As you can see, using general exercises to get bigger and stronger does help you improve your overall athletic ability and functional capacity. But this approach has its limitations, which is why the functional-spectrum training system also incorporates specific exercises—to produce benefits in the areas where the general exercises fall short.

Compound exercises can be classified as general exercises because they don't necessarily reflect any specific force-generation patterns.

because these exercises do not necessarily reflect the specific force-generation and neuromuscular coordination patterns of many common move-ments in athletics, their positive transfer into improved performance potential is less obvious.

General exercises are essentially conventional strength-training exercises and may consist of either compound or isolation movements using free weights, cables,