You Should Be A Copy Cat

Let’s be honest – you’re a copycat. It’s ok. I am, too. Your mind is wondering, now, whatever could this dude be talking about, as you replay events and moments of the day or the week, in your head. I promise. It really is ok. Let me explain.

Be Brave

Have you ever gone to the gym and saw a fellow athlete (possibly one more well-built or one that appears to have been in training for a good while) doing something odd? Maybe it was a way of stretching or some unorthodox way of lifting weight or you observe some certain way they ran or jumped. Now you know where I am going with this, right? You instantly take mental notes. You use what photographic memory you have and hold on to it until you can either try it yourself, research the methods or, boldly, in curiousness, straight up ask them, “What are you doing that for?”

Be Bold

Personally, the ones that just walk up to me and ask me are my favorite. Sometimes, the inquiry can come at the wrong time… say, mid-set of heavy Jefferson Squats, but I rarely mind taking a moment to educate. I may even let them jump in and give it go, dropping the weight, of course. Other times, I have returned to the gym the next day to see some observers from the day before, trying some of the training methods they’d seen me do. I can almost always tell when they have gone home and done the homework and, sometimes, I can immediately pick up that some didn’t. If you are anything like me, it pains you to see bad form, and, if you’re anything like me, you offer some suggestions.

Be Honest

Like I said, it’s ok. I’ve done it, too. Especially when I was “new” to training. I would spend so much time watching YouTube and flipping through the bodybuilding magazines, looking for the answers to how to make this wider or that bigger. What was the secret? What do the big boys (and girls) do to get the physiques that they have? Even in the gym, I would side-eye observe and spy on the bigger guys using training techniques that I used to think were so weird and even funny looking. I was that guy that approached and interrogated, and yes, even at the wrong time. That lesson was learned quickly. Fortunately, the majority of these goliaths were humble and even flattered that they were being admired, leaving them obligated to give an explanation.

How else are we to learn, though? Ask questions. Research. Execute. Yes, there is a lot of “bro science” when it comes to training and nutrition. Asking a question can result in a barrage of “answers”. Some make no sense. Some make too much sense. So, how does one go about what’s real and what’s effective? Experimentation. Careful experimentation. Some mistakes in the gym can cost you more than you are willing to pay.

Here’s how I copy cat:

1. When I see something interesting, I observe. Even this deep into my training, I love discovering methods I’ve never utilized. But, when I see it, I go home and I do some research. When I say research, I’m talking about video tutorials, documentations, etc. The next time that method or exercise plays into my training split, I implement, starting with correcting the form, using lighter weight, until I feel comfortable with the mechanics.
2. I ask questions, still. The gym that I train out of now isn’t heavy laden with bodybuilding competitors, but when I visit other gyms, I’ll ask a fellow lifter the what and whys of something they are doing. Of course, your approach has to be one of honest curiosity and not some jerk-type approach. If they give me a few minutes of their time between sets or exercises, I let them know how grateful I am for their time and continue on with my training. When I get home, I dissect what I was told. I keep what I need and shelf the rest, sometimes, to cross reference and explanation I may read or receive from a different person on the same subject. Take what you need. Stick to facts. If you see a person doing bicep curls and you ask why and they tell you because it increases hamstring size, walk away and disregard every bit of it.
3. Be sure that what you have learned will benefit you and what you want to accomplish. Some exercises do not necessarily work as well as others, hence the importance of having an arsenal of different training techniques. For example, Stationary Lunges may be more effective for your muscle growth than Walking Lunges.

So, being a copy cat isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’ve even had people follow behind me in the gym, duplicating my exact training plan, without a shred of shame or sneaks. I like those, too. A lot of what I have learned early on came from the curiosity of a copy cat, and it didn’t kill me. It’s made me bigger and stronger… and with my research and trial and error, I’m smarter. Keep in mind, though… It would be hard to “invent” anything as far as exercise techniques. Most of them are just variations to the original.