When teaching someone the Big 3....

[Big_BK]

Would you encourage the use of a mirror to help them learn the form or make them lift with no mirrors until they get the form down. I already have a chosen side with my reasoning behind it i want to see a few others before i share mine.

 

[2DIEZEL]

I like the mirror, mostly because i just like looking at myself. But i do loose some form when not looking in the mirror, so i would have to say mirror.

 

[fortunatesun]

No mirror.

I usually use one but lately it's seemed somewhat limiting. It's better to concentrate on feeling your natural ROM. Nothing wrong with checking your form out after you feel comfortable, but if you have someone to teach and correct you then you don't need the mirror.

Nowadays I'm reverse engineering myself. I focus on setting up and feeling my legs break parallel or locking out the weight rather than trying to see what I'm doing.

Of course I'd post somewhat differently if my main interest was bodybuilding. I can see where some immediate feedback would be useful. Even so, for someone just learning the basics, it's better w/o so that you're at home lifting anywhere.

 

[joe d]

i dont look at anything right before or during a lift. my gaol the entire time is complete focus on my muscle im working. i tune everything out.

 

[Gawd]

I like the mirror. I find a focal point on the wall or something to concentrate on, but i'll glance at the mirror once in a while to make sure everything is looking right. Especially since I normally workout solo.

I think mirror would be good if your teaching someone, cause they can glance in the mirror to see how there suppose to be set up.

 

[ExtraMile]

I like the mirror because it makes me feel like a badass watching myself DLing

 

[gstacker]

i dont use mirriors for myself so i wouldnt teach someone else to...but then again im not a trainer lol anyways if i were i think id have em focus on feel and consintrate on the muscels being worked and sqeeze...use weight they can handle...i mean ya you can look like your doing it right no prob jus go throgh the mothions but you got to feel it n sqeeze em out jmho

 

[artificialaspirations]

i could go either way but I've been lifting for a long time. You can't see yourself from the side, so other than admiring yourself in the mirror, I see no benefit. I can tell if my squats are deep enough, I DL away from the mirror and you can't see anything benching, sooo...

I find great value in multi angle video cameras though...

 

[timtim]

start with the mirror so they can see what the movement should look like. after they get the feel down, remove the mirrors. the visual image at the beginning is where they are learning the move. you can tell someone to get their hips down as much as you want. until they see the range they should be in, feel it, and train to it, they will not learn near as quick or as accurate. you get the visual, auditory, and tactile senses working with mirrors. they are pretty essential to the learning of the movements.

 

[cjangelo]

timtim's advice is good. I think it helps to see what the movement should look like. To that end, show him videos of great deadlifters, point out what they're doing well--chest up, bar close to the shins, etc. Then when they're setting up and performing the lift, they'll know what it's supposed to look like, and they can check in the mirror. Have

Of course, yes, they need to "feel" the correct form and set up, and eventually they'll drop the mirrors.

Later, if they need form work, they'll use a coach and/or video cameras to monitor form.

YouTube - Brad Gillingham 390 (859) deadlift

YouTube - Sorinex - Brad Gillingham Deadlifts 865lbs at the Arnold

mark rippetoe describes brad gillingham's form as the most perfect he's ever seen. Show your trainee these videos.