The "Triangle" Theory & Point B

The bigger the base that is Point B, the higher levels (apex) of human performance.

Take note of how a rectangular pyramid has a base of four sides. Source

The "Triangle" Theory

The Soviets developed a concept known as the "triangle" theory, which played a pivotal role in the advancement and evolution of Training Science for sport. As explained by renowned sports historian Reet Howell in "The USSR: Sport and Politics Intertwined," this theory emphasized the correlation between the number of individuals participating in general physical preparedness training (i.e., "physical education") and the success of producing top-level athletes for international competitions.¹ According to this theory, the larger the base of individuals participating in general physical preparedness (GPP), the greater the likelihood of developing top-tier athletes who can excel on the global stage, particularly in the Olympic Games.

Triangle Theory Results

To gain a better understanding of the potency of this theory within the context of Soviet athletics, we will reference an excerpt from Tom Mylinki’s abstract on The Development of the Russian Conjugate Sequence System:

“A significantly unique method of developing the strength of a nation through its population ignited the era of potent physical education program in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Victories were a reflection on the country, not on the individual. However, the demise of the Union in 1991 foreshadowed the end of the reign of athleticism.

Prior to this, their hold on athletic supremacy was undeniable and can be best explained by the following comparison. At the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, in which the USSR and its Eastern Bloc allies boycotted, the American athletes captured 174 total medals. A few weeks later, the boycotting countries staged the 1984 Friendship Games in Moscow and the following results were humiliatingly noteworthy. In track and field, of the forty-one gold medals in Los Angeles, twenty-eight of those final results were surpassed at the Friendship Games. In addition, in the swimming competition, five world records and a total of forty swimmers exceeded the time of their American competitors (74). The difference was a superior methodology of training. Known as the Conjugate Sequence System, the Soviets were able to develop it so thoroughly that results as above were commonplace.”²

Same Theory, Different Scale

In comprehending the effectiveness of this theory as demonstrated by the Soviets on a national scale, we, as strength practitioners, must ask ourselves: Can this theory be scaled down and executed with the individuals we work with? As of course, the individual level is a different scale than the national level.

The answer is yes. The triangle theory is scalable to the individual athlete level. Given the evidence of the Soviets' success on the global stage, we should execute this theory at the individual level.

Successful Implementation of the Triangle Theory at the Individual Level

The base of the triangle is the four fundamental capacities of Point B, which are: Joint Function, Absolute Strength, Reactive Strength, and Speed Strength.

From our perspective, the successful implementation of this theory lies in executing the Absolute Conjugate System.