The true meaning of power is the ability to generate as much force as fast as possible. A golf tee-off, a vertical jump, an Olympic clean and jerk, or swinging a softball bat are all examples of power. Basically, if you do these things slowly, they just won’t work very well.
Strength, on the other hand, is the ability to generate as much force as possible with no concern for the factor of time. A 1RM bench press or a 1RM deadlift are examples of pure strength movements. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to complete these tasks. All that matters is that it gets completed–doing it slowly doesn’t take away from the success of the exercise.
Power, which is often referred to as speed-strength, is an important factor in sporting activities, but it is also used in everyday activities such as moving fast, running up a flight of stairs, or just keeping up with your kids. This book will incorporate power exercises into its program not only for these reasons, but also for the added benefits of these exercises such as increased caloric expenditure, increased work capacity, and increased overall body strength.