3192: Strength Building - Beyond Specificity by Ross Enamait of Ross Training on Improving Workout Performance

Optimal Health Daily - Fitness and Nutrition

Optimal Living Daily LLC

Fitness, Health & Fitness, Nutrition

4.4 • 671 Ratings

🗓️ 17 November 2025

⏱️ 10 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3192: Ross Enamait explores how foundational strength developed through general training can elevate performance across a range of athletic pursuits, even those requiring highly specific skills. His insights challenge the belief that sport-specific training is the only path to improvement, making a compelling case for the versatility and transferability of raw strength. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://rosstraining.com/blog/2016/03/16/strength-building-beyond-specificity/ Quotes to ponder: "General strength can serve as a tremendous asset to the specialist." "The idea that athletes must only train in ways that mimic their sport is incredibly short sighted." "If you possess a high level of general strength, you will be better equipped to develop and display more specialized strength when necessary." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Optimal Health Daily.
0:02.9	Strength Building, Beyond Specificity, by Ross Enamite of Ross Training.com,
0:08.1	and I'm Dr. Neil Mollick, reading you some of the most popular health and fitness blogs out there,
0:12.8	with permission from the websites, of course.
0:15.4	All right, with that, let's get right to today's post as we optimize your life.
0:24.0	Strength building, beyond specificity, by Ross Animite of Ross Training.com
0:29.4	Throughout this blog's history, as well as my boxing page, I have preached the importance
0:35.2	of specificity. For instance, I've said that if you wish to
0:38.3	become a better boxer, you need to spend more time boxing. Clearly, this concept extends beyond
0:43.7	the ring and is relevant to any sport. Regardless of your event, there is no substitute for
0:48.7	specificity and experience. If you wish to progress beyond the norm, you'll need ample time
0:54.0	practicing and competing.
0:56.1	In many ways, the same logic applies to strength training.
0:59.6	If you wish to improve at a particular exercise, you'll need to perform it.
1:03.8	For example, if you want to improve your barbell squat, you'd better spend some time under the bar.
1:09.2	Once again, the significance of specificity must not be
1:12.3	overlooked. With that said, recognizing the importance of specificity doesn't mean that you should
1:18.3	limit yourself to repeatedly practicing the same exercise or activity. It is inevitable that you will
1:23.9	eventually need to expand your repertoire. During such times, I view my coaching role as
1:28.7	that of a problem solver. My job is to identify weak links in the chain and then devise solutions to
1:34.2	overcome them. Become a problem solver. In my last entry, I discussed the importance of creativity.
1:41.6	There's more to being creative than finding new or different ways to
	...

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