how did you arrive at the term power training and how did you decide that this was jumping with weights?
Powerlifting is a necessity as most competent coaches will make sure one can squat around 1.5x bodyweight or more before doing plyo training (drop jumps), which is hugely effective for vertical improvements, but highly stressful on the joints, tendons, and ligaments.
>Inspired by Russian powerlifters, Todd trained himself to dunk the ball through rigorous strength training, as well as running and jumping exercises. Over three years, Todd gained 85 pounds of muscle before he was finally able to dunk the ball.
Meh, sorry, guy very likely had crazy hops before the training regimen, don't discount genetics.
If you lack natural coordination and explosiveness, at 5'5" you'll never dunk a basketball no matter how hard you train.
However, you may have the ability to code explosively in the same way that one is able to shake another out of their shoes with a crossover dribble; that, or train your mind to do so. The former will arguably be the superior "player" as they likely started coding at age 8, drawn to it without knowing why, and the latter likely came late to the game (case here).
I would say that his improved vertical leap will help there too. 3-pointers are impossible against a good guard without a good vertical leap to gain a height advantage, distancing yourself and taking a shot without fear of rejection.
He's 5'5". In a competitive game he would probably be playing a slash-and-kick style point guard role, not a 3-point jump shooter. His shot would get blocked too often because of his height.
I'm 5'10", and unfortunately some of it comes from a long long neck and a fine head. A well known coach once called it wasted height, as it doesn't help any in basketball. Things got a little worse with the fact that my upper body is disproportionately longer than my lower body. Doesn't help your jump any, but at least it gave me some reach - 7'3" with my arms extended.
And so, I needed a vertical leap of 3 feet to grab the ring. The happiest day of my basketballing life was after some weeks of pumping iron (leg weights), I did leap and grab that ring - once. It was such a thrill.
That was way back in college. I wish I'd gone all the way like Brandon did. But hey, I'm only 50 now, and still playing basketball. I'm inspired. I think I'm going to go for it again. ;)
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[ 4.1 ms ] story [ 68.2 ms ] threadhttp://vimeo.com/74061236
Very inspirational.
Powerlifting is a necessity as most competent coaches will make sure one can squat around 1.5x bodyweight or more before doing plyo training (drop jumps), which is hugely effective for vertical improvements, but highly stressful on the joints, tendons, and ligaments.
Here's a video of an Olympian shot-putter training, including 'jumping with weights': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frFVhwIy_PU
Not to say that strong tendons and joints are important, nor that the article mentions powerlifting, which is not concerned with power.
If you lack natural coordination and explosiveness, at 5'5" you'll never dunk a basketball no matter how hard you train.
However, you may have the ability to code explosively in the same way that one is able to shake another out of their shoes with a crossover dribble; that, or train your mind to do so. The former will arguably be the superior "player" as they likely started coding at age 8, drawn to it without knowing why, and the latter likely came late to the game (case here).
"...and his first dunk story at 5'2 at the age of 13..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Todd
And so, I needed a vertical leap of 3 feet to grab the ring. The happiest day of my basketballing life was after some weeks of pumping iron (leg weights), I did leap and grab that ring - once. It was such a thrill.
That was way back in college. I wish I'd gone all the way like Brandon did. But hey, I'm only 50 now, and still playing basketball. I'm inspired. I think I'm going to go for it again. ;)