Just a quick question… You note how your work capacity has improved considerably. Do you think that your focus on giant sets and less rest periods is taking away from building your strength? Or is work capacity with decent strength more important to you?
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Hey man, no problem with the question.
I don’t feel that the way I train takes away from building my strength. I don’t believe lifting the absolute most maximal poundages you can possibly lift is as essential to developing strength as others feel. I believe that is necessary when it comes to DISPLAYING strength, because handling heavier loads is a skill, but in terms of the actual building of strength, I find much of that can be accomplished while under fatigue.
The example I like to give is this; say you regularly sprint 400m before trying to pull a 1rm deadlift, with zero rest in between. You might be a 600lb deadlifter, but with this approach you can only manage 400lbs. Now, let’s say you keep this up, and one day you can deadlift 500lbs after a 400m sprint. You most certainly got stronger during that time frame, even though you’re lifting less weight than you can at your freshest and, in my experience, when you perform NOT under fatigue, you’ll find your non-fatigued strength has grown much like your under fatigued strength.
I also find conditioning pretty essential to improving strength, as even if the actual act of conditioning doesn’t directly improve strength, it allows for greater strength adaptations to occur. If you’re restricted on time, having better conditioning means being able to get in more volume due to shorter rest periods, which aids a lot in the development of strength.
My thoughts on the matter at least.
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AM WORKOUT
GIANT SETS
Log viper and press each rep 135lbs
9x5
Viking squat 185/SSB Squat 265 (alternate each round)
5x5
4x5
Axle rows 193
9x5
Notes: Goal was 10 rounds, but I ran out of time. Need to prep the battlespace better, as I lost a lot of time setting up, but can fix that next go round. This was a total ass kicker of a workout, had me breathing hard and feeling beat, but recovery between rounds was solid. I took video of the first 2 rounds just to document what it looked like. Also ended up with an extra set of log and axle just as my warm-ups. Need to figure out where to get in assistance work, but it’s coming along.
Bicep tendons are super sore from basically curling the sandbag in my last workout. Need to watch out for that.
Woke up at 195.6.
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I’m no where near as strong as pwn or some on this site, but I train very similar to this and tend to do giant sets with practically everything. If you’re trying to become a better powerlifter, you’d be better off training this way up until about 8 weeks out, switch to a peak with straight sets, and peak properly. Otherwise, train with giant sets. There’s literally zero downside to it. And like pwn said, you’ll see you gain strength AND endurance over time. Especially if you’re training for sport or just overal work capacity and strength. You’ll see a much better product pulling 405 for triples giant setting them with a row and push ups or something versus digging away at triples with a heavier weight. Both are viable options, but for sports (outside of a powerlifting peak or something similar) or the average guy trying to get in better shape or stronger, giant sets are amazing imo.
Sorry for the rant, back to rebuilding juggernauts and such
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@oldbeancam No harm in sharing your perspective, although here we rebirth juggernauts rather than rebuild.
…actually, that sounds pretty gross, haha.
Just wanted to share the video from my past workout. Only grabbed 2 rounds as more of a proof of concept, but it was pretty solid.
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Fair enough. Also, you look like Josh Bryant in your thumbnail, so you seemed to have already be reborn into a whole other juggernaut.
Possibly the stupidest question you’ve been asked in a long time… But if your garage is a gym, where the hell is the car?
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@oldbeancam That’s a helluva compliment dude, much thanks. Big fan of Josh. Don’t quite think I’m there yet, but at least I’m looking older, haha.
@j4gga2 Since it’s 1 car garage, my wife’s car is parked in there when I’m not training, which means I have to put everything away after I’m done. My car is a 10+ year old minivan, so I park it outside year round. Rule has always been to leave my wife enough space to park, and so far I’ve always manged somehow.
AM WORKOUT
(5) Mat pulls (texas deadlift bar touch and go)
5x135+chains
5x225+chains
1x315+chains
1x405+chains
14+3+3x495+chains
17x405+chains
Axle bench
5xAxle
5x136
5x186
3x231
3x261
11x296
15x231
Standing ab wheel
4x8
Band pull aparts
5x20
Full ROM plate raises 7.5kg
1x50
NG chins
1x21
Notes: Giant sets of mat pulls, ab wheel/pull aparts and benching, same approach as last week. Starting to rediscover my groove on the mat pulls, and improving between workouts, which is getting pretty nuts for reps. Think I’ll keep the weight the same for this cycle and maybe make a bigger jump next time. Hit my goals for benching. Fitting in a little more assistance work as I get the set-up figured out.
Woke up at 194.8. Cheat meal yesterday of Panda express fried rice, orange chicken and beijing beef. Left hamstring has been twanging on me a bit; might be the cold.
6 Likes
Just registered for my next competition, and I’m the first in the Men’s u90kg class to do so. Here are the events/weights.
-
Coinbox Deadlift for reps, 18" pick
450lbs in 60 sec
2" axle, no straps allowed -
keg/keg/sandbag over bar
175lb keg, 200lbg keg, 200lb sandbag over 52" bar
Start at 60’ out -
Log/CDB medley
225lb log, 125lb dumbbell
Get the log, then remainder of time on dumbbell for rep -
3 natural stones onto 42" platform
No tacky allowed -
Power stairs, 3 implements over 3 stairs
300lbs, 350, 375
On initial observation, this is a heavy show, but not outside my abilities. The no straps on an axle deadlift is silly, but I’ll deal and get my grip super strong by then. They scrapped the refrigerator run, so that means it’s time for me to bring back keg runs and put the yoke on hold. Need to spend some more time with the dumbbell too. This should be a solid show for me.
11 Likes
That’s what I like to hear! How long have you got to prepare for it?
As a guy not competing in those events, those events look super cool and kinda fun. Like a classic strongman feel, whatever that means.
What’s the coinbox deadlift about? A quick Google didn’t turn much up.
Google “silver dollar deadlift”.
Nice to see Power Stairs. Do you know how heavy the natural stones will be?
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Thanks!
Just read your latest blog post, and it was probably my favorite one to date brother. Couldn’t agree more. Keep it up.
@Irishman92 Competition is on 14 April, so a little over 3 months. Somewhat long prep time, so I’m not going to get super stupid with it, but since it’s a heavier show I’ll be getting stronger no matter what.
@FlatsFarmer Hell yeah dude. Promoter was wanting to get back to old school. We were going to have a refrigerator run too, but the rig couldn’t work out.
@mr.v3lv3t Looked like @dicksharpe got you set up. Difference for us is that we will be pulling on an axle, so zero flex.
@dicksharpe No idea how heavy the stones will be. Doubt we’ll even know after the contest, haha. Powerstairs are a blast; guy had them at the last contest. I’ve learned since then too.
@oldbeancam Thanks dude! Been wanting to write that one for another. Means a lot that you enjoyed it so much.
Keg suicide medley (4 rounds)
Run 100lb keg 60’
Run back to start
Run back to keg
Run 100lb keg 60’
Run 182lb keg 60’
Keg walk for distance 182lbs
110’
Circus dumbbell (each arm)
2x85lbs
1x105lbs
Notes: Bringing this back with the event change. For the first time, it’s my strength that is holding me back, not my conditioning. Was having trouble moving the 182lb keg quickly. Thankfully, got lots of time to work on that, and it was good to be back to this.
Brought the CDB out for some technique work. Needs to come a long, but @Alpha’s video really helped.
Woke up at 196.6.
5 Likes
AM WORKOUT
Log viper and press away
5x100
5x150
5x170
13x190
7x190 (push press)
16x150
(14) Chain Suspended Buffalo Bar Squats
5xBar
5x140
5x190
5x230
3x280
1x320
1x370
10x430
8x370 (deadstop)
Axle rows 205
9x5
Dips
4x30
Notes: Press is really blooming. Gotta figure all that time on 5/3/1 is coming through. Took some video that I’ll be uploading later. Anderson squats are right about the right weight now; last week was just a little too light. Getting the right feel now. Axle rows are definitely more grip than back intensive, but that’ll do the trick for now. Leg drive is feeling better on presses, even while under fatigue.
Woke up at 196.6.
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Got the video
Leg drive is looking better, but still needs work.
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Many moons ago, I had a coach who got me to do med ball throws before log then told me to throw the log off my chest. Seemed to help as a cue, YMMV.
Sounds like a great cue. I can see it panning out well. Biggest issue I’m running into is just getting my left and right knee to play nice together. Now that one hyperextends and the other doesn’t, it’s a bit tough sorting out the timing.