Safe?

Training Powerlifting
1

I was wondering if the 10x3 method, wave loading, or any method that has reps under 6 is safe for 15 year olds.

I can snatch deadlift 225 pounds for 5 reps, squat 240 pounds for 5 reps, and I can bench 60 pounds dumbells (my gym doesn’t have a barbell bench) for 6 reps and all are very poor at 6 foot 2 and 203 pounds. I really want to squat 325 pounds by next year.

I did Westside for Skinny Bastards and it helped my lifts greatly, but I can’t stand only training my legs once a week. I also have no past injuries. The reason I’m asking is because I don’t want to have a major injury because of my training.

2

I’m 14 and don’t get injured with them. If you live your life avoiding everything that might be dangerous, you will end up not doing anything good in life.

3

[quote]cometb-ball wrote:
I was wondering if the 10x3 method, wave loading, or any method that has reps under 6 is safe for 15 year olds.

I can snatch deadlift 225 pounds for 5 reps, squat 240 pounds for 5 reps, and I can bench 60 pounds dumbells (my gym doesn’t have a barbell bench) for 6 reps and all are very poor at 6 foot 2 and 203 pounds. I really want to squat 325 pounds by next year.

I did Westside for Skinny Bastards and it helped my lifts greatly, but I can’t stand only training my legs once a week. I also have no past injuries. The reason I’m asking is because I don’t want to have a major injury because of my training.[/quote]

General rule of thumb is not to go near a 1RM on lifts nor to train to failure.

With that in mind my inexperience tells me that a 10x3 is a bit much.

4

[quote]cometb-ball wrote:
I can snatch deadlift 225 pounds for 5 reps, squat 240 pounds for 5 reps, and I can bench 60 pounds dumbells (my gym doesn’t have a barbell bench) for 6 reps and all are very poor at 6 foot 2 and 203 pounds. I really want to squat 325 pounds by next year.

[/quote]

Poor lifts? You are only 15! I started lifting at 16 and got nowhere near those numbers for a few years, although I didn’t have the advantage of T-Nation knowledge! I actually those are scarily-strong and very impressive numbers for someone of your age and would recommend on making sure your technique was perfect before increasing. Use the time now to really groove the technique on lifts, you have heaps of time to grow and get strong.

5

Hi
Suleymanoglou (sp?) was world champ at 15 and it didn’t stunt his growth!

Huh, what, he’s 4’10, oh well maybe it did?

Seriously in the old days when teenagers were active we put more force through our joints than you would get in many gyms (plyos).

Just remember to use good technique. And if I remember correctly Waterbury’s 10x3 programme has you using a 6RM; should be ok for you.

Good Luck BJ