The whole gear thing for me is sort of a fuzzy line that transitions from protective gear to lift assistance.
I mean you could play full force tackle football without protective gear but you’d be a real moron. So if sleeves and a belt help you not to get injured and don’t add to your lift numbers then I’m not sure what there is to object to. Of course if your stuff gives you an extra 100lbs on squat then I see what you’re saying.
Don’t really want another gear v raw debate because I think they end up being devisive. Lets all just agree to be friends who have trying to lift heavy things in common.
Right I’m off, it’s dark enough to do my hill sprints now. I have to do them under cover of darkness so my neighbours don’t think I’m insane.
I don’t have a dog in this fight, as I am a raw lifter (I do use a belt), but if you check out Pete’s log, he rolls right past my max lifts raw as his warm ups for reps before he throws on the gear. Shit, he’s pulling around 700 lbs. raw right now. I am sure he’s getting a lot of pop out of the gear, but its not like he’s suddenly weak when he takes it off. I’d sure like to see what I could get out of a squat suit sometime in the future, the only thing stopping me right now is the lack of training partners. Each to his own I guess.
I’m not objecting to belt and knee sleeves. I would in fact use them if they helped. At a full squat, knees sleeves make my knees feel strange, and a belt limits my back mobility too much, so I don’t use either. I imagine many o-lifters find the same. Maybe we are just being elitist and making a virtue out of personal preferences.
On the full force tackle football without pads, back in college a bunch of real morons got together every weekend to do exactly this. I had to quit after a couple months because it took too long to recover.
30/11/2010
Hill Sprints 35yds x 10*
[quote]Carl Darby wrote:
At a full squat, a belt limits my back mobility too much.[/quote]
Well, now. It’s interesting you say this. I’ve never squatted in a belt 'cause I feel it hampers. Thought it was just a matter of getting used to it, but maybe it’s because I’m a naturally deep squatter.
[quote]kpsnap wrote:
[quote]Carl Darby wrote:
At a full squat, a belt limits my back mobility too much.[/quote]
Well, now. It’s interesting you say this. I’ve never squatted in a belt 'cause I feel it hampers. Thought it was just a matter of getting used to it, but maybe it’s because I’m a naturally deep squatter.[/quote]
A tight belt is a good way to get the feel for parallel and not rock bottom–it does create tension and make it harder to hit deeper if you get past parralel, IMHO. I think that’s also why I don’t like a tight belt for deadlifting, its harder for me to get into proper position.
1/12/2010
Back Squat w/u to a daily max
220 lbs x 3
286 lbs x 2
330 lbs x 1
363 lbs x 1
385 lbs x 1
401 lbs x 1 then 90% of max
363 lbs x 1* - 2 - 2 - 2
Push Press w/u to daily max
132 lbs x 3
154 lbs x 2
176 lbs x 1
198 lbs x 1
209 lbs x 1
220 lbs x FAIL then 90% of max
187 lbs x 3 - 3 - 3
Facts that I have learned today with a calf pull : Every exercise involves calves!
Vid of fail at 220lbs. I actually could have got this by locking out my right arm and then forcing out the left, but luckily I remembered I had no collars on, so changed my mind.
Strong work in here Brett, that Press was oh so close.
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
1/12/2010
Back Squat w/u to a daily max
220 lbs x 3
286 lbs x 2
330 lbs x 1
363 lbs x 1
385 lbs x 1
401 lbs x 1 then 90% of max
363 lbs x 1* - 2 - 2 - 2
Push Press w/u to daily max
132 lbs x 3
154 lbs x 2
176 lbs x 1
198 lbs x 1
209 lbs x 1
220 lbs x FAIL then 90% of max
187 lbs x 3 - 3 - 3
Facts that I have learned today with a calf pull : Every exercise involves calves![/quote]
Great, great squats! Fine presses as well.
Yes…everything involves calves…and forearms and elbows.
2/12/2010
30 minutes Snatch practice
Front Squat w/u to daily max
132 lbs x 2
220 lbs x 1
264 lbs x 1
308 lbs x FAIL (too optimistic)
286 lbs x 1 then 90% of max
258 lbs x 2 - 2 - 2
Romanian Deadlift w/u to daily max
132 lbs x 3
220 lbs x 3
286 lbs x 3
330 lbs x 2
352 lbs x FAIL then 90% of max
297 lbs x 2 - 2 - 2
Some snatch attempts, unfortunately these were some of my better ones. Freezing cold again, but after 10 minutes of snatching I was boiling, the hat even came off! 30 minutes of snatching is tougher than a conditioning workout.
Please critique Carl if you would. Let me have both barrels.
Are you switching from 5x5 to daily 1rm, or just cycling through a heavy week/finding out where you are at? I’m just curious.
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
Are you switching from 5x5 to daily 1rm, or just cycling through a heavy week/finding out where you are at? I’m just curious. [/quote]
The 5x5 was always going to be just up until Christmas (reached my goals a bit early). New routine is basically, snatch warm up to a few max attempts, then warm up to daily max in back or front squat then 90% of it for a few doubles, then RDLs or push press. Aiming to work out daily and just insert rest days as needed. Loosely based on John Broz philosophy.
Gonna try it til the new year and see how it goes.
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
Are you switching from 5x5 to daily 1rm, or just cycling through a heavy week/finding out where you are at? I’m just curious. [/quote]
The 5x5 was always going to be just up until Christmas (reached my goals a bit early). New routine is basically, snatch warm up to a few max attempts, then warm up to daily max in back or front squat then 90% of it for a few doubles, then RDLs or push press. Aiming to work out daily and just insert rest days as needed. Loosely based on John Broz philosophy.
Gonna try it til the new year and see how it goes. [/quote]
I am going to keep a close eye on your log and see how this works for you. Any other pushing or pulling, like bench or rows? Or other asst. work?
I’m going to try and stick as close as I can to just snatches, back squats, front squats, RDLs and push presses.
I’ve always found in the past the more often I squat the better my squat gets and that if you do something everyday (eg handle max weights) the better you get at it, so it will be interesting.
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
I’m going to try and stick as close as I can to just snatches, back squats, front squats, RDLs and push presses.
I’ve always found in the past the more often I squat the better my squat gets and that if you do something everyday (eg handle max weights) the better you get at it, so it will be interesting.
[/quote]
I bet your squat takes off as you consolidate the gains you made from 5X5 into 1RM strength.
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
I’m going to try and stick as close as I can to just snatches, back squats, front squats, RDLs and push presses.
I’ve always found in the past the more often I squat the better my squat gets and that if you do something everyday (eg handle max weights) the better you get at it, so it will be interesting.
[/quote]
I bet your squat takes off as you consolidate the gains you made from 5X5 into 1RM strength. [/quote]
I hope so. On my 400 the other day I definitely felt I had the leg strength, but it was the balance and core stability I was lacking. This should come from regularly handling the heavier weights. Doing max singles is a totally different ball game to 5 rep sets.
On the snatches:
The Good:
Back position throughout the lift is good.
Good pop in your second pull.
Weight held well back over your head at the catch.
To be fixed: Elbows at end of first pull are bent. Keep them straight until the end of the second pull. Bend them only to pull yourself under the bar. If just being aware and thinking about it doesn’t get them straight, try slowing the first pull down enough so that you can keep them straight. Once elbows are not a problem, speed things up again. When you lower the weight, you pause for a bit with the weight at your hips and your arms straight. That’s a position you should be passing through on your way up.
I’ll stop there to leave a hopefully clear direction.