Posted by Cris (24.66.94.141) on December 12, 2003 at 16:07:49:
In Reply to: Periodization posted by Juerg on December 12, 2003 at 07:46:45:
Everyone should understand that Bompa is European and that he introduced his Periodization model in Romania in 1963. So there isn’t really a comparison of Bompa’s ideas to European ideas/ authors, since Bompa is European himself. While it is true that Bompa is indeed the first to put together the concept of Periodization in the thorough scientific nature that he did, there are of course other authors who have done similar things. I would not be quick to judge an author based on their geographical location or on the date of their publication, but rather on how well what they write stands up to scientific scrutiny, and Bompa’s work stands up very well. That doesn’t mean that other authors don’t stand up well themselves, and because other authors write good ideas does not mean that Bompa’s ideas are therefore replaced.
In fact in Bompa’s recent books he of course respectably references Matveyev from 1965 (Fizkultura I Sport), 1974, 1980. There are at least 400 other references that Bompa makes to authors from all over the world.
These authors for the most part are not in disagreement. There may be rivalry between them to try to claim who did what first and who explains an idea better, but since Periodization is based on human biological variables, and since there is only one human model we are aware of, there is a better chance of finding similar concepts and explanations between researchers and authors than there is any differences. We must not allow ourselves to be diverted by non-related issues such as who said or wrote what first and where they are from and how one author forms a sentence differently than the other.
These diversions take us away from our goal. I want to see how to train somebody better. It doesn’t matter where the information comes from, as long as it is good information. At the same time I don’t wish to see any authors work placed in a contest of words or who published what first, everybody’s work stands on it own merits. The fact is Bompa is the most published, and the first to do it in a big way, I don’t know why people try to paint another picture. Now Bompa could be the most published, and also be the worst, but this is not the case. The man has personal integrity and has done a lot for modern coaching. He is not right all the time, but like most successful people he is right most of the time. Just like other authors are who’s work stands up to scientific scrutiny.
Dr. Atkins was a good example of a successful author who’s work did not stand up to scientific scrutiny, the high protein low carb diet is bogus. So quoting an author just because they wrote something doesn’t have merit. What they wrote must stand up to scrutiny before quoting them has merit. The concept of Periodization is sound. The practical application continues to evolve, as we understand more about physiology.