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Intervention, Course Corrections for the Athlete and Trainer
Acclaimed strength coach Dan John has created the perfect guide for beginners, advanced lifters, and fitness professionals interested in correcting basic body movements and improving overall mobility and lifting performance. With his signature humor and clear step-by-step instructions, Coach John walks athletes and trainers through core movements, Olympic lifts, throws, proper powerlifting technique, and much more. Regardless of your training experience or age, Dan John will help you design and implement a program to improve mobility and flexibility and to maximize your time in the gym, no matter how much time you have. Learn the five simple principles that will change the way you approach * Strength training for lean body mass and joint mobility work trump everything else * Fundamental human movements are...fundamental. * Standards and gaps must be constantly assessed. * The notion of ‘park bench’ and ‘bus bench’ workouts must be applied throughout t
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 21, 2012
90 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Dan John
46 books128 followersDan John has coached for more than 30 years. He's helped hundreds of athletes pack on double-digit pounds of rock-solid muscle. As an athlete, John broke the American record in the Weight Pentathlon. He is the author of several books.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 17, 2018
The big takeaway I got from this book is that it talks about how to maintain your conditioning over a lifetime. (Dan John reserves the word "fitness" for how well a person's strengths match the sport or athletic endeavor they are working toward.) I would say that the theme of the book is the fitness industry's products are a bad fit for most people for most of their lives.
Some specific takeaways are:
Most of the time, your workouts shouldn't take a huge part of your day.
Most of the time, food routines are going to be a better investment in maintaining your weight than strict diets.
Most of your strength-building time should be spent on hinging, pulling, and loaded carries and not the mirror-friendly pushing exercises like curls and bench press.
John uses the metaphor "park bench vs bus bench workouts" and also "warrior mentality and king mentality". He says that for most people who aren't young professional athletes, most of our time is going to be on the park bench, or working from the king mentality. This is the baseline our habits set and reinforce. We have the capacity to have up to two bus bench/warrior sprints a year but those should be exceptional. For me, this was the big take away. As a fitness consumer I'm bombarded by weight loss challenges; weight loss solutions; boot camp challenges; HIIT clubs; Insanity; Viking Fitness programs; Theories; and so many more. It is a relief to hear that sustainable habits are enough.
John originally presented this information at a seminar for trainers. Having that context helps explain some of the downsides I found in the material. Sometimes he is referring to another set of information and neither the book nor the audiobook are always clear about what that information is. In other places he's clearly directing the reader to another book or program. Some specific things I recall are the his assessment protocol, his "ready to go" book, the Simple Strength book (with Pavel), and the Velocity diet.
Some specific takeaways are:
Most of the time, your workouts shouldn't take a huge part of your day.
Most of the time, food routines are going to be a better investment in maintaining your weight than strict diets.
Most of your strength-building time should be spent on hinging, pulling, and loaded carries and not the mirror-friendly pushing exercises like curls and bench press.
John uses the metaphor "park bench vs bus bench workouts" and also "warrior mentality and king mentality". He says that for most people who aren't young professional athletes, most of our time is going to be on the park bench, or working from the king mentality. This is the baseline our habits set and reinforce. We have the capacity to have up to two bus bench/warrior sprints a year but those should be exceptional. For me, this was the big take away. As a fitness consumer I'm bombarded by weight loss challenges; weight loss solutions; boot camp challenges; HIIT clubs; Insanity; Viking Fitness programs; Theories; and so many more. It is a relief to hear that sustainable habits are enough.
John originally presented this information at a seminar for trainers. Having that context helps explain some of the downsides I found in the material. Sometimes he is referring to another set of information and neither the book nor the audiobook are always clear about what that information is. In other places he's clearly directing the reader to another book or program. Some specific things I recall are the his assessment protocol, his "ready to go" book, the Simple Strength book (with Pavel), and the Velocity diet.
April 12, 2013
If you train individuals, you need this book. If you don't train anyone, you still need this book.
February 3, 2013
Great for all of us quad 3 people.
December 24, 2018
8/10
This is my first Dan John full length book, and boy is it both entertaining and educational. As a trainer about to begin his second year on the job, I prioritize experience first, but learning from the greats helps too, and this book gave me many ideas and ways of thinking (including a paradigm shift with the park bench VS. bus bench workouts/diets) to implement to both my work and my own training. Look forward to reading more of his work! Plus, damn, he's funny.
This is my first Dan John full length book, and boy is it both entertaining and educational. As a trainer about to begin his second year on the job, I prioritize experience first, but learning from the greats helps too, and this book gave me many ideas and ways of thinking (including a paradigm shift with the park bench VS. bus bench workouts/diets) to implement to both my work and my own training. Look forward to reading more of his work! Plus, damn, he's funny.
December 24, 2019
Great read
This is another great resource from Dan John. Dan’s writing is clear, concise, simple and funny. His training philosophy is all of those things as well. He makes it clear what works, what does not, and why. This book is an invaluable resource for people aspiring to be trainers, people who are looking to learn to train themselves effectively and responsibly, or people who just want to read more Dan John.
This is another great resource from Dan John. Dan’s writing is clear, concise, simple and funny. His training philosophy is all of those things as well. He makes it clear what works, what does not, and why. This book is an invaluable resource for people aspiring to be trainers, people who are looking to learn to train themselves effectively and responsibly, or people who just want to read more Dan John.
April 11, 2020
It annoys me sometimes that Dan is not more popular. This book and it’s sequels Can You Go? and Now What? Have greatly influenced the way I train. Honestly, there is no athlete under the sun that could not benefit from the advice in these books. Intervention is really just about implementing best practices and it could not be simpler. Just read the damn book and take its advice.
October 21, 2020
This book is one of the best fitness and training books I have ever read. I only wish I had read it much sooner. Dan does a great job walking you through the basics of training and how the basics are essential to long term progress and success. With the current state of the fitness industry, I believe this book to be a must-read for coaches, trainers, and everyone who exercises.
September 12, 2017
Great questions for coaching
Good thought drills for coaching and working with athletes. Simple programming, good drill down of basic movements, and a reminder to keep things simple.
Good thought drills for coaching and working with athletes. Simple programming, good drill down of basic movements, and a reminder to keep things simple.
January 11, 2018
Easy level of reading with advanced information
Easy to read and follow with a lot of great information. Very informative stuff in this booj ...all the while easy to read and enjoyable
Easy to read and follow with a lot of great information. Very informative stuff in this booj ...all the while easy to read and enjoyable
January 9, 2022
You need this book
If you are not strong, lean and moving well 90% of the time then you need this book. It checks you at the door. It narrows your focus to what matters. If gives you clarity.
If you are not strong, lean and moving well 90% of the time then you need this book. It checks you at the door. It narrows your focus to what matters. If gives you clarity.
January 20, 2022
This book has a lot of wisdom and humor, wrapped in a slightly confusing format. If you are looking for a healthier approach to strength training, this book is worth a read. Bonus points for mentioning one of my favorite coaches, Phil Maffetone.
February 9, 2019
A lifetime of lessons
Dan John summarizes a lifetime of lessons and wraps it with a simple effective methodology. Just do this and good things will happen.
Dan John summarizes a lifetime of lessons and wraps it with a simple effective methodology. Just do this and good things will happen.
November 18, 2019
Comparte puntos de vista interesantes y principios universales. Molesta un poco el cruce que hace entre sus principios morales y los principios universales del entrenamiento de la fuerza.
September 5, 2022
Great book! It has given new insights into training and how I do my job as a trainer!
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
January 3, 2024
I liked this book very much. About lifting weights, also about life!
May 1, 2024
Fantastic resource for coaches, trainers, and anyone pursuing health and fitness! Highly recommend the audiobook as well (narrated by Dan).
January 29, 2015
Regardless of age or athletic/sport achievement, this book is required reading, a toolbox and blueprint for assessing what your goals are (your Point B) and, more importantly, helping you really figure out where your starting point is, your Point A. The shortest line between two points might be a straight line, but if you haven't figured out where those points are, you're most likely wandering blind.
Dan John's Intervention is your map.
Dan John's Intervention is your map.
May 9, 2016
Enlightening.
I found this book at the right time, for me. With two ongoing, lingering, stubborn hip injuries on the same side of my body, I needed to find a book that slapped some sense into me.
This was it.
Dan John asks, "who are you? what are your goals? where are you currently going now? is it towards your goals? no? well, let's talk."
The introduction to a few _safe_ yet potent workouts that don't 'destroy' me or exacerbate my injuries was worth the price of admission.
I found this book at the right time, for me. With two ongoing, lingering, stubborn hip injuries on the same side of my body, I needed to find a book that slapped some sense into me.
This was it.
Dan John asks, "who are you? what are your goals? where are you currently going now? is it towards your goals? no? well, let's talk."
The introduction to a few _safe_ yet potent workouts that don't 'destroy' me or exacerbate my injuries was worth the price of admission.
July 14, 2013
Great book! It has given new insights into training and how I do my job as a trainer!
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
May 19, 2016
Re-read May 2016. One of those books I should probably come back to at least every other year.
July 27, 2020
Dan John's writing style is a little weird, but some real workout advice gems in here.
January 7, 2015
A must...
June 6, 2015
Not any lower quality than his other works, but this is more like a reprinting of many classic articles - so it wasn't anything new for me.
April 6, 2016
Read in 2013.
April 27, 2017
Dan John is probably the most didactic of all strength coaches I had the opportunity to listen to. In this book he explains why most of people should not aim for athlete/ army kind of training. It is an eye opener and strongly convince that you should invest your time increasing your flexibility, eating well and maintaining your muscle mass. Age well is the goal here.
His program is simple to follow and I would say very complete. Some of the exercises described in this book are things that no strength coach ever tells you to do, and they really should!
His program is simple to follow and I would say very complete. Some of the exercises described in this book are things that no strength coach ever tells you to do, and they really should!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews