Hey Stallion-
Nice job on the deadlift! You still looked like you had quite a bit left in you. Picture perfect form. Nice job on the press and the OH squat, very impressive! keep lifting hard!
Nice work. I was wondering if you were gonna pull it sumo!! Looked like you coulda repped it for 5.
With Smolov on back squats, you’ve done it twice and got 27.5kg and 30kg increases after running the full cycle right? Do you think it would work as well if I was to do it in a pair of powerlifting briefs? I can’t see why it wouldn’t, but maybe you could offer your thoughts.
[quote]Hanley wrote:
Nice work. I was wondering if you were gonna pull it sumo!! Looked like you coulda repped it for 5.
With Smolov on back squats, you’ve done it twice and got 27.5kg and 30kg increases after running the full cycle right? Do you think it would work as well if I was to do it in a pair of powerlifting briefs? I can’t see why it wouldn’t, but maybe you could offer your thoughts.
[/quote]
Well, since it is about a year since I deadlifted this heavy the last time, and since back injury is horrible, I have no problem easing into things. I doubt I will do gruelling deadlift sets for a while, I will keep a few reps in me I think. This method will still work for strength gains I think. I will not risk to injury my back again. The increases you mention is correct. However, after the first cycle i was kinda burnt out and lost motivation, and did not train the squat properly for a few months.
The Smolov program should work just as fine in a pair of powerlifting briefs. But personally I am all for raw lifting, If you can handle that.
[quote]golferguy12 wrote:
Hey Stallion-
Nice job on the deadlift! You still looked like you had quite a bit left in you. Picture perfect form. Nice job on the press and the OH squat, very impressive! keep lifting hard![/quote]
Yes, I reckon my deadlift is the same as my raw squat. I haven’t tested the raw squat in a while, but if it has followed my front squat progress, it is up with 15kilos, and that means I can deadlift 235kg raw. My 1rm without a suit in the deadlift is 220 (had more in me at that time). With a suit, my 1RM is 252.5kg - and had definately more in me at the nationals when i did that weight. Yes, I think the form is allright. On the press I do my best, and hopefully 90kg is just around the corner, 100kg is the big goal! The overhead squat is a fun lift. I enjoy it a lot!
[quote]stallion wrote:
Well, since it is about a year since I deadlifted this heavy the last time, and since back injury is horrible, I have no problem easing into things. I doubt I will do gruelling deadlift sets for a while, I will keep a few reps in me I think. This method will still work for strength gains I think. I will not risk to injury my back again. The increases you mention is correct. However, after the first cycle i was kinda burnt out and lost motivation, and did not train the squat properly for a few months.
The Smolov program should work just as fine in a pair of powerlifting briefs. But personally I am all for raw lifting, If you can handle that.
[/quote]
Yah, that’s understandable alright. Besides, there’s no real point to push the deadlifts hard and risk injury if it’s increasing without begin trained due to all the squat volume right?
The majority of my training is raw, but I compete equipped. I’ve found in the last 9 months that too much raw squatting kills my hips. Even running Sheiko for the second time I had to wear briefs on the heavy squat day because my hips were just too sore to train with (it was sore squatting 60kg like!!).
My raw squat numbers are of a great concern to me and I would like to push them up, but when it comes down to it my comp numbers are more important, hence the two-fold reason for brief’d training.
I’ll probably give it a shot in a month or two and let ya know what happens. Thanks for the advice!!
Oh, one more question, do you notice your bench going up with your press numbers???
I haven’t tried a new 1RM in benchpress since before christmas, but I have got a new 3RM, I will test a 1RM sometime in the coming weeks when i feel like it. Still I am putting up embarassing numbers in the benchpress, but as long as I stick to it over the years, it will increase.
I think raw strength is always most important, when you are strong raw, you are strong equipped. But that’s my point of view.
Great lifting on your videos.
You look like you could a whole lot more on the overhead squat.
[quote]treco wrote:
Great lifting on your videos.
You look like you could a whole lot more on the overhead squat. [/quote]
Yes, I have now 122.5kg as my 1RM, but I guess there is more to go as well. It is a fun exercise. Thank you for the comment.
A Couple of lifts from todays session. Stronger legs from frontsquatting and stronger upper body from millitary presses sure helps with both overhead squat and btn pushpress.
I was not in my best shape today, so these records will be broken again very soon!
I hope this can be inspiring for someone. I am very motivated, and try to stay motiated at all costs!
I got all fired up in the end, and flexed my tiny biceps! 
A film from deadlift day:
Beginning another round of smolov the coming monday. Aiming for 200kg front squat in the end!
A few vids for those interested:
Monday:
Wednesday:
On the Monday workout you can also see Jørgen Hansen, an IPF lifter competing on an international level. My goal is to beat him in the front squat. Actually I have now made that my life mission, and I will keep rerunning Smolov until that task is completed. One month in between Smolovs so as not to get burned out and to prevent injury!
Noone thinks I can beat him, but I can and I will! The hunt is on!
He has now lifted 200kg in the front squat with a belt, I have lifted 185kg in the front squat with a belt. He is good for another 15kg I think, I did not have much left when I did 185kg.
But hard work will find its reward!
Blood and guts!
Yeah!
– stallion
Training hard towards the goal of 200kg front squat:
Do you ever use straps or an Olympic grip when front squatting?
It seems like it would benefit your starting drive from the bottom position if you were able to hold your elbows higher than the cross chest style allows. I say this because I noticed when you nearly dumped the weight on one rep and had to do a Zercher to rerack. The weight seemed to pull you forward and disrupted your upward drive.
This is not criticism as you are working harder than just about anyone I have seen - just curious. Anyway, excellent inspiration.
Thank you. I am 30 years old, and I can take constructive critism. What I hate is when people are negative for no reason.
Yes, the weight falling forward limits my ability to complete sets sometimes.
I am too stiff to be able to perform the frontsquat with a clean-grip style. I know that this is a matter of working to get more flexible.
For now I have decided that my style just suits me well, and i bust my ass harder than almost any lifter that I know, and it have made me a lot stronger.
Hard work makes you stronger. Simple as that.
Many people have suggestes changing to a clean grip, and I will probably do that sometime in the future, probably not this year. This year I will do Smolov 3 times, and this is the first round (not counting the round i finished in february).
My philosophy is to just work basic exercises really really hard, and then strength will come.
First set from my last session.
To sum it up: At the moment I can’t do clean grip style because I am too stiff. I have tried using straps, but this limits the weight I can use. I can’t go all out with that style. And since going all out is what I like, then I choose the style I am currently using.
I however thank you for your comments, your encouragment and your kind words!
Far too many people just read, and never comment!
Todays training. Energy was good, but ran out in the end. Still very pleased!
Last workout in base meso cycle, this time around:
Stallion, how’s the smolov training going?
Hey Arnoud, thanks for asking, and sorry for me replying so late. I already answered on youtube, but I can answer here as well.
Due to some unfortunate circumstances and events, things haven’t gone as planned.
But I am back on the horse, and training, so hopefully will reach previous levels again and exceed them.
Best of luck to you as well!
Here is a layout of smolov and smolov jr. for those interested.
Excellent thread mate, full of useful info for smolov.
The 120kg overhead squat was bad ass. How many reps can you get out of your bodyweight for overhead squats