As you age, you lose fast-twitch muscle fibers and elastic energy in your tendons, which kills first-step speed. Slow, steady lifting makes it worse. Contrast training—pairing heavy lifts with explosive movements—keeps you strong and explosive.
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Here's the real reason why you've lost that first step speed. If you were used to being quick but now you feel sluggish, here's what's actually going on. Explosiveness comes from fast-twitch muscle fibers that are stored elastic energy in your tendons. For real. As we age, we lose both unless we train specifically for it. That is why lifting slow and steady will eventually kill your bounce. Of course, there are ways to mitigate and avoid this. When you lift heavy, make sure to pair it with an explosive movement or activity, aka contrast training. By you pairing this training regimen together, you're able get stronger without getting stiffer and still being very explosive. Trust me on these, gentlemen. Take my word and stay disciplined.