How bad would someone's form need to be for you to say something?

deluxmary2000
deluxmary2000 Posts: 981 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Just curious, because man... there is a guy at my gym every morning that just scares the heck out of me with his form for kettlebell swings (and pretty much everything else he does).

I haven't said anything, and don't really plan to.
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Replies

  • ArmsandCharms
    ArmsandCharms Posts: 133 Member
    edited September 2016
    Nevermind, joke taken wrong! ;)
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    I would never. I mind my business. Life is easier that way.
  • ArmsandCharms
    ArmsandCharms Posts: 133 Member
    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    ArmsandCharms wrote: »
    LOL. I often wonder this. There was a lady yesterday that was doing something crazy on the leg press and I thought she was going to kill herself. i didn't say anything. I just videoed it. lol. Probably wrong of me, but it was funny.

    That's pretty messed up.

    right? lol
  • ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken
    ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken Posts: 1,530 Member
    I mean, "say something"? I think it depends on what you say and how you say it. You'll want to be well relieved. I would hit the Go-Go Gadget good manners button and proceed with as little arrogance and condescension as possible. People tend to get offended when advice or criticism is offered rather than asked for. I think the person will thank you once they see the light. If they are at risk of injuring them self you should not wait another day.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    If I pay for the person's health insurance I will say something. Otherwise, I will not say anything.
  • Keladelphia
    Keladelphia Posts: 820 Member
    edited September 2016
    Ehhh I generally keep my mouth shut in a regular gym but if I saw him everyday and his form was so bad it was very likely to cause injury I'd say something. I'd probably strike up a casual conversation and then add something along the lines of, "wow it's so awesome to see you in here doing KB swings everyday, they're one of my favorite exercises to do. Once my trainer showed my how to explosively hinge at the hip and actively pull the bell down it's made such a difference in how much strength i'm gaining in my glutes and hamstrings" or something along the lines of whatever his flaw might be. I definitely wouldn't press too hard though.
  • ArmsandCharms
    ArmsandCharms Posts: 133 Member
    For the record, I didn't actually video her. I'm being sarcastic. Hard to tell over text I guess....and if I thought she was seriously going to hurt herself I would have said something.
  • ArmsandCharms
    ArmsandCharms Posts: 133 Member
    sensitive crowd
  • wanzik
    wanzik Posts: 326 Member
    I said something once when I couple of young guys were standing on a box and doing deadlifts. They were arcing their backs like scared cats. I had just read an article about the dangers of that. No one else was in the gym so as I was leaving I said "would you mind if I shared something I read with you?" And then explained that I was worried they'd injure themselves. They didn't seem overly receptive but they didn't tell me to get lost either. I don't know if they took my advice or not. I think I would have felt worse if I didn't say anything to them at all. At least my conscience is clean. I see a lot of poor form but nothing as bad as that as far as potential injuries.
  • ArmsandCharms
    ArmsandCharms Posts: 133 Member
    Holy cow. Read all the way through people...Should have put a giant haha/JK on the end.
  • DeadliftsandDonuts
    DeadliftsandDonuts Posts: 178 Member
    I only offer advice at the gym when people ask me for it, which almost never happens so I mainly keep my opinions about their form or lack thereof to myself.
  • _incogNEATo_
    _incogNEATo_ Posts: 4,537 Member
    ArmsandCharms wrote: »
    sensitive crowd

    Don't let it bother you. These are the same people that will watch a "Gym Fails" video and laugh their tails off at gym-goers' misfortunes.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    When I got back to the gym another member corrected my squatting form in a helpful and constructive way and I appreciated it.

    I think it's all in how you approach it, if you're not comfortable giving advice mention it to a staff member at the gym. It's good business to prevent customers from hurting themselves.

    It's funny that this is an issue in gym culture, runners help each other all the time and it's the norm.
  • upoffthemat
    upoffthemat Posts: 679 Member
    I would love to hear if I have bad form, but I understand many people have softer feelings.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    deluxmary2000 wrote: »
    stealthq wrote: »
    If I think someone is going to seriously hurt themselves, then I'd either say something or point it out to one of my gym's trainers so they could say something. I probably wouldn't have to, though - my gym's trainers have been known to give 'friendly advice' in those circumstances before. They'd probably take care of it before I said anything.

    I actually never thought about telling a trainer. It might be more acceptable coming from a trainer than a randome concerned stranger.

    Yeah, this is pretty much what I would do...it would be better received coming from gym staff I think. I've said things to people before, but it's always been after they've inquired...like they see me doing something and they realize they aren't doing it right...so they ask what to do.
  • Ben_there_done_that
    Ben_there_done_that Posts: 732 Member
    There's nothing worse than unsolicited advice at the gym. That said, even I would probably say something if it looks like he's going to end up hurting himself or others.

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