Aggression

[The Magus]

I need some help unlocking my "inner beast."

Consistent feedback that I've gotten from rugby coaches and now from my personal trainer are that I need to harness some aggression. The problem, I think, is that I know I have a temper but I've always been told to keep that in check, so unless I'm actually, seriously angry about something I'm pretty low-key and easy-going.

On the rugby pitch, it's all fun and games for me, and when I'm lifting weights and get stuck in the bottom of a lift, my trainer wants me to use some aggression to push out those last couple of reps, I just can't find it.

When I'm pissed off, sure I can be aggressive, but when playing rugby or lifting weights I'm actually -happy-, and I have no clue how to be happy AND aggressive.

Is there anyone else with this problem or with solutions I can try? Is there a "trick" to turning on my aggression when I need it? Should I be thinking angry thoughts when I get to the gym? Help!

[CelticMuscle]

You sound a bit like me then. I enjoy training in the gym as well and cannot fathom even getting a tiny bit upset over anything (a case in point when our party's candidate in the recent Corby special election came fourth and lost their funding in that district, everyone on the ground was furious, I on the other hand was going "Ho Hum!")

[jx22uk]

Interesting topic...

Perhaps you might it useful to think of it less as aggression and more about focus and power. Unleashing a roar of energy, doesn't have to be an angry or nasty thing?

I guess what i'm saying is to focus on the positive aspects of aggression rather than the negative ones...but if you find a good answer i'm all ears!

[inflated]

I am not an agressive person, I like being mild mannered, so aggression has no value for me. The most aggressive I get is in a weightlifting contest, but its all centered on the weights not trying to increase aggression. If you are not naturally an aggressive type it does not make sense to go against your nature. I prefer focused attention rather than aggression.

[The Magus]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I can't say that I'm always calm and collected...there are things that set me off, lol, but working out isn't one of them.

What I -think- my trainer is trying to get from me is a more explosive lift, to activate the "fast" muscle fibres, so I'll chat with him about that when I see him Tuesday.

I can do focus and intensity, just not angry and aggressive. :P

[cohzaku]

The gym and the weightroom specifically is the one place where I'm in control, and I can truely relax. I do NOT want to have anger and agression in there. I relax, I enjoy myself, and I'm calm. My lifts go up consistently, five pounds per session, And if I'm too fatigued to do a set, or miss a few reps, it's more than likely due to not properly resting than a lack of agression or anything.

I'm actually always baffled when I hear this mentallity that weightlifting SHOULD be an angry activity. If anything, I would say approaching it with aggression would lead to poor form, or fast movement.

[BigLittleTim]

What's in your iPod, dude?

Mild mannered Clark Kent will get all aggressive and focused with the right tunes on.

I have many suggestions.

BIG TIM

[EricRF]

I'm in the same boat. Whether it's aggression or focus, I'm having trouble achieving either. My trainer tells me that I'm reaching a limit where I have the strength, but I need to get my "head right". I only vaguely know what he means, and I definitely don't know how to get there.

I'm also not aggressive by nature (music doesn't help), and I also have trouble keeping focus during a lift. I'm not sure how to achieve it (focus), but sometimes I do, but don't know how to do it again. I also have trouble maintaining it, especially as the number of reps increases. And it's not a lot of reps. With heavy weight, for three reps I'm usually OK if I have focus, but when any fatigue sets in and the weight gets "heavy", I lose focus, my form goes to shit, and I can sometimes grind through another rep, but that's it. If I could maintain form and focus, I know I can do better.

So any advice, suggestions, etc, are welcome. It gets really frustrating.

Thanks!

[cohzaku]

Ever tried a pre-workout? Usually on days where I feel a little unfocused, I take a pre-workout and it really helps me push myself at the gym.

I really never have had trouble with focus...I tell myself how much I have to do, and I do it.

Do you use a workout tracking app like Jefit? I've found sometimes that having a solid documentation of my workouts, and my progress is terrific inspiration to push my body further. Seeing a calculated one rep max fires me up, and in a few weeks, I've done that max for five reps.