In 2012 I was honored to be asked to present at an international conference in Mexico City. As a presenter it was, quite frankly, just another pain in the ass trip away from home (four days in yet another hotel, long airport lines, and upwards of my 2 millionth-ish mile in another neck-crippling airplane seat). But it was sitting in a couple of others’ presentations as well hanging with these other presenters at and after dinners (at the hotel bar… where all profound things occur) that made this a truly unique and memorable experience. They were brilliant, full of experiences at levels most only hear about in an HBO Sports documentary, and extremely eloquent in the communication of their wisdom. I jotted down some quotes (on bar napkins of course) that were not only profound, but were also very “RTS” in that they were outside of the untoward paradigms, rhetoric, and sound bites that are epidemic in the exercise industry. Here are a few of my favorites:

Jack Roach, US Olympic swim coach,  US Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, CO:

“The only way to swim fast is to have great technique. The only way to have great technique is to swim slow enough to work on your technique.”  (vs the only way to be fast is to train fast, which ignores the influence of skill on speed)

“In swimming there is what is known as the “anaerobic threshold graveyard.” I was guilty of this in my younger years. We’d spend years pushing the limits during training and I literally swam the speed out of guys by the time they were 16 and they were done! They never returned to their former ability.” (vs the idea that more is always better; strategically appropriate is the key)

Gregory Haff, PhD, Senior Strength Scientist, Edith Cowan University, Australia:

“Athletes should wait several years to even begin plyometrics. They must have a foundation of strength first. In fact, strengthening alone will increase power in the first few years.” (progression of internal performance/function, i.e., the contractile ability/output of the tissue we use to jump or to exhibit power; you can improve power without the activity having “power” in the name or behind the protocol)

“Strength is a requirement for performance. Look at it this way: regardless of your level of skill, if your strength declines your performance declines.” (again, contractile output/internal function/performance is the foundation for every activity)

“There is a saying I learned: ‘New coaches copy. Good coaches modify. Great coaches innovate.” (i.e. they stray from tradition via sound principles)

“Sports and fitness have nothing to do with each other. In sports we try to ring every drop of performance out of an athlete that we can. In fitness you’re supposed to be concerned about the long term. It’s supposed to be sustainable.” (vs Crossfit’s tagline: “the sport of fitness” and all the performance training promoted as the path to health, weight loss, etc. for people of any age, goal, or tolerance)