In Powerlifting, Videos
June 22, 2009

Dave Tate of EliteFTS came to CrossFit San Diego for a private seminar on January 24, 2009. Dave was a successful competitive powerlifter for over two decades. He trained with Louie Simmons at Westside Barbell Club. His best back squat was 930lbs, bench 610lbs, and deadlift 740lbs. Tate is a powerlifting specialist, and he doesn’t claim to be anything else.
This video is part two of Dave’s analysis of the role of technique in training and performance. Technique is all about being efficient. Sometimes, though, in training, you can let go of perfect training. Some drills just don’t require efficient technique. And, there can be great benefit to intentionally training some reps with inefficient positioning, because there will be times in competition that every athlete will find themselves outside ideal positioning.
Dave suggests that the mental game and technique account for 90% of success in sport. Many pro football players don’t even train in the off season. They can get away with it because on game day, their technique and mental game are spot on.
There is a little known fact about technique, proficiency and experience. The longer you spend doing a specific skill or sport, the more efficient you become. After a while, you need to do less work to sustain or even make gains. Many experienced athletes do too much. They become more efficient and thus each effort becomes greater. They need fewer repetitions to exhaust the system. They also need more time to recover.
12min 41sec

21 Comments on “Dave Tate Sticking Points Technique Part 2”
1
wrote …
I love Dave Tate...I could listen to him all day.
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2
wrote …
Great explanation of why advanced lifters need less volume in their programming. Dave's an awesome speaker.
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3
wrote …
Is it just me, or does the video die out after a few minutes. My download tells me it is 12 minutes and change, but in dies out after 3.
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4
wrote …
And now, this pogramming note.
Dave Tate will be Justin Judkin's guest on CrossFit Radio Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 6:00 PM PDT.
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5
wrote …
I guess it's just me but I am not that in to this guy. I know he is a great competitor and knows his stuff but as far as his vids go I am not too impressed. I guess with anything someone does they need less time to practice is as they are more efficient with it. That could be with lifting, cooking or any discipline to reap the benefits.
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6
wrote …
It strikes me in this video that Tate is a really knowledgable guy regarding physiology and strength generally, and here he's throwing us some interesting info, but it seems like he's just going on a bit of a tangent. Looks like he came to the seminar not terribly knowledgable of crossfit's particular goals and methods. I would really love to hear his insights (because I'm sure he'd have some) after he'd had a few conversations with Glassman and had a more thorough understanding of what we are doing and why we are doing it.
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7
wrote …
Mine cuts out right when he says " youre cool" about 4 mins in.
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8
wrote …
My video died out after 3 minutes as well. I've been having difficulty with downloads on a number of videos. This fellow sounds like he knows what he's talking about but unfortuately I never got here what it was he had to share. It sounds like he says just get the movement done without worrying about technique?
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9
wrote …
. . . download the .mov if you're having trouble with the .wmv
Dave Tate's approach to technique here will ring a bell to those familiar with Terry Laughlin's swimming philosophy. Terry's approach is that by focusing on drag reduction (technique) you can become much more efficient in the water than by trying to improve your conditioning (i.e. just swimming more laps). This philosophy instantly vouches for itself in water, as improved technique will have an exponentially greater impact on performance by improving efficiency than any relative improvement that conditioning would.
I would even postulate that average CrossFitters could develop a blind spot for improving technique because they simply see more weight or better conditioning as a way to better performance - which it is, but that isn't the whole picture.
Those that are especially sensitive to their need to improve technique are beginners (due to their inability due to poor flexibility/ignorance - of which I fall in both these categories) and the very top performers who are focused on every last detail, from nutrition to technique, to improve their performance.
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10
wrote …
Dave made a valid point regarding volume and experience but I agree he could have done a much better job applying his knowledge to the craft and interest of his audience. It would have also been nice if he used CrossFit as an example to clarify his point (and not bodybuilding). Whether Dave agrees with CrossFit methodology is not that important here. But he would be better received if he showed a better understanding of what we do and the relevancy of his advice to the CrossFit community.
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11
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We discovered an issue with the .wmv version of the video. It's being corrected and should be fixed within a few minutes.
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12
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My question regarding the volume lowering in the training as the experience increases: Is this only in regards to powerlifting or low rep strength, due to the central nervous system engaging all the body's muscles at once as opposed to the separate firing of muscles in the amateur athlete? Or is he talking about all kinds of training? (ie: any non-strength workouts/metcon workouts) It makes sense what he's saying if he's only talking about powerlifting, but is he referring to other types of workouts too?
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13
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Dave is a one of the best at what he does, powerlifting. He lost me on this video, when it comes to sticking points and technique as it pertains to Crossfit.
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14
replied to comment from Ryan Dumas…
I agree Ryan, I'm curious to know the same thing.
Also, I have been to the Arnold Classic and like Arnold said in "Pumping Iron"... bodybuilders who are about to go on stage are at their least healthiest moments in their training cycle.
All the dieting causes a shit load of stress and added fatigue to their bodies. A bodybuilder who is in the off season carrying a bit more fat can walk from room to room:)
I'm not defending or advocating the lifestyle, just saying what is pretty much fact... and Dave Tate knows this which is why I find it confusing as to why he brings it up. Also, if your goal is to bodybuild, why say that person can't do a crossfit workout? Different goals, yes?
Thats like saying a crossfitter is weak because he doesn't have a 600lb squat like a powerlifter.... it makes no sense to bring that up.
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15
replied to comment from Ryan Keaney…
If you watch the video carefully, you will see coach in the background at on epoint. He obviously felt the guy had something valuable to contribute. But I agree, he kinda lost me midway through as he went from topic to topic.
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16
Rich Vos wrote …
This is my second time hearing from Tate, but I really love his style and lecture methods. This on top of the great info he's putting out! Keep putting up more Dave Tate vids!
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17
wrote …
I believe his point regarding fatique was more toward powerlifters and how there bodies "fire" in total. I don't think it was about the diet persay.
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18
wrote …
I agree with #5 and #6. Tate comes across as poorly prepared for this talk. Also, the pan around the room shows a very low turnout... not flattering. Tate seems a bit uncomfortable, too. This probably would have come off better if everyone were sitting around, closer together, in a more informal question-and-answer session.
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19
wrote …
Dave rocks, and I think him seeming uncomfortable is that he's used to talking to guys with a maximal-strength oriented training program. I am actually surprised he spoke at a Crossfit event, as he is a contributor to T-Nation (a site where many members decry Crossfit training) I was under the impression that the higher the intensity(%1rm) the lower the volume has to be to preclude CNS burnout. Be that snatches/jerks/squats/deadlifts etc. And that's pretty much what Tate is saying, I think.
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20
wrote …
On CrossFit Radio with Justin Judkins, Dave Tate told he story of how he came to be involved with CrossFit
http://journal.crossfit.com/2009/06/crossfit-radio-episode-73-090624.tpl
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21
wrote …
Love Dave Tate! I could also listen all day, keep the vid's coming!
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