04/11/2026
Since we get points for unpopular opinions… Let’s redefine what functional training is. In my opinion true functional training are movements that produce an effect that can be measured beyond the movement itself. The height of the jump in the jumping step up, the height of the ball in wall ball, the height of the jump in weighted jump squat. While ballistic movements and throws are the low hanging fruit in exercise selection cleans,snatches, thrusters, are also full expressions of the kinetic chain. What the industry calls functional training is generally shades of gray of physical therapy. Having people move limbs into precise novel positions that expose weaknesses at little to no velocity is akin to being injured. While they may be the starting point to bring mental awareness to a weakness it does very little to crossover into the velocities of real life. When they trip and fall at the speed of gravity all those little balance exercises have caused no structural soft tissue changes to absorb the force appropriately. Moreover they haven’t built truly useable movement patterns and all the nuances therein to handle the dynamics of a fall. Accidents don’t happen in perfect scenarios. Can we stop loss of elevation, possible rotational mechanics, and acceleration to the floor? Burpees are a dumb exercise until you fall for the first time and break your wrist! Go train!!
