[quote]Modi wrote:
Sentoguy wrote:
Hi Go Heavy,
I really don’t understand the recent increase in heated debates over this subject. I realize that some people prefer total body, while others prefer splits. I also realize that many people will passionately defend their choice of workout paradigm and ridicule the other paradigm.
However, I don’t agree with ridiculing CW , or CT for that matter, for saying that one is “always” better than the other. If you really take the time to read through what they say, and take into account the context in which they are saying these things, you’ll realize that both coaches actually agree with each other.
Waterbury’s articles are about how to build the maximal overall muscle mass in the quickest most efficient way possible. They also tend to be directed towards beginners (not that more advanced trainees can’t also see results from them). Therefore he recommonds using total body workouts, high frequency, and diverse exercise selections/set-rep schemes.
CT’s latest article was purely about building an asethetically pleasing phsyique. And from what I gathered from it was geared more towards experienced lifters who had already built up a good base of strength/muscle.
In the article CT wrote:
“I want to make it clear that the big, basic, compound free-weight movements performed with heavy weights will always be the best overall mass-builders.”
You see, so CT is actually agreeing with Waterbury. He is simply trying to say that at some point in one’s training, if they want to build an aesthetic looking body, or be a bodybuilder, one will need to switch to bodypart splits (unless they are lucky enough to be someone with perfect genetics/structure as CT said). He also cites the excessive volume needed for optimal balance and development of naturally weaker body parts for a reason to switch to body part splits.
But, hey that’s just my observations on the subject.
Good training,
Sentoguy
Sento,
I’m not sure if I agree with what you think CT is saying. Forgive me if I misunderstand your point, but it seems to me that you are implying that FBT uses only compound movements and that splits involve only isolation movements.
I think CT is saying that compound movements are the big mass builders but at some point BB’ers will need to fine tune their bodies by concentrating on specific parts of a muscle to attain a symmetrical body.
I think most if not all of CT’s recent programs begin with compound movements which are then complimented with isolation movements. This may not have been the case when he was focused on olympic/PLing, but now that he concentrates on BBing I think it is.
If I’m way off base from what you were saying, my apologies.
[/quote]
Hi Modi,
Sorry, to be unclear.
No, I was not trying to imply that TBT involves only compounds (although sometimes it does), and that Splits involve only isolations. And yes, many people who do splits do begin their workouts with heavy compound movements.
What I was trying to get at is this; If your goal were to gain the most overall mass possible in the least amount of time, then what would be the point of wasting your energy on isolation movements? Would it make sense to devote all of your energy to the exercises that would give you the best improvements? Or, do you think it would make more sense to devote some of your energy to those exercises and some to exercises that weren’t really going to do much for you at this point?
Now, hey, everyone is entitled to their own choices, but I for one would do the former.
I also completely agree with you about what CT is saying regarding the need to switch to splits for BB’ing purposes, and actually I did say that in my original post. But, you bring up an interesting point. CT started out as a powerlifter. So, I think it’s safe to assume that he didn’t do all that much (in relation) isolation work coming up. He instead built the majority of his mass using heavy compound exercises (which are the staples of any good program be it TBT or Splits).
Of course, now that he is more concerned with how his body looks, rather than how it functions, he has realized the need to utilize more isolation work to bring up lagging body parts. And this is really what I think the point of his article was. It was not to challenge those who suggest that doing TBT, or other programs based almost entirely around heavy compound lifts are the best overall mass builders. It was to make a distinction that if one’s goal is bodybuilding, then they will most likely need to switch to a split routine at some point down the road.
Good training,
Sentoguy
