Training

The Sacrifice of Doing It Right


Written by

By Brandon Lilly

Read Brandon’s Training Log Here

I recently watched a documentary entitled “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”. The story follows 85 year Jiro Ono in his pursuit to become the best Sushi chef in the world. By many regards he is the best, but it was a painstaking dedication to his disciplined daily routine that allowed him to achieve his greatness. What does this have to do with powerlifting?

In the documentary he speaks of so many Sushi chefs becoming flashy and trendy with their dishes, but he tries to keep simplifying his dishes more and more to achieve absolute perfection.in powerlifting too often lifters will chase the latest or greatest fad, and jump from program to program because its new and sounds great. Same for supplementation. Those companies aren’t raking in billions because they give you good deals on their products. They roll in profits because they sell you on hope. Lifters should stick to a program for at least 6 months, and really in my opinion a year before they change. Then it should only be because you are going backwards.

In another scene there was an apprentice chef that stated he had made over two thousand egg sushi before he made one that Jiro allowed to be served in his restaurant. When he made his first one he was so overwhelmed he openly cried in the restaurant. I have a moment exactly like this in my gym history. I had recently been training with Chuck Volgelpohl and every single squat I did he said “lower”, “too high”, “terrible on depth”. I was trying so hard to squat to a depth that he wanted because I knew he wouldn’t give me a break, especially because I was struggling so bad to do it. Every single teammate I had was getting “good work”, or “there you go”, and I couldn’t do it. I wondered how much of a joke he felt I was because I felt like a joke not being able to do a perfect squat. Then it happened…

Pro powerlifter and Team Juggernaut's Brandon Lilly is a truly motivational figure. JTSstrength.com

November 5th, 2011 I was on my 4th set of 6 and Chuck had really been pushing me, he had me doing so many exercises to strengthen my hips and core, also just constantly demanding I do better and better. My first rep of the set he yelled “your right there, now sink this next one.” And I did. “There you go!!”, and a pat on the back. I had to walk out of the gym for a minute because the weight of failure after failure, after failure, the thoughts of giving up, and the feeling my goals would never be realized hit me like a load of bricks. I broke down. But just for a second, because I had to do another set and it was even better than the last one.

The point of this is that we all struggle to achieve. We all face failures. Jiro is 85 years old and didn’t achieve any honors until into his 70’s. Imagine if he had quit in his 50’s? Often times when you are at your weakest, and greatest moment of despair you are right on the verge of greatness. Never ever quit, you’ll have to live with that feeling for the rest of your life.

Read Brandon’s Training Log Here

You may also like

Do You REALLY Care?
Training

Do You REALLY Care?

If you’re reading this right now, training matters to you on some level.  As an athlete, coach, or personal trainer, you don’t view it as …

Game Day Nutrition
Nutrition

Game Day Nutrition

There are few days in the year more important than ‘Game Day’ for athletes, if any.  Every month away from season is spent preparing, training, …

Motivation Trumps Everything
Training

Motivation Trumps Everything

  What makes you stronger? A certain rep scheme? A certain volume scheme? A magic program? The right assistance exercises? Drugs? The answer to this question is …

Everything You Need to Know About Recovering
Training

Everything You Need to Know About Recovering

In order for training to be effective, an overload must be presented. Training must be chronically harder, longer, and more demanding in some way as …

Get to Know Brandon Lilly
Training

Get to Know Brandon Lilly

Full Name: David Brandon Lilly Date of Birth: 3/14/1982 Height: 6’0” Weight: 315-325 Hometown: Berea, KY Current City: Richmond, KY Years Training: 12 , Powerlifting 6+/- Gym Name & Location: Berea Barbell …

Fight Club
Powerlifting

Fight Club

One of my favorite books of all-time (yes it was a book before a movie), and also favorite movies is “Fight Club”. Chuck Palahniuk is …

Screw Your Genetics
Training

Screw Your Genetics

For those interested in athletics, we are without a doubt living during exciting times.  During the 100m sprint of the summer Olympics last year we …

To Pull A Lot, You Need To Pull A Lot
Powerlifting

To Pull A Lot, You Need To Pull A Lot

Despite what you have been told the best deadlifters in the world pull very often, they are just intelligent enough to cycle their pulls. By …