— ...One man’s meat
. Weight training has a number of forms—bodybuilding, strength train-
ing, powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting and all-round lifting. Each has its
ardent followers, with some of them having absolutely no interest in the
other forms of training. Of course there is overlap and many trainees belong
to more than one category.. ere is nothing wrong with being into bodybuilding, into
strength training or into any other weight-training activity. All can be
very rewarding.. e same pivotal principles of productive training apply to all categories of
lifting—a focus on basic exercises, hard work, and progressive poundages in
good form.. Never feel pressured if someone is critical of the specific category of training
that most appeals to you. Instead, look closely at the other categories and
methods being promoted and try to find aspects that you can apply to your
own training. Each training contingent can learn from the others.. Different people have different values and preferences. What one person
may dislike, another may admire. Some people are appearance-first body-
builders not much interested in raw strength and power. ere are function-
first strength trainees who apparently have little concern with the aesthetics
of their physiques, or their bodyfat percentage. But even some of the latter
enjoy throwing arm and chest poses in front of a mirror.. Some trainers are adamant about the supposed superiority of their pre-
ferred method. Each method will work well for some people, and perhaps
work very well for the advocates, but this does not mean that the same will
hold true for everyone.. What matters to you is what works best for you. An eclectic approach to
training is the best way. Keep an open mind, be riveted to the basic tenets
of rational training, and be super alert and discriminating when you hear of
anything that sounds too good to be true. en critically select and apply
what you think will be helpful to you.. Training preferences are influenced by genetic factors. Some people cannot
satisfy the aesthetic qualities needed for pure bodybuilding, so they move
towards raw strength activities where they can shine. Some people are not