I really want to become a strength coach for atheltes of all sorts. What would you recommend? (degrees, connections, where to start, etc.)
Since I’m not yet in University (doing Health Sciences in CEGEP, or a quebec-version of pre-U), I’m still debating on many choices of programs. Either Kinesiology, Physiology or Exercise Science. What do you think?
chad,
why does the flexibility of the hip flexors affect squat technique? im under the assumption that the deeper into a squat the shorter the hip flexors become, yet it’s said that tight hip flexors will affect how deep one can get. it seems paradoxical to me that a tight muscle causes problems for the antagonists when it attempts to shorten.
in your opinion, is it possible to not do hamstring specific exercises (romanian deadlifts, glute-ham raises) and still achieve complete hamstring developement via various full deadlifts and full squats?
chad,
ive often read you hammer away the negatives of going to failure, and i believe that. but recently i came across some information that many sprinters use pushups to failure. not only do they do them to failure but they do them on their low intensity days and sometimes they do them often.
if this is true, i wonder if higher reps are different when it comes to failure training than lower reps. in your opinion, would going to failure on a 50 rep set be the same, worse, or better than going to failure on a 5 rep set?
In the cool tips section you said that an heavy/low rep oblique specialization program would eventually increase your squat by 10%. What type of sets and reps would you use and what type of frequency would be ideal? I also the response you gave to the guy about soccer and the top 5 exercises for carryover to the sport. What would be the top 5 carryover exercises for a football player?
Chad,
I love to follow your programs and was wondering why I never see exercises like power cleans or snatches in most of your programs. Is there a place for these exercises. The old school stuff like cleans, snatches, windmill, bent press, iron cross, etc. I would like to see you implement these exercises into a program with your methods sometime in the future. But I’ll gladly take any advice you could give on the subject.
Thanks
Jeff
I wanted to know what your thoughts for on training age and how it relates to optimial rep ranges. Some would say that begineers would develop strength better using 6 reps where as when a trainee progresses he or she would need to use lower reps in order to increase strength
Could this be because the nervous system is not able to handle and recover from such loads or do you feel that training age is basically bunk
Also I feel that sometimes your volume parameters are a little high. In one post your recommened TTT as an effective weight loss routine because it was low in volume. I gave it a whirl but the maximal strength day was just to much. I dont know if I was flirting to close to failure or if the 36 total sets where just to much for my recovery ability
What would be more ideal, assuming I am not flirting to close to failure, in terms of totals volume per session. Also would it be wiser to start with an upper lower body routine before undertaking a three days a week total body routine or would some other variation be better
Hey Chad, have you heard of the “Greasing the Groove” Method.
If so, what do you think about it?
[quote]boonville410 wrote:
I’m doing Big Boy Basics and my main goal is fat loss; however, the 8 x 3 days are killer - they exarcerbate my allergies and occasionally give me flu-like symptoms. Thus, I’m tentative to increase the volume or density of 8 x 3 days (to increase fat loss). 3 x 8 days, on the other hand, are more like recovery days - I leave the gym not only refreshed but rejuvenated.
Any suggestions?[/quote]
Reduce the 8x3 volume to 6x3. That should take care of your issues, hopefully.
[quote]JamminJS wrote:
This probably depends on the individual; but what would be the minimum amount of aerobics you’d prescribe for a client who’s not playing a sport? My primary focus is lean mass gain at the moment.
[/quote]
Minimum prescription? That would be zero aerobics. Those who seek to gain the greatest levels of hypertrophy would do well to avoid aerobics. But, in order to stay lean, you must follow an adequate nutritional plan.
[quote]poper wrote:
Chad, I definitely want to work with athletes. I do track and field at my university (polevaulter) and would love the chance to work with similar athletes on many levels.
-poper[/quote]
I’d recommend that you get a NSCA CSCS certification since it’s geared towards athletes. I don’t put much emphasis on any certification program, but for those who have no training experience, it helps. Once you get it, volunteer your services to any high school or collegiate team to get some experience. If you’re good, you’ll get noticed.
[quote]fitfreak wrote:
Hey CW:
Love your articles and training programs!!
I’m trying to figure out what might be the best thing for me. I know it’s a tough question but any insight would be helpful.
Try not to laugh(I mean that). I am 5’5" and 140lbs with a small and lean type of frame. Most everyone here would be saying I need to put weight on and bulk up. My problem is I’m 5’5". I don’t want to look like a fire hydrant. My brother is similar and he weighs 170lbs of muscle but looks like a bowling ball because he is short.
I want to be extremely fit and cut and not worry too much about being huge. Think Bruce Lee type of body except I have a big chest and thicker arms than him. Problem is I don’t have the cut aspect. Not to the degree I want to have.
I am 38 yrs old and the ab layer comes on at the site of food and the cut look disappears if I smell food.
I love your GPP workout, but it kicks my ass if I’m doing legs on the other days with weights. I train a soft style martial art everyday. It doesn’t kill the legs but it is more work.
So, how do I stay muscular and cut looking without getting too big and be able to be in great shape to do GPP type stuff and kick ass.
The nutrition stuff I understand will be a huge factor in looking cut. But what type of workout can I do to help promote that cut, hard, strong look, while still being in super shape and not overtraining?
P.S. Now that I reread my post I realize I’m asking for the world but hey why can’t I have it? Thanks for any help you can give.[/quote]
Follow the T-Dawg 2.0 or Velocity Diet in order to get as ripped as humanly possible. Once that’s finished, start with my ABBH program to put on mass. Follow the T-Dawg 2.0 diet during the ABBH. Other good program choices are TTT and NB3. Decide which program best suits your schedule.
[quote]scrooge wrote:
Hey Chad,
I can train with weights 2-3 times per week, with 2 nights a week of martial arts training. I have only just added the MA training back in this year. Last year, due to family and work constaints, I tried your ABBH with success, but used a 3/week variation, I basically cycled my way through the workouts in order, but only did 3 (sometimes 2) each week.
What would you recommend for a martial artist. I am on the light/scrawny side (175lb at 6’, up from 160lb at the middle of last year thanks mostly due to the abovementioned ABBH) and my lack of striking speed is concerning me. I will be looking to add much more mass later in the year, but I would like to work solely on maximal strength and speed at the moment.
thanks[/quote]
Follow my Triple Total Training program.
[quote]olfitsrule wrote:
I really want to become a strength coach for atheltes of all sorts. What would you recommend? (degrees, connections, where to start, etc.)
Since I’m not yet in University (doing Health Sciences in CEGEP, or a quebec-version of pre-U), I’m still debating on many choices of programs. Either Kinesiology, Physiology or Exercise Science. What do you think?[/quote]
You must take the time and initiative to determine what each program entails. This is very important. Once you find which program best suits your desire, go for it. Initially, a NSCA CSCS certification wouldn’t hurt.
[quote]wufwugy wrote:
in your opinion, is it possible to not do hamstring specific exercises (romanian deadlifts, glute-ham raises) and still achieve complete hamstring developement via various full deadlifts and full squats?[/quote]
Why avoid hamstring dominant exercises? The hamstrings are probably one of the most underdeveloped, and subsequently important, muscle groups in athletes. Train them hard and heavy. Deadlifts and squats alone are insufficient for most power athletes who seek optimal performance.
[quote]wufwugy wrote:
chad,
ive often read you hammer away the negatives of going to failure, and i believe that. but recently i came across some information that many sprinters use pushups to failure. not only do they do them to failure but they do them on their low intensity days and sometimes they do them often.
if this is true, i wonder if higher reps are different when it comes to failure training than lower reps. in your opinion, would going to failure on a 50 rep set be the same, worse, or better than going to failure on a 5 rep set?[/quote]
I don’t see the correlation between sprinting and high-rep push-ups. Anyway, failure training is much more effective, and less detrimental, when the load is low. Therefore, I think failure training with low loading protocols can be a good idea. Failure training with large loads, on the other hand, should be avioded for the majority of your microcycle. It’s very demanding and draining.
Hi Chad,
I am doing your TBT workout three days a week (great program). On the off days, I fence, which is aerobically pretty demanding. Your program calls for GPP on the off-days but since I’m training the three off days anyway, I figured it wasn’t necessary. However, my GPP level is low. I work out in the evenings only, except for Saturdays.
My question is: how would you fit in more GPP? Or more accurately, how can I tell when I’m doing too much?
Hi Chad,
I emailed you a few weeks ago explaining that I had a Fractured Scaphoid and am unable to do much for upper body. You suggested a modified QD program and this has been working great (I’ve been doing legs as per the original - except lunges and one-arm lifts on Strength day and pec-dec/side lateral/rear delt machines on Hypertrophy day).
I saw my consultant last week and he believes it will be at least another 6 weeks until healed and then still more time until I can resume heavy training. I plan to continue with ‘QD’ for a few more weeks. Can you suggest a routine I could try after please- maybe a leg specialisation program?
Thanks
Dan
Chad.
i am in the UK, and with respect to sports science and application, we lag so far behind the US, The collegiate method of supplyinfg athletes of all sorts is excellent. i guess this makes access to practicing new ideas so much more available.
What i want to know to pass onto some of my backward bretheren, is the developments from traditional supercompensation theory, periodisation and a few other key tennents. if it is titles to look up, that is ok, but some detail would be great, such as where and why the newer concepts came into being.