It appears that some fads keep coming back even after they have been discredited theoretically and in practice. Coming to mind at this time is the extreme slow lifting also known as high intensity training (HIT) that is being advocated. Overlooked is the fact that there are different ways of producing high intensity training.
Instead of relegating this type of weight training to very specific purposes the proponents of this method expand it to such a level that it becomes unbelievable. For example it is the answer to producing the best lifts in weightlifting and powerlifting, gaining greater strength and is the key to making athletes faster and more explosive.
But it should be obvious that this type of training is best suited for powerlifters — in addition to other types of weight training. No one should ever use only one type of training on a year-round basis. This is especially true with high intensity training. It should be used sparingly. If not it will lead to injury and poorer performances.
According to Russian research and practice, this type of training should constitute no more than 10 to 20% of the total training. Its effectiveness is great but very limited. It shows its greatest value only at very specific periods of time in the annual training program. This is also dependent upon whether the high intensity training exercises are specific (have dynamic correspondence to the competitive event) or are general in nature.
It is also necessary to know where to place it either in GPP or SPP or in a combination of both. With sorrow, proponents of this and other methods never provide these details. They are so busy promoting the method that they don’t examine where it is of greatest value.
Some are so enamored with this method that they do not look at other equally and sometimes even more effective training methods. In addition they are not looking closely at long-range effects of what happens to the athlete in relation to his progress. Nor have they done comparisons with improvement with less intense methods.
Because of this, we should put this method of training where it belongs depending upon the individual, purpose of the training, the athletes sport, level of mastery and period of training. Until then beware of outlandish recommendations.
For more information on effective training methods see Build a Better Athlete, Transfer of Training and Secrets of Russsian Sports Fitness and Training.