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March 30, 2007
How To Fail
Learning to fail is an important part of athletic endeavor. We will rarely succeed in pushing beyond our present limitations if we are unwilling to discover what our limits actually are.
For many of us "failure" is a dirty word, but in the case of weightlifting, going to failure is a good thing, as it ensures muscular adaptation.
In the case of the slow lifts (bench, squat, deadlift, press) going to failure can be frightening, especially if we have never gone past our limits. The importance of safety cannot be overstated. Before pushing to failure know your lift inside and out and work the movement with good form. It is better and safer to fail with good form than succeed with poor form.
This brief video shows failure in a heavy bench press with good form throughout, no panic, an attempt to pull off the lift before giving up, and, most important: a trusted and experienced spotter. Thanks Sam!
Post thoughts on failure to comments.
Posted by Max Lewin at March 30, 2007 5:55 PM