In the “Overheard” posts I take a quote from a trainer/co-worker and discuss the flawed logic and/or sheer stupidity of their “Expertise.”  It is meant to illustrate why I feel compelled to start my own business and escape the tyranny of idiocy.  These are real quotes from “real professionals.”

“Turkish Stand Ups”

Trainer: Hey man I read about something in Men’s Health you should try.  You ever heard of them?… They’re called Turkish Stand Ups.

Much like the “Central Strength System” there (to my knowledge) is no such thing as a Turkish Stand Up.  Wait correction, after a Google search you get a link to a BodyBuilding.com forum post.  Damn you BodyBuilding.com for always knowing more than me!!!!!!

There IS something known as the Turkish Get Up (non-CrossFit Journal subscribers can click here) which is a phenomenal exercise that tests balance, coordination and strength.  I’m personally not an overwhelming fan of them because they are tough to do in high repetition.  Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do them, just I don’t think they are the best idea for a met-con WOD.  Anyway, I have no problem mispronouncing the name of an exercise.  I do that ALL the time.  It’s the source of information and the instruction.

Men’s Health, is NOT a legitimate source of information to be cited.  I put it in the same category as saying, “This real estate market is really bad.  I was reading about it in US Weekly.”  There is no research involved in Men’s Health.  Only marketing.  They show a guy with (most likely steroid induced) abs and arms and then pretend to offer “New Scientifically Proven” methods.  It’s a joke.  Yet it’s discussed here like it was the New England Journal of Medicine.  Trainers literally can’t wait to get the new issue.  If that’s your main source of information, there’s a serious problem. And guess what, there is a serious problem.

Later, I watched as this trainer demonstrated the “Turkish Stand Up.”  I may not be privy to the exact method of this movement, but I do know how to do a Turkish Get Up.   The way this trainer taught the TGU (or TSU I guess) was entirely wrong. I’m pretty sure he was shown a starting position and a finishing position and them made up his own way to get from the one to the other.  This is also the problem with most instruction involved in commercial personal training.  There is no instruction in movement or quality of movement.  It’s just point A to point B thinking.  As the instructor for my US Weight Lifting Certification said, “This is the main reason people get hurt with the Olympic Lifts.  People see where to start and see where to end, but never bother to consider the in between.”  If you have a trainer that cares about your quality of movement, stick with them.  If the only think you’ve ever heard is “squeeze your glutes” or some equivalent, consider finding a new one.