**Introduction:**
Hey, Matthew here. In a recent deep dive on my YouTube channel, I had the privilege of chatting with David Mariani about the fascinating concept of backward training. This unconventional approach, famously practiced by the legendary Muhammad Ali, caught my attention, leading to a thought-provoking conversation. Let’s explore the insights David shared, shedding light on the revolutionary world of backwards training.
**Muhammad Ali’s Influence:**
Before we kicked off the interview, David highlighted the historical roots of backward training, citing Muhammad Ali’s pioneering role. Muhammad Ali, in response to Sugar Ray Leonard’s knee issues, advised him to incorporate backward running into his training routine. For Ali, it wasn’t just about knee health; it was a strategic move for a sport that demands backward movement. Ali’s endorsement resonated deeply with David, emphasizing the power of real athlete experiences.
*”Sugar Ray Leonard had come to him and said, you know my knees are hurting, and Muhammad told him not just for your knee health but because your sport requires some backward movement, you need to start running backward like I’ve been doing.”*
**Challenges in Training Metrics:**
David expressed concerns about the fitness industry’s reliance on metrics like rate of force development and traditional training paradigms. Drawing parallels with athletes like Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan, who excelled with their opposite hand, he emphasized the need to look beyond conventional metrics. He pointed out that backward movement, like Ali’s, is a valuable yet often overlooked aspect of training.
*”Numbers alone don’t tell the full tale. It’s the whole story, the whole everything that goes into it, and the backward movement is just the tip of the iceberg.”*
**Science Catching Up:**
While David has been incorporating backward training for eight years, he acknowledged that science is only beginning to catch up with these unconventional ideas. Referencing studies from Harvard and other institutions, he highlighted the increase in neural pathway connections resulting from backward movement. He underlined the efficiency of backward training, noting faster recovery times compared to traditional methods.
*”The backward movement is just the least evasive way we can do that because it’s just concentric in nature. When we add resistance, we’re not getting that eccentric taxing of the nervous system and the muscles.”*
**Contradictions in Studies:**
David delved into contradictions within scientific studies, particularly referencing the famous Duke study from the 1970s that discouraged the knee going over the toe. He challenged this perspective by pointing out that sports often involve movements where the knee extends over the toe. He highlighted the prevalence of leg non-contact injuries in athletes following the study’s recommendations.
*”That is a, to me, says more than the study saying to not do it. The study saying not do it was because when they measured the force on the knees, it was greater when the knee goes over the toe, which, yes, that makes sense.”*
**Backwards Training for Everyone:**
David passionately advocated for backward training as a universally beneficial practice. Citing a study involving high school soccer players, he shared how backward movers exhibited not only improved backward sprinting but also significant gains in forward sprinting and vertical jump. He emphasized that backward training isn’t exclusive to elite athletes but has positive effects for everyone.
*”I pulled a study that was done two or three years ago with some of the top high school soccer players in America. The backward movers not only got faster sprinting backward, they got faster going forwards in the forward group, and they had four times the amount of increase in vertical over that span that the forward group had.”*
**The Evolutionary Perspective:**
In a thought-provoking segment, David speculated on the evolutionary reasons for the human affinity for backward movement. He suggested that it might have roots in the need for variety in movement, mirroring hunting and gathering activities. Drawing parallels to our ancestors, he theorized that backward movement might have been a way to recharge during prolonged periods of forward walking or stalking prey.
*”There’s something freeing about moving and not knowing exactly where you’re going but being confident that what you’re doing is working.”*
**The Essence of Movement:**
David rounded off our conversation by stressing the importance of regaining childlike movement abilities. He highlighted how children exhibit extraordinary physical capabilities and pain-free movement, which diminish over time. His ultimate goal remains helping people move pain-free, focusing on the essence of movement rather than rigid metrics.
*”The goal remains the same: help people get pain-free. Because at 8 years old, I started to sprain my ankles, that turned into Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and shin splints before I was 10.”*
**Conclusion:**
Our exploration into backward training with David Mariani showcased the power of unconventional methods and the valuable lessons hidden in historical athlete practices. As we continue to challenge traditional training norms, let’s keep an open mind to innovative approaches that might just hold the key to unlocking our full movement potential.
Until next time,
Matthew
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