PICP Level II (Lower Body Structural Balance)

09-13-2010

Last night at the Danish training center they held and inter league soccer match that saw a large crowd make their way to the Stadium. It was pretty cool to be here for that, and to see the crowds come out like you would enjoy in the USA at a college or professional football game. We went into the restaurant under the stadium and watched the game that was actually being played on the field over our heads! After the game came to an end we were somewhat surprised to see the Patriots vs Bangles game come on the main televisions for the remainder of the evening. American football is quite popular here from what we can tell and they enjoy pools and betting on the game like we do in North America.

The PICP II course outline is designed to teach the student coaches how to evaluate the functional structural imbalances of the lower body, and the muscles that are not functioning correctly. In doing so we will then go through the exercise progressions of the step-up, split squat, lunge, squat, calves, posterior chain. This course is an intensive five day work load that teaches the progressions of the functional exercises of the lower, in doing so the coach should leave PICP II with an understanding of not only the things took look for in the lower body but also how to program the correct sequences of exercises to ensure proper health and progression of the athlete. In level two, the instructors also go over the functional tests to determine the proper balance and function of the muscle, and they teach the student coach how to identify inconsistency in the athletes muscle through tests and screens.

This course kicks but for any coach or trainer that has to work with clients and athletes dominated by the demands of their lower body.

The Day Of Reckoning PICP Level One

09-12-2010

Without Strength we have nothing....

It is amazing the amount of information that quality coaches can pass to the student during the course of 24hr of lecture and practical. During the second day of PICP 1 we looked at the main lifts for upper body structural balance and the remedial lifts as well. Beyond that we then looked at the variations and progressions of the main lifts (7 main) and the (4 secondary). This set us up for a full day of lifts, and these lifts can return an athlete from injury or progress them beyond their current goals via proper balance of the body. I will link the seven exercises and their correlating links from a published Charles Poliquin article. But I will not tell you myself specifically myself what is in this article. Let me send caution, this is the article that outlines what is covered in PICP 1, but the actual information outlined during this article is but a piece of what we are covering during the three days. This article is the upper body structural outline, but there isn't any information regarding the progressive variations of the lifts or the 12hr of lecture covering annual periodization and program design. Interesting note, the Poliquin Strength Institute has developed a program design software to accommodate the coaches that are coming through the PICP education system. With in this software there are 1200 variations for the triceps extension alone! This obviously takes you beyond the information that is outlined in this article.

The interesting thing that I have been witness to since arriving at the Idraettens Hus (house of sport) is the basic efficiency of how everything works together.  At times it seems that there may be a hindrance because they adhere to schedules of time, for example at a hotel the front desk was closed after 11pm at night until early in the morning. SO I assume that you might be shit out of luck if you locked your self out of the room in the late evening. Other interesting notes about the location that we are staying at involves the celebration of former Danish athletes throughout the entire building. In fact there are a number of head casts and stone carvings of former great athletes, in fact there are poster of former NCAA athlete Joachim Olsen on the walls around the center.


Well that is it for this blog, tomorrow we begin the PICP Level II which is five days in length and covers the structural lower balance.

Day one Denmark PICP 1&2

09-10-2010

We are in beginning the lecture series that goes with the PICP 1 course book and for those that have not read into or studied the PICP system it is a comprehensive and progressive education system that teaches coaches the proper way to prepare an athlete or client. The system requires the student to not only progress their education but also their practical application of the knowledge that they have acquired. It is the only system of education in the world that promotes the practical application of material before allowing students to continue their education. This insures that the coach is actually able to take an athlete from A-Z, and in doing so it separates the Poliquin Strength Institute from all other certifications that currently exists. For example, as you progress through the coaches levels you will also have needed to develop athletes at advancing levels or have shown equivalent motivation and understanding in the private sector. I think that this has a two fold effect in your personal development and successes as a coach. One you will have the experience and intrinsic feedback of problem solving as you work with athletes, and two the interaction of the coaches with one another within the world of PICP and BioSig. This is probably the most important, because a lot of these coaches that are becoming your new colleagues are connected to sport and athletes all over the world! You may be sitting next to a coach during lecture that works with The Hungarian National Speed Skating Team.In fact, during this PICP level 1 we had the company of two countries short track speed skating coaches, one of which was an athlete in Torino.

 During the introduction of PICP in Copenhagen we were representing 30 coaches and trainers from eight countries, and a countless number of sports.










For more information about attending a PICP course or a BioSignature seminar
contact www.Charlespoliquin.com  or call for information
Poliquin Performance Headquarters
42 Ladd Street, #109
East Greenwich, RI 02818
Phone: +1 401-398-7845
Fax: +1 401-398-7160
Email: info@charlespoliquin.com

The Trip from USA to Denmark (PICP 1&2)

09-08-2010

The trip from the US to Europe was my first and defiantly not my last. I flew from my home in NC and arrived in Copenhagen via Vienna Austria. The flight its self was average but not bad, we flew a 767 offered by Austria Air and other then the true lack of arm, leg and even nut room for that matter took only 7hr 55min from wheels up to wheels down. Vienna airport was awesome, it was a combination of old and new with a ton of up scale shopping right in side the terminal. When we deplaned the 767, it was directly onto the tarmac which was awesome because I was born in the seventies and every once in a while we need to be reminded of that. The last flight was directly into Copenhagen and Denmark is beautiful, the combination of old world architecture and incredible new world design make it a sight for the eyes as you navigate through the city. And bicycles, everyone and I mean everyone rides bikes in the city of Copenhagen. It was incredible to see women dressed for a date or fine dinner and riding their bike to the location! No thunder thighs in this culture that is for sure, skinny jeans and a ten speed. The cost of things is a little high but the quality is also at the same level, unlike the walmart bakery in the US the bread actually gives off an odor of awesomeness as it bakes in the corner shops.

The food it all produced daily so the sandwich that looks like its a display model is actually edible.
Once I arrived met with Charles, Andre Benoit(head instructor) and john Connor(Irish Strength Institute) we took a cab to the IDRAETTENS HUS which the national training center for a number of Danish National sports as well as the home of Brondby Stadium and Soccer team. The facility is awesome, and like all of this part of Europe its very efficient from the building being all motion sensors to the electricity in my room only being active when my door key is the slot.
I have lifted twice already in the weightroom wihich an Eleiko Sponsored facility and look forward to six more sessions before I depart next week. I will update more as I continue this week.

Talk soon.