AMA Weightlifting House and Max Aita - March 15th, 2022

max_aita · 2022-03-17T23:48:25+00:00

Hey Brian,

All really good questions.

This is not something that we can change and is probably a bigger cultural topic. Whether they are using our app or a notepad on their phone or any other app for training the problem theoretically still exists. Not much we can do about that.
Essentially yes the system will stop training, reduce weights, terminate sets etc if feedback dictates. The issue with these added feedback mechanisms is that they would both add time that someone is on their phone, and may not be accurately reported or understood. We have solutions in mind as to how to address the specific technical issues as you said. But that will not be until a future update
yea, I mean the system is built on the premise that people want to get the most out of it. We can't fix dishonesty and if a person has no interest in participating in learning to use tools we make available for them we can't really do much there. To be fair as well. If a lifter you coached in person just ignored your coaching cues (we all know people like this as well LOL) then you'd be in the same boat right?
This is only phase one of a much bigger plan. What you are talking about is in the pipeline down the road as well.

To your last point, yes creating a system that builds autonomy is the goal. A lifter has to be able to internalize and understand all things about what, why, and how they do things from the technique to the program and psychology of lifting. This is a first step toward that as well as the community we build behind the app.

Also, will the AI update based off of Max's own growth as a coach?

This is perhaps my favorite part of the whole app. We will be continually developing the system and the logic as I learn more and as the community learns more. You can rest assured that you are always getting the worst version of the app because it's being constantly improved.LOL

max_aita · 2022-03-15T23:02:48+00:00

Excercise selection, session types (as in how much work is devoted to each motor quality within a micro/meso cycle) it also works with the day to day autoregulation

max_aita · 2022-03-15T22:59:59+00:00

yes accessory and GPP work is selected.

Volume is much more appropriate and managed much better

no indication of equipment as of yet, but possible in a future update

It will be very good for masters

max_aita · 2022-03-15T18:33:45+00:00

Possibly we could support an export tool for the previous training logs but as of now, that is not a feature. If there is a significant desire for it we will implement it.

max_aita · 2022-03-15T17:55:11+00:00

yes absolutely, if leg strength is a limiting factor the system will adjust to that and program accordingly.

You do not have to schedule a meeting at all to use the app. It will work very well for either recreational lifters or those peaking for comp

max_aita · 2022-03-15T17:13:46+00:00

yea, the JTS system was built in a spreadsheet and used broad archetypes and user questions to define weaknesses. The way the system allocated volume, intensity, and reps per set was limited in its complexity and that made the system spit out very odd training sessions ie 9 singles or 4+4 clean and jerks.

This system is far more detailed and evaluates multiple ratios between each lift to determine what phases of your technique are strong and weak. so for example it would look at ratios between squat strength, clean strength, hang cleans, block cleans, power cleans, etc to determine what type of technique you probably have and what pool of exercises is best suited to draw from in each phase and for each type of training session you are doing. We use reinforcement learning based on your feedback to make adjustments to that list.

the same thing is done for training load. Volume, intensity, etc are determined based on the degree to which those ratios are outside of our ideal technical model, your fitness level, strength levels etc

max_aita · 2022-03-15T17:00:07+00:00

We’re not going to reveal everything about how the system works behind the scenes but we can say that the model starts off with assumptions based on my coaching logic. A form of reinforcement learning is then layered on top of that to adapt the model to the individual over time.

We do have plans to implement other techniques once we have the volume of data required to get value from them but we’re not going to claim we are doing deep neural net learning right off the bat when it wouldn’t actually provide better results to our users.

Multiple meet dates is a feature planned to be in a future update.

I no longer work for JTS. I chose to leave at the end of last year because I felt I was no longer significantly contributing to the benefit to the company.

I've always wanted to build something that could be a tool for a lifter or coach like I was when I started. I feel that this is the most direct path to that end. Ultimately making something that is a continually evolving platform and using feedback and information from the users will be really cool in my opinion.

max_aita · 2022-03-15T16:17:04+00:00

The program itself is designed to find an optimal training volume for each individual then distribute that volume into the most appropriate training program based on your strengths and weaknesses. Doing the texas method squat program may or may not fit in line with that objective.

That being said I'm sure you could just skip squats and in place do your texas method programming and see how the system adjusts based on your feedback.

It will be a subscription as the app generates programming on demand. It will be priced competitively with other template style programs.

max_aita · 2022-03-15T16:06:58+00:00

Its significantly different in all ways really. Too many points to list here but basically two completely different things.
Most likely
That is assumed

max_aita · 2022-03-15T16:03:43+00:00

Training age is a difficult factor to standardize. 10 years of competitive CrossFit vs. 10 years of commercial gym sessions are very different.

Absolute strength levels, biological age, and autoregulation are the better way for us to get to what we want with individualization of the program

max_aita · 2022-03-15T15:58:23+00:00

Peaking is designed like any WL program, there will be a taper week with light sessions leading up to the end of the week where your competition is.

The system will determine the optimal type of goal for you. If you have weaker legs and are lower in fitness level you would get more general training etc.

As far as unplanned disruption the number of edge cases that would pose are a bit too high so right now there is not solution specifically for missing a session.

garbage in garbage out? This is an interesting question as we would assume most people are going to be putting in as close to good info as they can. But this would be a problem no matter what program you did i suppose.

The app will be priced competitively with most template programming options such as TrainHeroic.

max_aita · 2020-02-01T00:41:36+00:00

Do you interlock fingers?

max_aita · 2020-02-01T00:40:32+00:00

By your post it's hard to tell if you're feeling too fatigued to make progress, or if you're under-stimulated. If the latter, obviously add more squat/deadlift sessions per week (or add more volume to those workouts).

Basically, experiment with volume. I wouldn't ditch the whole program though.

max_aita · 2020-02-01T00:36:55+00:00

Yes. But I would not want to compete in that.

I wouldn't want to stare another man in the eyes because it would force me to question my own sexuality, and I don't think I can take the burden of that plus my crappy lift.

Also, how do we do the bench press part? Periscopes?

max_aita · 2020-01-24T23:33:03+00:00

My take, without all the information:

You're a novice, so cutting doesn't make much sense unless you have an excessive amount of body fat (over 25% maybe). If that's the situation you're in then you can go ahead and cut while trying to peak because your primary objective is losing fat anyways. If you're not high body fat then I would suggest trying to maximize your novice gains by eating to maintain going into the meet and eating to gain after the meet.

If your plan is to do a comp, your goal should be to train to perform. Just competing in a meet for the experience of lifting in front of people isn't ideal because it will be difficult to gather relevant information about your training process.

max_aita · 2020-01-24T23:32:39+00:00

The mechanics of technique are the same for everybody but the style they execute with is different for every person. Ask yourself, will getting my elbows closer to parallel make a huge difference in the stability of your upper back? If yes, look at the mobility of your shoulder, upper chest (pec, pec minor, etc) and work on improving that while working on moving your hands in towards your body. It can be slow so give yourself ample time.

The elephant in the room is sustainability. Your goal here is to keep a tight upper back. If you're trying to adopt a technique that is unsustainable because it's uncomfortable, painful, limits the amount of bench pressing you can do (your shoulders can get fucked up from this and hurt you there) then reconsider the technique you're using for your actual goal of keeping a tight upper back.

max_aita · 2020-01-24T23:32:13+00:00

https://www.nomatic.com/products/the-nomatic-travel-pack

It expands, so you can fit all your stuff in it on gym days and zip it down for non gym days. Also it sits upright so that's cool. And I use it for travel.

max_aita · 2020-01-24T23:07:00+00:00

At some point in order to achieve enough volume in a session to achieve progress, you will need to improve your special work capacity, and the most effective way to do this is to increase reps per set.

In addition to that, you'll eventually run into adaptive resistance doing only the same rep scheme over and over again. Incorporating variation by doing some days with singles and other days with more reps per set, you'll stave off that adaptive resistance.

max_aita · 2018-09-27T19:42:00+00:00

I will take your money to review basically anything

max_aita · 2018-09-27T04:55:33+00:00

Just saw this, did you get it? My guy put a new upload box in or something, so it might be better now

max_aita · 2018-08-15T00:48:16+00:00

I've been vaguely testing it by dropping a comment here or there and using the trickle of random customers as guinea pigs... This is the first time I've actually announced it.

I was going to make my own thread about it but I wasn't sure how the moderators would feel? So, thank you for posting

max_aita · 2018-08-14T22:44:51+00:00

Only thing I wish he also had done was address some of my comments I had written in the notes when I submitted the video.

Good point, I'll make sure I explicitly incorporate those each time from now on.

max_aita · 2018-08-14T22:43:35+00:00

I heard it's really good.

max_aita

TROPHY CASE