By taroWhy Bodybuilders Suck At Sports
Bodybuilders often get ridiculed for not being functional; that is they do not excel at physical tasks outside those they perform in the gym. While this growing stereotype is somewhat deserved it is not 100 percent true.
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The first major disadvantage – lack of skill. Skill manages the mechanical factors (momentum, levers, elasticity, balance) which make force expression possible. Size, strength and aerobic fitness cannot compensate for mechanical ignorance. Facing novel activities, fit people generally outcompete the unfit. This generalization vanishes when the unfit are replaced by individuals with experience and skill.
The second major disadvantage – the wrong body. Bodybuilders tend to be those good at lifting weights in the gym. They have advantages in structure, metabolism and muscle type. Unfortunately, the more suitable you are with regard to one activity the less suited you will be to any other.
The first potential positive attribute – BIG. Bodybuilders tend to be heavy. Heavy can be a major mechanical advantage. Mass is essential for moving mass (pushing other people or things). However, if your own body provides much off the resistance (such as during chin-ups or marathons) – being heavy is a detriment. Sports with weight classes largely eliminate the advantage of being big.
Second potential positive attribute – crossover strength. Sometimes, bodybuilders come up against physical challenges that are similar to an exercise in their workout repertoire. Jumping, for example, is highly similar to squatting. Pushups resemble bench pressing enough that bodybuilders will generally have an advantage. However, don’t make broad assumptions! Bench pressing may be categorized as a pushing type of movement. This does not mean strength gained from its practice will crossover to other pushing type movements (like punching).
Diligent bodybuilders have general athletic attributes. They push themselves physically and mentally against exercises which require some degree of strength, power, balance, mobility, co-ordination and endurance. The odds are greatly in their favour against the general, unfit population. Don’t be shocked, however, when they fall short challenging novel movements especially as compared to specialists.