If you only buy one cricket fitness book this year, buy this one
The Men's Health Book of Power Training may not seem to be the first choice for cricketers wanting to improve their cricket fitness. Delving under the cover reveals otherwise.
When I picked up the book from Amazon on recommendation I was worried. The book's cover made claims most cricketers would be put off by:
- Bigger muscles, lean physique
- Double results in half the time
Was it going to be another bodybuilding book making ridiculous claims based on drug taking genetic freak results?
Far from it.
As soon as you cut past the hype and start reading this book is perfect for cricketers (or any sport that requires strength, power and speed):
- How to translate the gym to the pitch
- How to build your own training program
- Loads of exercise ideas
So rather than giving you a pre-made plan that you blindly follow, the book explains the principles of training and shows you how to apply them. It's all laid out without jargon too.
The advice comes from Coach Dos – a strength and conditioning coach in America who trains college athletes. His training plans are designed to be adapted to any sport and his students real life success shows his methods work.
The section on power exercises is excellent. There are many people who would like the extra power that 'Olympic' lifts bring but consider complex exercises like cleans and snatches to be beyond them. The book offers a range of options that you can pick up instantly and are just as effective. You can also develop them into full lifts later if you gain confidence.
What I also like about it is the flexibility of the system. Coach Dos takes into account all aspects like time, equipment available and number of workouts a week and lets you decide the best way for your needs. Whatever way you cut it though, it will make your cricket better by getting you stronger, faster, fitter and more powerful in the long run.
There is even a section on 15 minute workouts when you have no time to train but want to get something in.
Coach Dos also introduces the idea of cardio-strength. It's not a new idea to use weights for general conditioning/fat loss/endurance but this is the first book I have seen so much detail on the topic. Of course cricketers still need to run, but as an option to further boost your fitness it's a great tool.
This is no quick fix. This is proper, real world training for people who want to improve. I have started using the plan already.
Will the book suit my cricket fitness needs?
It's not a book for everyone, but most people can use the principles within it. I would say the book could be used by:
- Anyone with access to a gym with free weights
- Men or Women (even though it's a Men's Health book)
- Anyone over 18 (under 18's could still use it but care would need to be taken with the weight and technique).
- Have 2-4 days a week 30-60 minutes to train in the gym.
I have no fear in recommending the book to those people, cricketers or not.
If you want a copy head over to Amazon and pick it up.
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Comments
mens health... more fitness propaganda that doesn't work.
yeah ur really helpful fs
Have you read it Faris? It does recommend back squats, deadlifts, Olympic lifts and bench pressing. I thought you liked those.
'training sessions that are short, intense, and highly effective; compound, multijoint exercises that replace the less-effective isolation exercises'
So the guy incorporates HIT whilst using a lot of compound movements - its not anything new.
'shows you how to apply them'
More propaganda. Why? You cant teach a newbie powerlifter solely by using this book on how to squat deep, deadlift correctly, bench press correctly and carry out several Olympic lifts with perfect form, and without injuring himself.
'innovative food pyramid developed by the UCLA Centre for Human Nutrition that will optimize strength gains, recovery, and physical progress'
lol..
'drug taking genetic freak results?'
I doubt those NFL stars got to their current position entirely naturally.
'Bigger muscles, lean physique'
A cricketer wants stronger, more able muscles. Cricketers are not bodybuilders. If I want bigger muscles.
Nothing new for you Faris, but is it aimed at you with your in depth knowledge? I would say no.
There is nothing new in strength training anyway, but this book is a great place to start for people wanting to improve.
It's not a book for powerlifters or bodybuilders, but it uses the best practices from all strength training to make better stronger athletes.
Oh, I agree the books marketing hype is a bit OTT, but the content is spot on for cricketers.
Sorry if I'm a cynic, however I doubt the guy on the front cover got that physique with that training method.
On top of that, it looks as if hes training his back, a better exercise is using bent over barbell rows, or dumbbell rows.
Me too Faris, but you can't judge a book by its cover, right?
True.
[...] new skills in the best learning environment and ensuring your fitness work has function (something Coach Dos is very good at [...]