The third and final point deals with the plyometric training system, 2 ideas:

o Elasticity The muscle is like a spring. When you stretch it, you stretch the spring. When we contract the muscle, in a concentric movement, we bring the ends of the muscle together. The spring is shortened and produces energy.

That's extra energy that we wouldn't have had if we hadn't stretched that spring. Let's look at two examples.

During a concentric exercise, lock your arm at torso level, hold for 2 seconds and return your arm to the starting position.

This exercise is much more difficult compared to one where you pull your arm all the way back, and let it bounce forward. In the second example, you will be able to lift heavy weights.

o The myotatic reflex The goal is to suddenly stretch the muscle. To avoid a tear, the muscle will protect itself by contracting. This is what we call the myotatic reflex. The idea, when you suddenly stretch a muscle, is to add the force of this reflex to the voluntary contraction.

The goal is to be stronger than without using the force of this brutal stretch and muscle response.