Buying An All In One System
Public Service Announcement.
Be warned, your health will be devastated in the event that you purchase a misbranded and useless all-in-one training system. Such systems seem to be on the rise and offer nothing but false promises to their eager customers. You'll end up spending more money and wasting time for little or no results.
The typical all-in-one system is like a forklift truck. The all-in-one has no legs that allow it to stay on the ground. It is totally reliant on you. In order to lift anything, you have to pick it up off the ground, move it across the floor and drag it wherever you want to take it. On top of this, the all-in-one offers no assistance in lifting once you've gotten a product into place.
"You do everything yourself."
You will be forced to carry loads that should be carried by trained and experienced professionals. They should be the ones that handle your loads, not you.
If you would like to see a real example of what happens when you try to use your all-in-one system check out this video:
All in one systems are the equivalent of a pickup truck with no bed. You're forced to move whatever it is you're trying to move on your own without any assistance from the vehicle itself. A true loader is going to tell you that the bed doesn't make the truck, but a bad operator can make off with your goods and leave you with an empty truck and some serious damages.
It takes a lot more effort and skill than most people realize to drive these types of vehicles correctly. If you don't learn how to drive a truck, chances are pretty good that you'll never be able to drive one if you ever purchase one.
I've spent almost three years in the back of a semi-truck. I know this isn't 'manly' or 'realry manly'. But after all, I'm an engineer and a geek...not some macho jackass who can lift heavy stuff and make dumb decisions without thinking about the consequences. We both know that lifting heavy shit is what engineers do for a living.
You might still believe that all-in-one systems are necessary in today's world because they're cheaper than others. You might think that you don't have to pay a trainer to train you. Or that it's easier to work out of a facility. Or just that they're so much easier than having someone else do the lifting for you.
Wrong! If you would like to see how there is no savings in training and facilities when using all-in-one systems check out this video: [ARTICLE ENDS]
BUYING AN ALL IN ONE SYSTEM [ARTICLE BEGINS]
The many uses of an all in one system make it a valuable piece of equipment for any gym or commercial gym owner, but they also pose a risk if not used correctly, leading one to believe there is no risk at all. Your customers will think that since it is an all in one system the weight load they are lifting is light and they require no assistance from their trainer. This can be very dangerous and should never be the case.
If you would like to see an example of how a misused all in one system can lead to serious injury or death check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyQl5vmrXkU
The biggest problem I see with these types of systems is the way people use them, combined with a lack of supervision by their trainers and owners, which leads to injury. The urge to 'try it out' is too powerful and people do things to the equipment that they wouldn't do in real life.
An all in one system has no support underneath it, so you are more likely to end up on your back than standing or sitting where you should be. For example, if a customer puts a weight bar on top of a bench press and slides feet first down the bar with no assistance from the gym owner or trainer, that is improper use. Many customers perform squats by hoisting themselves up using only their lower-body musculature - not their upper bodies like they would in real life.
If you would like to see these types of accidents then check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erYcsoTs5Oo
When you see customers doing these kinds of things at your gym, approach them and make sure they are using their equipment in the correct way. Segregate important or expensive equipment from the less important stuff. Label each piece of equipment so that people will know what is allowed on what piece. For example, you may have a bench that is for bench presses only and not for sit-ups.
No matter how much time you spend explaining to people how to use your gym, some customers will still insist on breaking your rules and using your expensive equipment incorrectly.
If you would like to see a demonstration on what happens when equipment is used incorrectly check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbzSkSOylgw
All in one systems are just that: systems. They work great for certain types of equipment but they can't perform the tasks made possible by separate pieces of equipment. For example, if you don't have weight lifting machines, like Smith machines or squat racks, you won't be able to lift near as much weight as someone who does have those pieces of equipment. Think about how little weight people are able to lift in prison compared to what they could lift on their own in the real world.
You are not going to have any assistants in your gym, but you will still need to pick things up and move them. For example, if you have a power rack on a 'Smith Machine' type of machine and you want to move it from where it is now to somewhere else in the gym that has room for it, they can't be used together.
If you would like to see a demonstration of this type of issue check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cljMVBGF03c
A few years ago I worked in a commercial gym that had both dumbbells and barbells.
Conclusion:
All in one systems are not necessarily bad, but they should never be relied on. They are an accessory to your gym and are only as good as the people using them. People may lack certain pieces of equipment that they need for certain exercises but with a little creativity and some help from you, they should be able to make them work.
The most important thing is just having the right attitude and making sure that everyone else in your gym has the right attitude too. Your customers will not expect you to stand over them every time they lift a weight, so do not feel that you have to do it either.