Specialized Certifications for Personal Trainers and Strength Trainers: PICP
I just took the Poliquin International Certification Program (PICP) Level 1 Strength Trainer Certification in New York City ($650, 3 days). It was very good information.
I learned about the certification through a mentor, Joe Dowdell. I trust his opinion because he is very committed to continuing education and has earned almost every reputable certification.
Charles Poliquin is a famous strength coach who has trained more Olympians than any other strength coach I can think of (except maybe Mike Boyle).
If you read Part. 1 in this series, you know that there are many good certifications out there, and there is no one best certification for everyone. It all depends on who you want to work with and your career path.
But, if you want to work with athletes to increase performance, this certification is right up there with the NSCA CSCS and the Athlete Performance Mini Internship (both I’ve taken and honestly, while the NSCA is the most respected, I think like I got more practical knowledge from Poliquin and Athlete’s Performance).
There are several things that I loved about this certification and a couple of things that I think could be improved.
advantage
* Level 1 Strength Coach Certification focuses on manipulating acute training variables (sets, reps, pace, and rest) for highly effective program design. These may seem like basics, but no other certification covers it like Poliquin. It’s amazing how few people really understand how to manipulate time under tension, pace, and rest for specific goals and sports. They also emphasize creating accurate descriptions of each exercise, to ensure the greatest amount of variation and adaptation (Squat vs Barbell Back Squat Shoulder Width Stance).
*I loved the amount of research they provided as evidence, although they could have done a better job of summarizing it. I have found that the best certifications specialize in one area. (Too many certifications try to be jack of all trades and end up being masters of nothing.)
* Information easily transfers to practical application and is applicable to your general population clients. If you want to learn program design, particularly for power, strength, or fat loss, this certification is great.
* They provide a good methodology and protocol for assessing maximal strength, although somewhat incomplete (see below). Based on this test, they provide a good, research-based formula for assessing balance of strength throughout the upper body. (Ex. If you bench press xxx, you should be able to do 8rm external rotation with 8.6% of that bench press weight, and if you can’t, there is an imbalance, etc.).
*Course instructors were friendly, knowledgeable, and generous with their attention.
* You have to take a test before being admitted to the class, plus a test at the end. I like this! Only committed trainers show up, and they show up with a good understanding of the core material, so no one asks stupid questions.
cons
* One of the instructors did not understand BASIC biomechanics. Either that or we had a huge miscommunication.
* Some of the images in the manual were misleading and/or confusing.
*The little demo on stretching was a waste of time at best and misleading at worst. Stick to what you’re good at, leave the stretching to certifications that focus on that!
* We were asked about group training and German body training, which is a very good thing, but we only covered it up during the conference. I wish I had spent more time on these specific programs, but there is also a lot of good information about them online.
* Some of the topics in the manual could be better worded. Initially, they do a good job of defining the different strength qualities (limit strength, maximum strength, absolute strength, speed strength, strength endurance), but they aren’t as clear when referring to these qualities later in the manual.
*They were clearly negligent and did not follow their own methodology when choosing a trainer to demonstrate the 1rm bench press test protocol. They specifically picked someone who seemed to be out of structural alignment and then tested him to the limit, without even asking if he had been training consistently for the past 12 weeks (which is his own protocol).
* Also, they should change their protocol and ask what kind of training they’ve done in the last 12 weeks, because a person could be training for 12 weeks and still not be ready for a 1rm bench press. RULE #1 in personal training is to do no harm. The trainer came in the next day and was unable to participate in certain lifts, and I understood that he had joint pain, not just muscle pain. It’s not cool and it’s not necessary. Later I spoke to another trainer who said that he was injured in a PICP certification.
You might read this last part and say “Wow, there’s no way I’m doing this certification” but I think you should reconsider, it’s a very worthwhile certification, just know your own limits and don’t do anything you think is risky (and keep doing it!). ego in check! I know it’s hard when there are other trainers around).
We all had to do a 1rm test to gain experience; I chose the pull up because I am a climber. I was able to do 1 pull-up with 90 pounds carried on me, chin on the bar. There are several exercises to choose from, so you should be able to find one you are comfortable with, and if not, you can and should pass.
Biomechanics
On the subject of biomechanics, one of the instructors mentioned that he does 1 and 1/4 reps on the bench press with girls with 1/4 reps at the top of the movement, because this part of the movement overloads the triceps and the girls worry about the back of his arms. Looking good.
Totally cool with me. This instructor mentioned that he is very precise in following his programs and exercises, so I asked him if he ever manipulated his intention on the bar to overload his triceps as well.
In other words, you can push against the friction of the bar with your triceps, your hands are not going to move, but the line of force caused by the friction, when combined with the line of force of the bar (gravity) creates a resulting with a different line of force that changes the angles of force in the axes of rotation of the shoulder joint and the elbow joint. (Not a typo, axes is the plural of axis. Who knew?)
With intention, you can make the lower part of the bench press harder on the triceps and the upper part harder on the chest. Can you do this and still lift the maximum weight? Nope! Can you lift a bar with just your triceps? Nope! But that was not my question.
Her response was “I’d love for you to come chest with me sometime,” as if whoever could bank more would settle for who knew more (it doesn’t, duh).
Wow, cowboy, first of all I was just asking a question, second of all it would be an honor to train with you because you know a lot even if you don’t understand basic biomechanics, and third of all you can make one. of my Empire State Building stair workouts with me. I can climb 86 flights in LESS than 15 minutes, I’d love to see your face as you try to keep up, but to do that I would have to slow down, and speed is not my style friend. Either way, none of these trainings would solve anything, I was just trying to learn from his perspective without losing my perspective.
His final response was “Yeah, you could probably do that, but why not just do a triceps exercise instead of modifying a bench press?” Really, didn’t we start this conversation because you said you like to modify a 1 1/4 rep bench press to work your triceps more? Caramba! I wasn’t going to push, because it wasn’t a biomechanics seminar and I didn’t want to be one of those coaches who took over a lecture to prove his point. Anyway, this instructor has a lot of potential, but he’s young and irritable! I liked it to say the least ๐
I hope you enjoyed this post and that you consider this certification. Also, if you want to be able to shred expert instructors, textbooks, and just about everyone else in the gym on biomechanics or exercise mechanics, you should seriously consider becoming a Resistance Training Specialist.
What is your favorite certification? Why? What information helped you choose a certification? Is there a topic you want to learn about in particular? Would you take the PICP certification?
Leave me a few questions in the comments and I’ll get right back to you. SHOW ME YOU’RE ALIVE!
Until next time, keep your business in shape.
johnnyfitness
