Ivan Dobrorezov:

What is it like in practice?

I create a training program for the athlete that guarantees his progress. He reads it and tells me that it's not a good program before he even starts following it. He's already having doubts. Why? That's because my program is generally very different from what he watches online, what Masters and “masters” show. In my program [for him] there are no enormous weights, no complicated movement amplitudes. There are no “magic” exercises, various grips and spells. My programs are laconic, simple and... effective.

There arise some questions: “Why isn't it like what Larratt does, why isn't it like what Chaffee does? Why does this master do it differently?” - and so on.

But questions are just half of the issue. It gets even worse when the athlete tries to modify the program towards what he saw somewhere or what he learnt, heard – without thinking much about his abilities (which aren't even there) or considering if he really would be looking for the help of a trainer if he could do it on his own all along.

You have to explain that a trainer is not a person that gives you what you want to do. A coach is a person who tells you what you SHOULD do to make progress.

Not everyone understands. There are some who stopped training and then say that “the trainer's programs don't work”. There are some who do my program but “add” a third of their own. According to their taste.

Of course I listen to the athletes' wishes but only during these moments when I understand that the human being has enough experience already to “feel” where and what to modify. However, I don't listen at all when I see that the person is a beginner and their entire armwrestling knowledge comes from the Internet.

All the best!

Ivan Dobrorezov