The #1 Most Important Training Principle (to Get Results in Anything)

The #1 most important training principle is…

The SAID principle. AKA, specific adaptation to imposed demands ⤵️

SAID is the fundamental idea that the body adapts to the demands you place on it. Give the body a stimulus, and that’s what it’ll adapt to.

You get what you train for.

👉🏻 So if you want to get better at X, giving the body X inputs consistently is the best way to get better X outputs over time.

➖ Wanna increase your bench 1-RM? Bench with heavy loads consistently and practice the “skill” of benching over time.

➖ Wanna get faster? Prioritize max-effort sprinting before getting bogged down in fancy drills and mechanical minutiae.

➖ Wanna jump higher? Ditto. Get better at your sport? Play it. Build up your work capacity for a certain task? Train it.

The SAID principle can also help you answer a lot of “it depends” questions: sets, reps, intensity, ROM, exercise selection, etc.

Sure, it’s not that simple, and other things matter. So this isn’t to say that you should do what you’re trying to do and nothing else. But don’t get so caught up in finding the perfect accessories, drills, and hacks to fix your sticking points, weak links, and mechanics that you miss the forest for the trees.

📍 Think of SAID as an anchor; it’s about making the main thing the main thing, then building around that.

If your goals are really general, this isn’t as relevant. And things like GPP absolutely have a time and place. But it becomes more important the more advanced and specific (with your goals) you get.

It’s all a balancing act.

👉🏻 Personally, I want to sprint faster, jump higher, increase my 1-RMs, and build some muscle while I’m at it. So 80-90% of my training revolves around max-effort sprints and jumps, heavy singles-triples, and accumulating quality volume via accessories to fill the remaining gaps.

🎯 Remember: to some degree, training methods are subjective, educated guesses on what works best. But principles are objective, (basic) truths at the core of all training... and the SAID principle may be the most important of them all.

[Charleygouldscc]

The #1 most important training principle is…

The SAID principle. AKA, specific adaptation to imposed demands ⤵️

SAID is the fundamental idea that the body adapts to the demands you place on it. Give the body a stimulus, and that’s what it’ll adapt to.

You get what you train for.

👉🏻 So if you want to get better at X, giving the body X inputs consistently is the best way to get better X outputs over time.

➖ Wanna increase your bench 1-RM? Bench with heavy loads consistently and practice the “skill” of benching over time.

➖ Wanna get faster? Prioritize max-effort sprinting before getting bogged down in fancy drills and mechanical minutiae.

➖ Wanna jump higher? Ditto. Get better at your sport? Play it. Build up your work capacity for a certain task? Train it.

The SAID principle can also help you answer a lot of “it depends” questions: sets, reps, intensity, ROM, exercise selection, etc.

Sure, it’s not that simple, and other things matter. So this isn’t to say that you should do what you’re trying to do and nothing else. But don’t get so caught up in finding the perfect accessories, drills, and hacks to fix your sticking points, weak links, and mechanics that you miss the forest for the trees.

📍 Think of SAID as an anchor; it’s about making the main thing the main thing, then building around that.

If your goals are really general, this isn’t as relevant. And things like GPP absolutely have a time and place. But it becomes more important the more advanced and specific (with your goals) you get.

It’s all a balancing act.

👉🏻 Personally, I want to sprint faster, jump higher, increase my 1-RMs, and build some muscle while I’m at it. So 80-90% of my training revolves around max-effort sprints and jumps, heavy singles-triples, and accumulating quality volume via accessories to fill the remaining gaps.

🎯 Remember: to some degree, training methods are subjective, educated guesses on what works best. But principles are objective, (basic) truths at the core of all training... and the SAID principle may be the most important of them all.