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05 Nov

Honor 50 Review: What’s Old is New Again

November 5, 2021
Posted by Samson

Honor 50 rating on top of hand

Honor 50 in the test: Honor is back, and what's old is new again

RRP $ 615.00

“The Honor 50 represents the return of the new independent brand to Android phones with integrated Google Mobile Services. That's big, but the rest of the phone doesn't feel particularly fresh, despite the crazy color scheme and workmanship. "

advantages

Nice 120Hz AMOLED screen
Fast charging
Lightweight and reasonably sized
Fun video modes with easy editing

disadvantage

No wireless charging
No watertightness
Single speaker

Comebacks are surprisingly common in mobile technology, with Nokia, BlackBerry, and even Palm returning after a while – with varying degrees of success. Honor, once owned by Huawei, is the latest established name to return. Technically, however, it hasn't gone away as it was just sold by Huawei for the chance to thrive on its own.

Since then, Honor has made agreements with Google, Qualcomm, and several other companies that are currently unable to work with Huawei. That means Honor is not only back, but now it has Google Mobile Services too. The Honor 50 is its first smartphone with Google Play and all of the other apps and services expected, so this seems like a fresh start. On the flip side, Honor could still be trying to figure out his own identity after being connected for so long.

draft

The version of the Honor 50 that you see in our photos is the special edition “Code” and everything I want to see in an Honor phone. The company has often incorporated eye-catching reflective back wall designs, and this is probably the brightest and most noticeable yet. The letters H, O, N and R give the design depth and sparkle in different shades of silver and blue, depending on the viewing angle and lighting. I think it looks excellent, but if it's not for you the phone is also available in black, green, or a slightly more subtle, sparkly tone called Frost Crystal.

The back of the Honor 50. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It is thin at just under 8 mm and very light at 175 grams. This, along with the curved screen and modest width of 74mm, makes it very easy to hold and operate with one hand. The curve is pretty dramatic and a bit sharp if you grip the phone tightly. The quality of workmanship is excellent, as the glass panel and the rear panel are flush with the metal housing. The stadium-shaped, two-stage camera housing with two round modules on the back also fits perfectly with the reflective letter O design of the code.

Yes, the Honor 50 is on board with Google Mobile Services

The Honor 50 looks great, is not heavy, is well made, and comes in a variety of unusual colors for people looking to make a statement with their phone. However, if you've seen and held the Honor 30 Pro, then you've seen and held the Honor 50 too, as the two are closely related in terms of size and shape.

The curved edge of the Honor 50. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Another thing is that for Honor's talk about the phone marking its "Independence Day" and its definitive split from Huawei, the similarity in design and specification between the Honor 50 and the new Huawei Nova 9 is striking. It won't do much to convince someone that the two are firmly and definitively divorced.

camera

A 108-megapixel main camera leads the show on the Honor 50, plus an 8-MP wide-angle camera and a pair of 2-MP macro and depth cameras. The selfie camera has 32 megapixels and a 90-degree viewing angle. Honor promotes the camera system as one for aspiring vloggers and has incorporated several different video modes that all cameras use at the same time.

The Honor 50's camera module. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

First, let's talk about still images. The 108MP camera is very sensitive to light. In a variety of situations, photos will be underexposed or overexposed, and the wide-angle camera is even worse. Photos are better on a brighter, sunnier day, but some won't like how the blue skies are oversaturated. I do not mind; it definitely makes the photos pop, and I prefer that to the depressing tone of the photos taken when the sun wasn't shining.

However, if you look carefully, photos may be lacking in detail – there are also signs of over-processing. On the upside, I like the range of portrait and aperture modes that give either people or objects a bokeh effect. Edge detection is also solid.

The multi-camera video modes record with two cameras at the same time, so you can create video combinations with the main rear camera and selfie camera, including simultaneous recording, a picture-in-picture window, and other combinations. It's a gimmick, but it works. However, the user interface is a bit cumbersome and slow, so you will need a little patience to master the controls.

It's not something I would personally use outside of the review, but it would certainly be fun in large groups if you want to capture everything that happens around you. There is also a very easy to use editing suite that makes creating a final clip completely easy on your phone. The Honor 50 supports Bluetooth headsets in video mode, so you can use them instead of the internal microphone to record sound – which should result in better sound, especially when recording from a distance. Strangely enough, the Honor 50 only records videos in 16: 9 or 21: 9, but supports 4K at 30 frames per second (fps).

The Honor 50's still camera wasn't very inspiring

The Honor 50's video camera is fun, but only if you try your hand at the world of vlogging. Those who are more ambitious or experienced will quickly want more, as they only record in 1080p at 30fps in multi-cam mode. However, I'm not sure if it is used very often by the average person who makes videos. The Honor 50's still camera didn't inspire me much, but software refinement can improve its capabilities over time.

software

Yes, the Honor 50 is on board with Google Mobile Services. This means that it includes the Google Play Store, Gmail, Google Maps, Messages, and every other expected apps. Also, sign in to your Google account during setup so that you can use Google's cloud services. Using the Honor phone is exactly the same as any other Android smartphone in terms of Google integration.

Honor's own MagicUI 4.2 is installed over Android 11. In terms of design and layout, it hasn't changed much from MagicUI 3.1 installed on the Honor 30 – this just added Google-Ness. There are other references to Honor's past, with the always-on screen having the same customization as the feature on Huawei phones, down to some of the same icons and animations. However, the always-on screen is one of my favorite parts of MagicUI because it is easy to personalize and information on the lock screen is clearly displayed.

I didn't experience any reliability or app issues with the Honor 50, and notifications came through with no issues. It was a steady partner during my time on the phone.

Screen and performance

The Honor 50's screen is exactly what we expect from a mid-range phone today: it's an AMOLED panel with a switchable refresh rate of 60 Hz or 120 Hz; has a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels and 300 Hz touch sampling; and it's colorful, dynamic and responsive.

Honor 50 screen. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It even does very well with the latest Google Pixel 6 Pro, showing the same eye-catching colors with a slightly warmer tone – at least when the Vivid setting is enabled. It is also possible to optimize the temperature of the screen or choose a mode with sRGB or DC-P3 color cards if it does not suit your needs. Jo Yuri's Glassy video pops off the screen, but the phone loses points for its single speaker on the bottom of the phone.

Video of the Honor 50.

Games on the Honor 50.

Honor fitted the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor with a 5G modem, and my test model has 6GB of RAM. It's a fast performer, but the operating system never feels snappy, and I've found that it can stumble when closing games and other energy-intensive apps. This may be more of a software optimization problem than a lack of processing courage. Honor's own GPU Turbo X tweaks make it great for gaming, and I really enjoyed Asphalt 9: Legends, especially because the phone is easy to hold and the screen is beautiful. It's a shame it doesn't have stereo speakers to really take advantage of its media prowess.

Battery and charging

I was a little concerned that the 4,300mAh battery wouldn't be powerful enough to last more than a day, but the Snapdragon 778G and MagicUI have to be pretty conservative with power. With normal use, I could turn the phone off overnight and it would have enough juice for the next day. This was especially impressive as I use the phone at the 120Hz refresh rate all the time.

Honor 50 charging port. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 66W SuperCharge fast charging is established Honor technology and very welcome. It got the battery up to 70% in 22 minutes, which is more than enough for a single day. Unfortunately, there is no wireless charging – a feature I would consider standard on most mid- to upper-range phones today.

Price and availability

The Honor 50 costs 529 euros or about 615 US dollars for the 6 GB / 128 GB model and 599 euros / 695 US dollars for the 8 GB / 256 GB model. It will be available to order from Honor on November 4th. Honor's plans for a widespread release are not yet clear, so don't expect it to hit the US anytime soon. It can be imported from the UK or Europe if you are interested.

Our opinion

The Honor 50 embodies the phrase “everything old is new again”, because despite the new start of Honor as an independent brand, the Honor 50 feels very familiar. The shape of the phone is essentially the same as the Honor 30 Pro, just with a different camera model. MagicUI 4.2 is identical to older versions of the software except that Google has been added. Even the 66W SuperCharge function is a holdover from the Huawei era.

Don't take these as negative; the fast charging is excellent, the software is reliable, and the design is modern and fun. But it feels a bit normal to Honor, and I wanted to see something completely new from the company. Maybe that will come later, and if so, the Honor 50 offers a great reintroduction to how the brand delivers competent, pretty, but not always outstanding smartphones.

That lack of real novelty poses a problem, however: during the Honor's absence, the cellular market has changed and there are a lot more phones out there at the same price point as the Honor 50 that are better value for money. Yes, Google is back on board, but that only brings the Honor 50 back to the same level as many other phones. While that's good news for Honor as a brand, it doesn't make the phone stand out from the rest.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes sir; Check out either the OnePlus Nord 2 5G or the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. Both are slightly cheaper than the Honor 50, but you don't have to sacrifice anything in terms of functionality and performance. If you are outside of the US, you should also consider the Realme GT or GT Neo2. The $ 449 Google Pixel 5a is worth investigating if you're looking for a great camera, and at $ 599, the new Google Pixel 6 is also challenging the Honor 50.

If you're not using an Android phone, take a look at the $ 699 Apple iPhone 13 Mini. As an Android alternative in the same price range, the OnePlus 9 combines a great screen, fast charging, an improved camera and great software in a pretty design.

How long it will take?

We ask Honor about the software update obligation. To be competitive, it must provide major version updates for at least two years and security updates for three years. The Honor 50 is not waterproof or a rugged phone, so if you are unlucky it could be damaged.

There is something else to consider, and that is the talk of Honor finding its way into the US Entity List, which would prohibit Google, Qualcomm, and others from working together. This is the ailment Huawei wanted to overcome by selling Honor, and while it is only a vague threat at the moment and may not affect the Honor 50 directly, it is an unknown that undermines the brand's plan for a broad global reintroduction could.

Should you buy it?

No. While the Honor 50 is perfectly acceptable, it doesn't stand out from the competition with one notable feature and misses some essentials that can be found on other phones at a similar price point.

Editor's recommendations

25 Feb

Blog

Chemical Vs. Mineral Sunscreen: What’s The Difference?

February 25, 2021
Posted by Samson

You need daily sun protection to keep your skin healthy and looking youthful. But what type of sun protection should you choose? Sun protection generally falls into one of two categories: chemical and mineral (physical). While both provide sun protection, chemical sunscreens and mineral sunscreens differ in their active ingredients, as well as the way they protect against UV radiation. Read on to learn the difference and discover the benefits of a mineral sunscreen.

Chemical Vs. Mineral Sunscreen

Sunscreens are important to protect the skin from the dangers of sun exposure, including sunburn. Sun damage and melanoma. It is also beneficial to minimize the aging effects of UV rays such as fine lines and wrinkles, rough skin, and hyperpigmentation.

Chemical sunscreens are often referred to as "absorbers". Its active ingredients are organic compounds (based on carbon) that absorb UV rays. Through a chemical reaction, these chemical compounds convert UV rays into heat and transfer this heat to the skin.

Mineral sunscreens, on the other hand, are "reflectors". Their active ingredients include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which act as physical blockers. These minerals form a protective barrier on the skin and reflect harmful UV rays before they come into contact with the skin's surface.

Chemical or mineral sunscreens infographic

What is zinc oxide?

Mineral sunscreens typically use zinc oxide as a physical sunscreen for UV rays. Yes, the same zinc that your parents put on your nose and cheeks in the 80s. Zinc oxide has come a long way since then and is now found in Lightweight, layerable formulas that offer the same sun protection but have a natural-looking finish. Here's a look at the many benefits of zinc oxide for the skin.

Zinc oxide keeps the skin cool

Unlike chemical sunscreens, which trap UV rays and convert them into heat, zinc oxide keeps the skin cool and lets it breathe. It reflects the heat and energy of the sun's UV rays away from the skin, thus maintaining the skin temperature. For this reason, mineral sunscreen is particularly beneficial in minimizing the skin Inflammation and redness associated with acne, rosacea, and skin sensitivity.

Zinc oxide provides physical sun protection

While zinc itself occurs naturally, zinc oxide is actually created by combining the mineral zinc with oxygen molecules. When these two elements are evaporated and condensed, they form a fine powder that sits on the skin and provides a protective barrier against UVA and UVB rays. In addition to being a physical blocker, zinc oxide acts as a mirror to reflect UV rays before they can penetrate the skin's surface.

Lilikoi Mineral Defense Collection

Supports collagen production

UV radiation is the number one cause of premature aging. Sun damage exposes the skin to harmful free radicals that break down and destroy collagen, a protein important in keeping the skin firm, plump, and elastic. Zinc serves as Co-factor in collagen synthesis by activating protein collagenase. This protein triggers collagen production to build and repair connective tissues like your skin.

Helps in treating acne

Zinc oxide is also beneficial in treating acne-prone skin tones. Studies show that zinc is effective at reducing skin levels Inflammation, inhibits the growth of acne-causing bacteria and regulates the activity of the sebum glands. It also has astringent properties that narrow pores and minimize their appearance.

Mineral sun protection benefits

If you're new to the superpowers of zinc oxide, there are a few more reasons to add a mineral sunscreen to your daily skin care regimen.

Reef friendly

Mineral sunscreens are more environmentally friendly – zinc oxide and titanium dioxide protect the sensitive coral reefs on our planet. They are a preferred choice for beach vacationers and destination travelers visiting seaside resorts.

Suitable for all skin types

Mineral sunscreens are hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. With their anti-inflammatory properties, they are gentle enough for the most sensitive skin types. And they're free of pore-clogging silicone, making them a better option for those who are prone to failure.

Broadband UV protection

Mineral sunscreens reflect both UVB and UVA rays from the surface of the skin. Cause UVB rays Sunburn and uncomfortable symptoms such as redness, dryness and itching. UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin, are responsible for premature aging and play a key role in the development of melanoma.

Which purely mineral sun protection suits you?

Protecting your skin from sun damage is one of the most effective ways to slow down the visible signs of aging and keep your skin looking and feeling healthy. Now that you know the benefits of using mineral sunscreens, you can have ours All SPF mineral moisturizers.

Our range of four unique, daily mineral moisturizers with sun protection factor have been specially developed for the face and neck. Each formula is silicone-free and full of active ingredients to achieve targeted skin benefits and prevent sunburn.

Red Currant Protection Moisturizer SPF 40

This matting The daily moisturizer contains a Youth Shield Antioxidant Complex and SPF 40 mineral protection. This SPF moisturizer provides sun protection and helps with the appearance of wrinkles. Red currant is a source of vitamin C, an antioxidant with added bioflavonoids that improves the appearance of fine lines.

Tropical Vanilla Day Cream SPF 40

Sometimes scents can take us to a dream destination, and that Tropical Vanilla Day Cream SPF 40 does just that with its fresh, tropical scent. This purely mineral sunscreen contains vanilla, shea butter and SPF 40, all mineral sunscreens to revitalize the skin and prevent sunburn. Shea butter is a moisturizing ingredient that is high in triglycerides and fatty acids. This makes the cream an effective emollient for skin that needs more moisture.

Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizing Cream SPF 40

This all-in-one lightweight every day The moisturizer is made from Cocoa Seed Extract, Satsuma Mandarin Peel, and SPF 40, all of which protect minerals to improve the appearance of skin exposed to blue light stress and pollution. If you've been exposed to blue light in front of electronic devices all day, this moisturizer is for you. Cocoa seed extract is included in this formulation, a blend of cocoa peptides, saccharides and polyphenols to improve the appearance of skin exposed to blue light stress.

Bright Skin Moisturizer SPF 40

This lightening daily moisturizer contains a Natural hydroquinone alternative and SPF 40 all mineral protection. This SPF formula targets the appearance of dark spots and prevents sunburn. The natural hydroquinone alternative will help fade the appearance of dark spots and create a smooth, even complexion.

Learn more about our mineral SPF moisturizers and how to use them in this video:

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkVMaiUeToY (/ embed)

In addition to our SPF moisturizers, we recommend our Lilikoi Mineral Defense Sport Sunscreen SPF 30 for protection from head to toe. This easy-to-use sports formula for the face and body is non-greasy and water-resistant for up to 40 minutes.

Do you add mineral or chemical sunscreens to your skin care regimen? Let us know in the comments below and join the conversation on social media. Experience our mineral SPF moisturizers and Lilikoi Mineral Defense Sport Sunscreen SPF 30 at an Eminence Organics Spa partner near you.

Product selection

Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizing Cream SPF 40

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Red Currant Protection Moisturizer SPF 40

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This post was originally published in April 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness. .

24 Jan

Blog

Athletics Versus Aesthetics: What’s the Difference?

January 24, 2021
Posted by Samson

Hell, even the words themselves are eerily alike. Indeed, the two couldn't be more different. The strength culture, which is booming right now, takes a little time to clear up some basic science.

This is 85% of the problems / misunderstandings for most trainers.

I'm writing this because I was that guy a long time ago, not just as a coach but also as an athlete. A young person does not have the years of experience and a variety of tools in their kit to have the programming flexibility required to meet their needs.

They all assume that big is strong and powerful and fast.

And that's just not the case. So I hope I can clear some thoughts up so that, with curiosity and a desire to do further research, you can move away.

sportiness

I will likely piss off a lot of my colleagues; I don't care 100%.

Sportiness is not a unique quality. It is the combination of several properties that occur naturally in a person. Of course, unconscious movement skills. You have to understand that.

Our greatest athletes do things instinctively without thinking.

Your gifts lie in the most optimal movement patterns to express:

The first and best way to find out is to look at a person's feet when they are at rest.

The more it turns out that the feet are (consistently), the more likely you have someone who is on the inathletic spectrum.
The more neutral or slightly more deaf-tough they are, the more likely it is that they are naturally athletic.

To further melt your mind, two things in what I say above don't sound intuitive.

Just being athletic does not automatically make you a good soccer player, baseball player, or basketball player. A good athlete then has to acquire a range of sport-specific skills in order to be considered a good (or great) athlete. Then and only then can natural sportiness be displayed.
Athleticism is something that can indeed be trained. I'm sure a lot of my contemporaries get nosebleeds when they hear me say this. When even the most inathletic person has a radical desire for improvement, with time and masterful coaching and continuous drilling, they can develop a level of athleticism.

It has to be burned into their nervous system, but it can be done. Check out some of the great work being done here at Mater Dei High School, WeckMethod in San Diego, or GOATA in New Orleans.

These systems radically accelerate the qualities that we naturally see in someone we would say has great athleticism.

We have seen exceptional results in both sports and in reducing injuries.

Training for aesthetics

Who doesn't want:

I'm 50 years old staring into the eyes and the young man who is still alive and well in me would love another shot at all of the above – ahhhh, the good old days.

Regardless of how old you are, much of the recipe for these things is very straightforward, such as: B. High volume sets, many sets per body part, isolation exercises, and a mix of free weights and machines.

The list goes on and this list is effective for building muscle, etching details, and sculpting the shape. Yes, it takes time, incredible discipline (not just in the gym), and a real willingness to suffer.

Add cardio all kinds on the list of strength training exercises for reclining and strength training for building and shaping, and you have the perfect mix.

While the conditioning work is to remove as much body fat as possible to see the muscles underneath.

The people who invest their time creating programs are true artists.

And the people who choose to live their lives wearing elite conditioning around the clock are some of the most masochistic people in the world.

When I was a kid, growing up in my teenage years and young adulthood, we only had access to muscle magazines for advice on exercise. And since our entire culture cannot distinguish muscle for looks and muscle for function, those of us who emerged in the 80s and 90s (though well-intentioned) have how bodybuilders trained for sports.

The result was some of the most gruesome sports-related injuries you can imagine.

Training for athletics

When I sit down to write a team program, dozens of factors come into play before I put pen on paper (or keyboard clicks on screen).

The first thing we need to consider is the handful of repetitive movements that a particular sport imposes on an athlete, such as:

Throw
Swing an object
Strong rotation
Sprint and / or change of direction / acceleration-deceleration tight
Range of motion dependent
Weight class concentrated

Once we have identified the qualities necessary for the sport, we lean on whether or not we have chronic use problems (due to these repetitive movements) the most likely catastrophic injuries this sport sees.

It all becomes a really complicated version of the math, desperately trying not to introduce anything harmful to the team while dealing with the preprogrammed nature of programming without losing sight of the head coach's questions.

I promise I am not trying to make this more fantastic than it is for effect.

I'm trying to give you a glimpse into the mind of a coach preparing to write a program for 30 teenage girls playing water polo, and the demands of their sport are very different from those of my wrestlers. Soccer players or my mature kids.

You see, my program can never be the reason we have a loss of performance, an injury trend within a team, or the primary reason an athlete has a non-contact injury at the end of the season.

And what most of you readers will find out, we have more ways of manipulating things both ways than you might understand.

And here lies the most pressing reason for the difference between training for aesthetics and training for athletics.

My exercise menu for sports is enormous. 25% are standard problems you would find in either program:

But where we start to see the most radical differences is that my facility has no machines. We are based on free weight only and use all kinds of equipment that you would never find in Planet Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, or Golds.

The main reason for all of this is that I need performance, not sexuality.

Aesthetics are not always sporty

My final statement in the previous section is in the seeds of this article.

Most coaches fall in their face for being so blind to the way we have always done things that the exercises chosen have no legitimate benefit to the athlete on the field.

Big for Big Sake is not a reason to program certain exercises. Yes, there are some positions in some sports where a significant increase in body mass is part of the job. However, most of these situations are fairly isolated and can still be carried out in more complex ways.

Part of the reason traditional bodybuilding workouts are ineffective and somewhat dangerous is because of the focus on single joint exercises.

An athlete is left to his own devices (and I know that because I was many moons ago) and overemphasize the exercises that strain the arms and upper body because they equate form and function.

And let's be honest, you want to look in the mirror while you brush your teeth in the morning. This over-focus on things that really do not matter to athletics creates enormous discrepancy from segment to segment of the body.

The best way to grasp this is through my own experience.

I was a great bench press. Without drugs, I hit 485 pounds for a set of 5 in my sophomore year. If you use percentages, that's more than a projected single of 525 pounds.

During that time, I hit 42 reps on the 225 bench press test (which they use on the NFL Combine). I was tall and had triceps for days and was really strong … unless … at that point, I couldn't do a single pull-up– Yes, all of that front force and literally nothing behind it.

As a result, after my junior year, I had to lie down on the surgeon's table and put my shoulder back together. It didn't slip or I suddenly had a football-related injury. I just wore my shoulder off due to a massive imbalance. I couldn't use it anymore. When my surgeon walked in, my labrum and much of my rotator cuff were frayed in several places.

This is a simple, straightforward example. If you look at injuries to the lower body, you end up with soft tissue injuries to the thighs, hip flexors, groin, and calves.

If the programming is bodybuilder-esque and the athlete has some of my tendencies, you can see where overemphasis on one area exposes the rest of the body to forces that cannot be handled.

Another example of this is, from personal experience, tears in the thigh. My hamstrings were the cause of my athletic death. Repeated stress and poor rehab practices eventually resulted in a low back that absolutely affected my career.

There was no professional football in my future, but there were the last three games of my senior year that I saw from the sidelines. Thirteen years of football … ended with a thud.

Most aesthetic lifting programs create significant front-to-back and top-to-bottom imbalances. This enables an athlete to move their entire body in one large motion to put a task in real danger.

If you notice a lot of soft tissue injuries in your athletes, you need to pay long and careful attention to how you are doing::

programming
Your choice of exercise
How to Teach Certain Techniques

I had to take those long, lonely walks along the way, only to find out that it was actually something I was teaching, stressing, or programming that led my athletes into a situation where they were more likely to have an X injury.

As you sort your programs, my best way to navigate these sometimes choppy waters is to ask, "What is your reason for this?? "

I tell my coaches all the time; You can program any way you want, but you better have a quick and satisfactory reason to write as you are. If you're programming ten sets of 60 seconds of the hula hoop, tell me why. And if you can't give me a reason why it's there, it has to go –This one question about the reasons was one of the most instructive experiences for me. I think very rationally.

Still, I give my coaches as much programming leash as they could ever want. Most of the time, when asked why they put that down, they think about an exercise, rep range, or practice location (within the session of the lift) in a way that I never thought of, and it's brilliant.

As you scour your programming, ask yourself why, and if your answer has more to do with what this athlete looks like, it's time to reconsider your recipe.

23 Jan

Blog

Athletics Versus Aesthetics: What’s the Difference?

January 23, 2021
Posted by Samson

Hell, even the words themselves are eerily alike. Indeed, the two couldn't be more different. The strength culture, which is booming right now, takes a little time to clear up some basic science.

This is 85% of the problems / misunderstandings for most trainers.

I'm writing this because I was that guy a long time ago, not just as a coach but also as an athlete. A young person does not have the years of experience and a variety of tools in their kit to have the programming flexibility required to meet their needs.

They all assume that big is strong and powerful and fast.

And that's just not the case. So I hope I can clear some thoughts up so that, with curiosity and a desire to do further research, you can move away.

sportiness

I will likely piss off a lot of my colleagues; I don't care 100%.

Sportiness is not a unique quality. It is the combination of several properties that occur naturally in a person. Of course, unconscious movement skills. You have to understand that.

Our greatest athletes do things instinctively without thinking.

Your gifts lie in the most optimal movement patterns to express:

The first and best way to find out is to look at a person's feet when they are at rest.

The more it turns out that the feet are (consistently), the more likely you have someone who is on the inathletic spectrum.
The more neutral or slightly more deaf-tough they are, the more likely it is that they are naturally athletic.

To further melt your mind, two things in what I say above don't sound intuitive.

Just being athletic does not automatically make you a good soccer player, baseball player, or basketball player. A good athlete then has to acquire a range of sport-specific skills in order to be considered a good (or great) athlete. Then and only then can natural sportiness be displayed.
Athleticism is something that can indeed be trained. I'm sure a lot of my contemporaries get nosebleeds when they hear me say this. When even the most inathletic person has a radical desire for improvement, with time and masterful coaching and continuous drilling, they can develop a level of athleticism.