Whilst strength is a quality that underpins our potential output, it is the ability to exert high forces quickly (otherwise known as power), which is critical to success in most sporting actions. Power = force x velocity, meaning that both the force of the movement and velocity of movement are vital for the development of power.
Most sporting actions happen in around 250ms, while max force can take upwards of 400ms to achieve. This means that qualities such as power and rate of force development are vital to address in training… but how can we address them?
How do I develop power?
One simple tip you can follow to increase your power output is to train with maximal intent.
Adaptations are ultimately determined by the effort you exert – meaning you get out what you put in. If you do not complete a movement with the highest velocity possible, you will achieve suboptimal performance improvements.
Maximal intent can be easily accomplished and should be a universal target for each training exercise used in the pursuit of power development. Aim for the highest possible velocity of movement when carrying out an exercise. An argument could be made that the intent to move fast is just as important as actually moving fast, so if a load is high or low – move with maximal intent.