Functional Who?

Believe it or not, there was a time when I didn’t consider weightlifting or training for size or strength functional in any capacity. Mainly thinking it makes you stiff and rigid. I even believed that calisthenics training was the true functional training. Boy, those were the days… so young, so naïve. The turth, is any type of training can make you stiff and rigid if you don’t take some time to work on mobility and movement drills.

So you might have had, or still have, that view of weight training; especially when thinking about bodybuilding or powerlifting. Now at first glance, I don’t blame you. Because I’m certain that what pops into your head when you hear “bodybuilder” is some shirtless dude flexing as hard as he can in front of a mirror or some woman snapping a shot of her butt. Then when you think “powerlifter,” you imagine some overweight individual taking a nap and snack break between every set.

As unfortunate and hilarious as those stereotypes are, the actual methods and practices of these training styles are highly functional. Before we proceed, I am strictly talking about their training, not the typical personality or behavior that sometimes accompanies these styles. Look at the training intensity, which is usually ramped up to produce the most adaptations. On top of this, bodybuilding has a strong tendency for building muscular endurance and for focusing on full range of motion (ROM) in most lifts. Powerlifters’ power output and work capacity are significant because of the level of exertion they put into their lifts, mainly the big compound movements. Both styles (if we look purely at athletes’ adaptations and no enhancements) build strong connective tissue, healthier joints, and greater bone density.

The next time you hear someone explain how swinging a kettlebell around, never pushing intensity, or avoiding big lifts like the deadlift or squat is “not functional,” give them an old blast double and lock them up in a triangle for me.

When people say “functional training,” they often picture balance balls, light weights, and fancy movements. But real functionality comes from how much force you can produce, control, and repeat under fatigue. That’s exactly what traditional lifting builds.
Bodybuilding improves muscle control, endurance, and range of motion. Powerlifting develops max strength, work capacity, and joint integrity. Both make you more capable in real movement, not less. The function isn’t in the tool; it’s in how you train and apply it.

MINDSET

Don’t get caught chasing trends or buzzwords. “Functional” doesn’t mean fancy; it means useful.

If your training makes you stronger, more stable, and harder to break, that’s as functional as it gets. Keep your focus on progress and performance, not labels.

Thanks for reading this week’s edition of Unmasked by The Weekly Standard!

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