The title says it all Awesome!!!
This latest book, by Ellington Darden, who has written more than three dozen books, including The Bowflex Body Plan, is perhaps one of his best. It is a unique treatment in that it provides a provacative background (with many surprising stories and insights) of high intensity training (HIT), a term that he coined about thirty years ago, together with training direction that is unparalleled in the philosophy and discipline of HIT. Dr. Darden begins by explaining the training methods that Arthur Jones established, to help revolutionize the exercise industry, his initial machine creations that led to the advent of Nautilus, his work with Casey Viator, The Colorado Experiment, the West Point Study, and Jone's experiences with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu, Boyer Coe, Frank Zane, the Mentzer Brothers, and Sergio Oliva. Apparently some of these "hard core" bodybuilders were not so hard core (Mike Mentzer and Arnold fans may be surprised)!
Dr. Darden provided this entertaining and educational background to explain Jones' reasoning and the HIT philosophy (relative to the then current dogma) that then merges nicely into the fundamental principles and how they support HIT, including intensity, lifting form, progression, duration, frequency, and exercise order, as well as issues of recovery, layoffs, and sleep. As a side note, it may surprise the reader as to how many strength and conditioning coaches actually apply HIT training with their athletes, including Superbowl winners. As Dr. Darden explains through experience, explosive, ballistic training is unnecessary to develop a strong, muscular body in the average person or a star athlete, although it is ideal if you want to increase the risk of injury.
Thereafter, Dr. Darden provides the "usual" exercise photos and descriptions for purposes of education and cohesion, then breaks from tradition (insofar as books go). He provides beginner and intermediate routines, followed by advanced techniques and specialized routines (for the focus of select muscle groups). These may sound "typical" for a bodybuilding/strength training book as well, but what he has done next is completely original and much needed. He has provided a six-month, four phase plan that can be applied from beginner to advanced trainee, in a step-by-step process. Whether a person is new to HIT, new to the methods provided, or even an advanced HIT disciple looking to re-establish him or her self with structure and direction, the routines provided are the ticket!Read full review
