. Bodybuilding can be very daft at times, but being able to have far better cardio, strength and mobility fitness at 49 than I did at 20 surely isn't, and that is down to the totality of what I do, Inc things like reverse plank (ta for that video btw) yoga, Caroline Girvan, Ironwolf, Tom Merrick mobility, Ben Patrick...I love it all and have lots of fun, so keep producing these functional videos!
I trained martial arts primary for self-defense and health. I have your book and like your videos. I 🍒 cherry pick information from various places. Functional Training is a great resource for guys like me. Keep up the the good work.
To each, their own. The most important thing is to do what you enjoy. Too many people don't move enough.
And anyway, you're preaching to the converted here. Good response, kept it friendly. Nice work.
You asked so: Functional Training means to train to be who and what you want to become.
Functional Training for Me:
ATG Split Squats
ATG Squats
Air Squats
Nordic Curls
Hindu Pushups
That's to combat the stiffness from sitting or standing without much vatiation during my work or home life.
But functional for me also extends into:
reading both fiction and non-tiction because TV gets boring and I have a lot of unread books on my shelves
Running because I consider a low mile time as a good indicator of heart and lung health
Lifting weights because you can perform any physical skill perfectly, but if you have no strength or power behind it, then you won't be able to perform it anyway
Staring at a computer screen because I want to work from home one day and I need to be able to focus on a computer screen for extended periods of time
Discipline because I can't get anything done if I just put it off
TLDR of my mini-essay. Functional training encompasses a whole-life perspective for me. It's a means to get me to my goals.
I love the thoughtfulness of your functional training. As an electrician, I'm actually a little offended that the other guy just assumes the whole world sits at a desk for a living. How ignorant. Where does he think his food comes from? The electricity that runs his lights? The water in his pipes? Remember all those essential workers the whole world forgot about? We don't sit behind a desk for a living.
I bought your book. I read your book. I enjoyed your book. I'm a blue collar working man who uses functional training (including ideas from your book) to keep myself in good form to make work and other aspects of my life easy. I think functional training is the best kind of training for the *average person trying to have a good life and be healthy. Love your channel!
The idea of fuctional traning resonated with me and since adapting some of your training philosophies I've noticed that I can do "functional" things like moving furniture or trying new training movements without injury or next day stiffness. My current fitness goals would have been unthinkable just a year ago. Your program and this community have been instrumental in keeping me motivated, interested, and fitter than I've been in decades. Thanks.
I really like your channel, and as someone who lives on a smallholding and whose workouts consist of literally chopping wood and digging the garden, I like your style of training for picking up tips for some exercises/stretches that will help prevent injury. Am far more interested in targeting all the various small stabilizing muscles than making the big obvious muscle groups bigger for the sake of it.
I'm 56 I live in Pittsburgh pa I'm a flooring contractor I've always taken pride in Functional training I don't want to be the 60 year old man from the 1970 if my neighbor needs help moving a refrigerator or help with a couch I can do it I know that at my age 56 I'm better stronger than my father when he was 56 he didn't like fitness but he built houses for a living and at 60 wasn't that strong thanks for what you do UA-cam is better because you are making videos
A deadlift helps you pick things up off the floor therefore its functional. Loaded carries help you carry groceries, tool bags or kids therefore its functional
i love the way you look at things its way smarter than just lifting in the gym getting knee and back problems and cant run beceause your to big and stuff I love functional training beceause I train freeruning and calisthenics and I need strong knees and stuff wich just boduilding doesnt transfer well to those sports. thanks for your videos and knoledge i really appreciate it.
One of my functional exercises is the grave digger with the macebell. It carries over to a lot of the chores I do intermittently. Like shoveling snow.
Rather than train to look like I'm active (40' in the gym, 3x/week), I am active (calisthenics every morning, kickboxing, swimming).
Takes a lot more work for less visible muscles, but it's more healthy and fun.
I am old as shit. However, I have a "pit" in my backyard, my front yard is about 3 acres. I use a large 132# tire, various logs, 15-25# kettle bells and a 15' raised paralell log walk. I have a functional strength training workout of about 30 different exercises. That along with hiking/walking 2-10 miles several days a week. Is what I have managed to make work for me.
I and my doctors want to thank The Bioneer. For putting out useful and easy to understand information.
Functional training has been a great motivator for me. Some of it is just plain fun! Half of what it has meant to me is that it is ok, even good for you, to have a mix; a heavy weight day, a run, a HIIT, and yoga are all in my regular workouts but the most fun is the other half of what Functional Training means to me. I’ve learned new, engaging moves such as Hindu push-ups and squats, Turkish get ups, deep squats, hangs, Romanian deadlifts, farmers carry, crawls, crab reaches and many more. The variety keeps me going. I haven’t noticed as good a result with any other workout except perhaps HIIT. It’s brutal but also gives great results.
What functional training is to me is making myself able to physically, mentally and emotionally do everything my wife and children need.
I am interested in improving my grip strength, rotational strength, core stability, shoulder mobility, endurance, balance, and agility. As well as my calm, focus and patience.
My goals are to be the best father and husband I can be.
Functional and superfunctional training has been a perfect fit for my life.
I can't thank you enough for this channel and your Functional Training and Beyond book.
Don't worry about the negative people Adam, they are probably being confrontational to get more clicks.
This channel has been a huge inspiration 👏👏 thank you for the content. Classy response 👍👍👍
Fully relate to what you said about being the guy of the joke of being asked to help move. One of my biggest motivators years ago for change was that my mum was having to help me mow my own lawn, because I couldn't do it. Although in my defense I was injured, I knew I had a lot I could work on. I relate to your channel more than anything else I've seen over the years. I don't want to be necessarily the guy with the huge muscles, I just want to be able to do some pretty demanding movements that may be required of me, and live a physically and mentally confident and competent life. I have learnt so much from watching you over the years. Currently recovering from a nerve transposition surgery in hopes to gain the feeling and function of my arm back, can't wait to hopefully unlock my natural potential. :) Keep up the awesome work and message, it's greatly appreciated! A lot of what I learn from you I teach to my elderly Dad who has a neurological disease. He's been a lot more motivated too, and becoming more confident in his movements
Great video Adam! I think part of what’s missing in this discussion is adherence! Functional training is FUN (at least for me)! And if you can still get performance and hypertrophic benefits from it, why not? If you have the health to do it, and want to genuinely enjoy what you do, let’s do it! Nobody wants to adhere to a protocol they don’t enjoy (and will eventually quit).
Just my opinion, but if you have someone who doesn’t enjoy the stereotypical bodybuilding/powerlifting or even calisthenics program, functional training may be what they need so they don’t deteriorate from sitting down all day lol
I mean it always boils down to doing what suits you best for what you need.
For me, in the past couple of years, functional training has certainly helped me in trying to undo the damage caused from years of having a desk job. Doing that and then doing the traditional gym training, one extreme to the other, I believe, has certainly contributed to my problems.
My posterior chain certainly has issues nowadays, really tight hamstrings and lower back issues being the most obvious.
Functional training is helping me undo all this and I’m certainly thankful I found invaluable channels like this, that really opened my eyes and rethink how I exercise. It’s definitely helped me personally.
This is more of a testimony than anything. I've been running in OCR 10ks for about 3 years (not counting 2020 due to covid). One race, in particular, I've always competed in a "competitive" wave to where you have to complete every challenge to retain your arm band. You get unlimited attempts and/or can do a penalty lap if need be. The first year, it took me multiple attempts to pass, but I made it. The second year, though it was raining, I had to do penalty laps. This was post-'vid and I was only weight training. However, within the past few months, I've swapped to functional (or superfunctional) training. This year, I finished every obstacle with one attempt and I felt more focused and determined. So, if nothing else, yeah functional training does exist and it works!
You are a legend!
I got your book and i love it
One of My Favorite philosophies is from Pat McNamara In his opinion, there are four reasons for working out and staying fit and FUNCTIONAL!!!: self-preservation/longevity, saving your life, saving someone else's life and kicking someone's ass. Work within your capability limits. Don't be subservient to someone else's programming written on a whiteboard. Pat McNamara spent 22 years in the United States Army in a myriad of special operations units. He worked in the premier special missions unit, He is a Bad A** Real Life HERO
I think you provide particularly useful and thought provoking content, especially as it helps to avoid a blinkered and limited approach to exercise. That this keeps things interesting and fun is also important regarding motivation in the long term. Very well done, and all the best for the future:)
Functionality is physical freedom, I don't get the criticism.
Following Adam's Functional Training has enabled me to obtain two black belts (TKD and Krav) by being stronger, more mobile and more versatile in the many different kinds of demands I put on my body. Whether it is kicking, sparring, takedowns and ground fighting, doing just the big lifts will not cut it.
I do office work, and it requires daily functional training to counteract the RSI's. And no, I don't sit in a chair all day. I use a standing desk half the time.
I don’t care what anyone calls it, training like you has greatly improved my fitness, my energy, my mood, my mobility and my health. Thanks for all the excellent content and keep up the great work!
I’ve done obstacle course races and seen dozens of gym bros decades younger and much stronger than me just fall apart on the course...and it wasn’t cardio that wiped them out; it required muscles and movement patterns that they didn’t train despite spending 10 years in the gym. They looked awesome, were strong and had decent cardio, but were being dusted by many.
It’s not a big deal if it doesn’t matter to them though. I am sure there are some physical activities or sports you would suck at too. You can’t be good at everything
If you want the power do the thing. Whatever sport or interest you have, do it, that's the way to get better at it. To continue to enjoy your sport or activity you must have balance which is the Bioneer's point. There will come a time when your age exceeds your chest size and to continue to enjoy activities the goal becomes to stay out of the assisted care living facility. You have to be smart enough to know when it's time to move on and not remain ego shackled to your conceptions about yourself.
It's all about purpose. Too many bodybuilders/powerlifters will attack functional fitness and then complain about excessive tightness, aches, pains, etc. You can have and do both.
Please do a garou workout from OPM pls, I know Jax did one but he did the gym workout, I want to see a way to train outside
dog. its called calisthenics. i get what you saying but garou is a fictional character beyond god levels of strength right.
Just attaching a anime characters name to a workout has nothing to do with it. its just for clicks and name sake.
if you want to train outside calisthenics all you need to know. he has already done videos on this look it up.
@mx Jax blade made a really good Routine mixing weights and calisthenics I’d recommend looking it up
Horse stance, reverse lunges, bear crawl. Until you puke. At least twice
Functional training is the MMA of fitness
like a lot of others, i agree with you and want my rant heard
Your exercise should support your sport or lifestyle. If heavy AF a training is your sport, your functional training is injury prevention, activating the appropriate muscles for the sport.
If you do martial arts, strengthening muscles so that you don’t over use (see hamstrings) certain muscles. Improve core stability, glute activation, generate more power or increase speed and do moves more explosively… kettlebell work has been my approach for this. (Shinkyokushin karate).
If your training leaves you exhausted and you can’t function in life, then it isn’t functional.
Great Stuff Adam.
ps, great name
Great video; I love your conten (and your accent + cheery demeanor!)
As far as the average person not needing to do a pull-up, I would just add that while it's not a situation you might run into in everyday life, there's always the 1-in-a-million chance that you find yourself dangling off of something and having to pull yourself up to safety; imagine being on a cruise ship that goes sideways, for example. Better to have the abilities and not need them than need them and not have them.
The idea that functional training is not valid because it trains you to do things you dont NEED to do and therefore its non-functional just boggles my mind. I really like your points, you got it spot on. Its functional for me to enjoy my time on earth, for me to be impressed with myself, to reach the boundaries of my capabilities. It stops me from being depressed, it holds off the self loathing, the anxiety. That's its function. Plus! I farm and do handywork, you NEVER know what will be functional or not from day to day, being good at all of the things is actually super functional for my diverse line of work. Especially considering that the randomness of my work means the work itself does not train me adequately to avoid injury.
I don't need to be a professional for rope climbing or crawling to be helpful to me personally. But you know what, grip strength and safe mobility in all ways the human body moves is SUPER useful when getting into weird positions to fix fencing, or dealing with naughty (AKA dangerous) goats and horses, or using the wide variety of cultivation tools we use for soil prep.
I've been told lateral lifts are useless all of my life but once I got a job as a farmer, that was blown straight out of the water. Lateral lifts are actually super functional if you're actually carrying things on the daily. Farmers carry in real life looks a lot more like lateral lifts and the ability to grip a rope or piece of wire like your life depends on it, than carrying around a kettlebell with a wide comfy handle, turns out. Its like all of these opinions come from people who either dont lift, don't live, or do not dream beyond the office and the gym. You never know where you'll end up in life, how your dreams will change. Being able to do all of the things makes these transitions a lot easier.
Hey Bioneer,
Greetings from Canada! Great job dude! Any sport without true performance really confused what training is and the need for outer performance.
With you on this bro, you have all the support you may need...
Hybrid athleticism is what kept me sane in difficult times ..
At your service if you need me
The problem lies with those channels that promote functional training as some bizzare exercise that attracts clicks for views
Nice video man! Really nicely put overall. Honestly, everything I have studied form sources contained within youtube, various texts on training, nutrition and other philosophies (breathing, temperature extremes, meditation, etc...) all have some value to (me) the individual. Having good form, thoughtful thorough movement is all good in various amounts/intensities over a period of time given adjustments to nutrition, age, gender and ROM. Ultimately the goal is to get stronger as we age. There is no one path up the mountain and even a path chosen may not work for every part of the journey.
Idea 💡: Have you, The Bioneer, ever thought about doing a Spartan Race or some sort of obstacle course race to test to see if your training really pays off?
Would be a great video
Functional training by definition means a classification of exercise which involves training the body for the activities performed in daily life. A really easy example of this would be stair master or stepper in older adults so they're able to walk stairs. Another really simple one by that definition would be farmers holds/carries every day if it's taking in groceries or moving something we have to pick up and move an object through space. Training your balance is also something that can be done as when you get older you raise the risk of falling due to balance related issues.
I disagree with your bicep curl on a sprinter comment. Your upper body is very important in sprinting
There isn't a channel I value more then this one. And there isn't a guy in the world I relate more to them this dude.
great video. you handled it like a gentleman and adult and i hope it was well received by those who didnt understand the concept of terminology. im an exercise science major and i love all the different forms of training. they each have a purpose and to say to someone hey the training you dedicate your lifestyle to is garbage, is narrow minded. ive been a personal trainer for 16yrs if someone comes to me and says "hey i just wanna be healthy and functional" im not gonna throw them into a body building program thats silly, where as if i have someone that asks me to train them for body building all i care about is asthetics. train for what you want not what someone else says is the best. great job
I feel like for an average person, the best combination for functional training would be regularly playing an outdoor sport, mild strength training and yoga.
Thank you Adam for showing what functional training should be all about. Thank you for showing us that it is simple to do functional training. Keep the great work Adam.