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Hey CT,
In the squat article you mentioned that taller guys might want to substitute the squat with a trap bar deadlift. I was thinking of doing this for a few weeks. Only question is, would you reset every rep like a regular deadlift or stop just short of the floor and switch from eccentric to concentric (perfect rep)?
[quote]Lunarisx718 wrote:
Hey CT,
In the squat article you mentioned that taller guys might want to substitute the squat with a trap bar deadlift. I was thinking of doing this for a few weeks. Only question is, would you reset every rep like a regular deadlift or stop just short of the floor and switch from eccentric to concentric (perfect rep)?[/quote]
Both can be done, actually. We could make a case for both. But since you are using it as a squat replacement, I would do a quick turnaround.
[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
2[/quote]
Damn,… looks like that ball didn’t stand a chance -lol.
S
[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
CPerfringens wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
- Long drive champ Jason Zuback trains a lot like an olympic lifter. He train on the power clean, power snatch, squat, deadlift, etc. He has squatted 715lbs, deadlifted 680lbs, bench pressed 405 and cleaned 375lbs.
Squatted 715lbs, raw?!
Might have been a half squat. But with a 680lbs deadlift, a 715 squat is quite possible. The guy is built like a lean powerlifter. Former middle linebacker, 235-240 lean on 5’10’'.[/quote]
WTF this is one monstrous golfer!!!
Do you really need all that strength in golfing though ? I thought it was all about technique.
[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
tyler15625 wrote:
Hello CT,
I’m not sure if you still golf but I know you were pretty accomplished earlier in life. Knowing what you know now, are there any training insights you can offer?
Best exercises?
Strength focused program?
Best muscles to increase flexibility in?
Things of that nature would be a big help. I appreciate anything you can offer.
tyler
I played a lot from 11 years of age up to 20. I still play a bit, but my schedule is pretty hectic and can’t manage more than a few games a year.
Anyway, some stuff that I noticed.
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I played my best golf and had the best distance improvements when I started training for olympic lifting. I basically played two seasons while still golfing and noticed an improvement in driving distance and ‘ease of swinging’. The olympic lifts really improved my CNS’ efficacy as well as my shoulders, torso and hips mobility.
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I played my worse when I switched to bodybuilding and tried to start playing golf again. I felt cumbersome and my switch wasn’t as long or smooth. Could be because I basically spent 4 years without playing much, or because I lost mobility while adding upper body mass at the same time.
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Long drive champ Jason Zuback trains a lot like an olympic lifter. He train on the power clean, power snatch, squat, deadlift, etc. He has squatted 715lbs, deadlifted 680lbs, bench pressed 405 and cleaned 375lbs.
I’m not necessarily saying that you need to pick up the olympic lifts. In fact, without proper coaching, they can be dangerous lifts (properly taught they are fine). But to train for strength on all the basic movements pattern. Also work on overall explosiveness to develop neural drive and make sure that your shoulder and hips mobility is optimal.
[/quote]
Thanks CT, this information is very helpful. I’ve been taught the olympic lifts and I use them, specifically the power clean, in most of my program designs. I know you’ve said many times in the past that any non-idiotic split will work so forgive this follow-up question because I’ve never trained specifically for strength or set up a program incorporating olympic lifts…how would you structure the work each week to protect the CNS? I’m guessing high frequency and low reps, ramping each lift at least twice each week, but the best way to structure the program evades me.
Thanks again, this has already been a big help and with any luck a training edge will get my handicap down to scratch.
tyler
hey CT,
in the new squatting article you mentioned that short leg long torso people are better off squatting; where as long leg short torso people may want to avoid squatting… i have longer legs compared to my torso and i was wondering if you think that front squats would be more beneficial to me than back squats? Or if its really the same basic movement. thanks.
-nick
[quote]Thy. wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
CPerfringens wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
- Long drive champ Jason Zuback trains a lot like an olympic lifter. He train on the power clean, power snatch, squat, deadlift, etc. He has squatted 715lbs, deadlifted 680lbs, bench pressed 405 and cleaned 375lbs.
Squatted 715lbs, raw?!
Might have been a half squat. But with a 680lbs deadlift, a 715 squat is quite possible. The guy is built like a lean powerlifter. Former middle linebacker, 235-240 lean on 5’10’'.
WTF this is one monstrous golfer!!!
Do you really need all that strength in golfing though ? I thought it was all about technique.[/quote]
He’s not a golfer… he’s a long drive contestant.
[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
Thy. wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
CPerfringens wrote:
Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
- Long drive champ Jason Zuback trains a lot like an olympic lifter. He train on the power clean, power snatch, squat, deadlift, etc. He has squatted 715lbs, deadlifted 680lbs, bench pressed 405 and cleaned 375lbs.
One of the muscle rags had an article on jason some time ago and had his training listed. He trained three times per day starting with enrgy system training, then somewhat of an olympic type program and then finishing the day with a bodybuilding type program. it was an interesting article.
Squatted 715lbs, raw?!
Might have been a half squat. But with a 680lbs deadlift, a 715 squat is quite possible. The guy is built like a lean powerlifter. Former middle linebacker, 235-240 lean on 5’10’'.
WTF this is one monstrous golfer!!!
Do you really need all that strength in golfing though ? I thought it was all about technique.
He’s not a golfer… he’s a long drive contestant.[/quote]
CT,
The new squat article is much needed. I have always had problems squatting but I can’t diagnose my problem. I tried your wall test to check my limb/torso ratio and failed, but I am only 5’11" and am skeptical that my flexibility issues could also be to blame. My strength is much higher on leg press and deadlift and I have been able to improve both of them drastically with your techniques!, and my quads have always been relatively large, but I just can’t get the squat. I have read the articles on tmuscle about proper technique and I am doing it accordingly. Any other methods to further diagnose my problems?
Thibs,
I apologize for asking this non training related question, but I was wondering if you have experimented with adaptogens such hops, passionflower, or ashwagandha.
Do you by any chance offer internships? I’m very interested in this field.
[quote]Mondy wrote:
Thibs,
I apologize for asking this non training related question, but I was wondering if you have experimented with adaptogens such hops, passionflower, or ashwagandha.
Do you by any chance offer internships? I’m very interested in this field.[/quote]
I have used them. Ashwagandha works well, but only for 7-10 days. So it has to be used in rotation with other products such as tribulus and Maca.
I used to offer interships, but it’s not practical for me right now.
[quote]theSapling wrote:
CT,
The new squat article is much needed. I have always had problems squatting but I can’t diagnose my problem. I tried your wall test to check my limb/torso ratio and failed, but I am only 5’11" and am skeptical that my flexibility issues could also be to blame. My strength is much higher on leg press and deadlift and I have been able to improve both of them drastically with your techniques!, and my quads have always been relatively large, but I just can’t get the squat. I have read the articles on tmuscle about proper technique and I am doing it accordingly. Any other methods to further diagnose my problems?[/quote]
Without me being able to see you, it’s kinda hard for me to do. You failed the wall test. How?
Was is your head or knees that touched the wall?
Please, measure your shin length, whole leg length and total height (minus the head) and report them here so that I can try to find what the problem is.
[quote]Guyah413 wrote:
hey CT,
in the new squatting article you mentioned that short leg long torso people are better off squatting; where as long leg short torso people may want to avoid squatting… i have longer legs compared to my torso and i was wondering if you think that front squats would be more beneficial to me than back squats? Or if its really the same basic movement. thanks.
-nick[/quote]
The front squat will force you to stay upright, which is harder to do when you have the leverages that you do. If you lack hip mobility, it will be hard to do a proper front squat. But if you can manage to stay perfectly upright during the front squat, it will be a better choice of exercise.
coach what do you think about these two exercice to change from the squat:
zercher squats and overhead squats(its a bitch!!)
thanks
[quote]Charles3264 wrote:
coach what do you think about these two exercice to change from the squat:
zercher squats and overhead squats(its a bitch!!)
thanks[/quote]
Listen, I trained and competed as an olympic lifter for years, so I have nothing against the overhead squat since I trained on it a lot in the past. But honestly, I never saw it as a good leg builder. A good assistance exercise to improve the snatch? Yes, but not a good exercise to build lower body size or strength (at least not compared to other variations).
Thanks!!..( the snatch i hard indeed…but i m getting better doing them…its gonna come…)
what do you think about this combo as a rep…drop squat- overhead squat - squat 3 times for 4 sets…
i think the drop squat is hard on the knees so i dont put to heavy…
Dear Mr. Thibaudeau,
I apologize if this is something you have addressed in past posts / articles but I was unable to locate anything from you with a search. I am an avid reader of the “Over 35” and as I round the bend to 50 this year I am thinking about how to maintain some longevity in the iron game. Some of the things I have incorporated over the past few years are as follows:
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I start every workout with at least 20 mins. of cardio. I start the clock for the 20 mins. once I reach about 70-80% of MHR. I always used to do this after my strength training but I too often found myself skipping this. I alternate cardio choices and have included swimming this year to try to eliminate some of the joint pain I am starting to experience.
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I have been a full body workout guy for years but just switched to a split. I was finding I couldn’t get through the FB training with anything left in the tank for the last 1/3 of the workout. I’m trying an upper/lower split to start. I know you consider the split to be the least important variable in a workout but it seems as I get older this may play a more important role than it has in the past.
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Multiple work sets for a single exercise seem to be harder to complete. I very rarely take them to failure any more and I am very interested to see what you have to say about the relationship of volume and age (chronological not training). I know loss of lean body mass becomes an issue as we age so I am spending more time in the 8-12 rep range trying to hang onto what muscle I have.
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In order to relief some of the joint stress I have extended the negative portion of each rep and decreased the weight some what.
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Have a good holiday.
Thib, I can pass the wall squat test even with standing very close to the wall (toes just a few cm’s back). Is this good for squatting ?
As a side question - what is a good ROM and technique in leg presses to target the quads specifically ? No matter what I do I seem to get mostly hams and glutes stimulation with full ROM.
[quote]Thy. wrote:
Thib, I can pass the wall squat test even with standing very close to the wall (toes just a few cm’s back). Is this good for squatting ?
As a side question - what is a good ROM and technique in leg presses to target the quads specifically ? No matter what I do I seem to get mostly hams and glutes stimulation with full ROM.[/quote]
Yes it is good for squatting. But your scoliosis would bother me a bit. Since I can’t see you, it is hard for me to make a recommendation.
For the leg press try to keep your feet close and lower on the board.