JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================rK" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?dyRN.dT]sBΤ5"Qr򭺣ۏ5JXpTT)jWImmZxJd2c#ڹB}:{I?>y}І׺Oː|Z+KN/nm$x hp a)_RlAyKcwD{HyAwݻvk7gۥ)h\͞~Un 6 P'mshbLбg z7ZLH WxaY~8#?ΦoBO<|Q4Oei\rrNF+"Y乽Mw*WZeiW0'ZnlisVݑh:rAF)w Q7A=Ep*W`rHw9PVJ;g[zQW74PM>xDD3;TeV2H⧸D0!\Eu $io iAe w"[ĥ\x ^xjio ;H!@КJCuen"H@1Ygjz ; eZZhcx?J+(L jd<k$ 8[I/B^ypYOj FARKI+Hn&9Af᾽.\go)A*Vb_JGHAH*ha"4O;̂I^ZMif|V:pw:UV:_@Lz[Uy(o޼y5k) ^K> p/pkV$r99n8d)Ԉ4LqZqѪy^ S20FE 88##*5h~HmFS)r0rk' 7/|fkPb$ܟB:QTH=PշAQ@ & ~4QHh`Ơ=MR(to do much in the way of plyometrics. But, for Ayars, not just any kind of strength training would do.<br> A lot of athletes do bodybuilding-type routines, says Ayars.  Many American female gymnasts tend to have a lot of hypertrophy in their quads, whereas many of our male gymnasts have a lot of hypertrophy in their upper body, but they re not necessarily stronger than their European counterparts. Also, in gymnastics, that extra bodyweight can be something of a hindrance. To resolve this dilemma, Ayars studied the training programs of the Eastern Europeans, and decided to model his program after theirs by focusing on heavier weights, lower reps and explosive exercises such as power cleans and push jerks.<br>Ayars had a background in weight training, but he wanted to learn more about performing and teaching explosive weight training exercises. In addition to taking a coaching course sponsored by the United States Weightlifting Federation, Ayars and his athletes worked with nationally ranked weightlifter Jane Black on the finer points of the lifts.<br>Initial response from parents to Ayars new strength training program was all over the map.  We had a small group that thought it was a fantastic idea, we had a