Spidey: Eudaimonia

[quote]LoRez wrote:
It’s been a long time since I’ve benched (since I haven’t reassembled my rack after moving, nor joined a gym), but… one of the things that did help me was spending time doing explosive concentric-focused dead-stop benching from pins. Because you have to build all your tension up, and have everything positioned just right before the bar moves, it worked well to teach me the right position at the bottom of the lift. If things were slightly off, the bar just didn’t move… so you could adjust your setup and try again until you found the sweet spot.

I was pretty unstable the first several sessions, but eventually my body found a groove. It wasn’t concentric-only, but basically I didn’t care about the eccentric… I was focused on exploding the bar from the bottom through to lockout. I found that ramping up with lighter sets did a good job of “activating” the speed, and then the heavier sets did a good job of drilling in good positioning.

Maybe something to try, especially since you seem pretty uncertain about where you’re really strongest at the bottom.[/quote]

That’s actually very similar to the idea I was having, of just doing a training cycle with all my reps paused, and maybe some Banded bench, which if you’ve never, you’ll find you can’t really have shitty form or you’ll get pinned with.

The pin presses are a solid idea though, could incorporate those too, similar to what Pwnisher does.

Sumoooo

Sumo DL’s: Misread and did 5x4 instead of 4x5, oh well lol. Videoed last set, I’m not pushing my hips through as much as I need, idk why. Think I just need to concentrate on doing it
415x5x4

Paused HB Squats:
210x4x6

Band Straight Arm Pulldowns, FacePulls, Calves, Abs

Wanted to do chins but elbows are being wonky, so decided against pushing it.

Overall happy with Sumo so far, but I think I need to incorporate a SLDL/RDL variation, or even some lighter speed pulls to really get my self to push my hips through at the top

Moving nice weigiht for solid reps man

[quote]Spidey22 wrote:
[/quote]
Nice work Spidey! I am slightly jealous of your deadlifting! But in a good and motivating way.

Thanks guys, this past year I’ve mostly spun my wheels, so happy DL is at least moving lol

Accessory Day

CG Incline: Having to really adjust rep scheme because pressing is just going to shit lmao
185x2x4
165x3x5
145x3x6

Push Press:
105x6
125x6
145x5 ← misgrooved

Rows and Laterals:
3x10-12 each

That’s it. Tried a few sets of the Incline with flat feet, feel like I get a ton more leg drive, but that’s easier on than Flat, at least for me, for it to actually transfer to the lift and not just pop my ass off the Bench

Skwats

Back Squats: Tried to adjust form just ever so slightly after looking at HeavyTriples, definitely felt ‘stronger’ but I think my it’s enough of a change that it’s hard to ‘maintain’ the form for reps
345x2
325x5
295x2x5

Front Squats:
235x3

Chins and stuff

That’s it. This was a very hard workout. Like I’m definitely in PR territory now, and this is probably the heaviest I’ve Squatted going to something I consider an alright depth. But I feel like a train hit me lol

Nice lifting dude, but you’ve got some serious valgus knee movement going on in those squats. Make sure you’re screwing your feet into the ground nice and tight.

[quote]G1579 wrote:
Nice lifting dude, but you’ve got some serious valgus knee movement going on in those squats. Make sure you’re screwing your feet into the ground nice and tight.[/quote]

Yeah I’ve been tweaking form a bit but not really sure what I like yet. The knee travel, I’m not sure what to think. I’ve heard it’s an issue, and also heard it’s natural and not to worry about it. So kind of conflicted with that.

So the other day with Front Squats, I kind of tweaked my left delt/bicep area. Yesterday at work, something pulled it a bit more. So today, warming-up for Bench, I noticed it was irking the area so decided to call an audible, just do lighter paused stuff. I also took the opportunity to play with my form a bit. I concentrated on touching a tad higher on the chest, and working on leg drive. Did one set of tucked feet, and one set of flat feet for everything

Paused Flat Bench:
205x2x3
225x2x1
205x2x4
185x2x8

DB Decline: Just high reps, didn’t bother the area at all, just a big rest pause set, deep stretch and constant tension
40’sx25+15+10

Band Flies: Just because is felt good on the injured area
100 total reps

So not too worried about the injury, I think it’s just a slight tweak and will be fine with a little rest.

Looking at the Benching, I’m surprised I can keep my feet flat while getting knees lower too, ankle mobility much have improved a lot. Tucked feels like I have a bit better arch and can get on my traps a bit easier, but feet flat is a bit more stable and more leg drive. So idk if I’m going to convert next training cycle or not.

First set is the old set-up, the second is the newer one

Doodlooft

Sumo: Ughhh still starting with my hips a bit too low, idk I can’t find that sweet spot of them being close to the bar while not being a squat.
425x3x3
395x5

Paused HB Squats: I need to warm up in my Asics for these, makes me really push through my heels when I but the oly shoes on
215x2x5

Bunch of shoulder/bicep light rehabish stuff

So DL was good, but still kind of irritating that screwed up area. May have to postpone maxes for a bit, depending on how I feel.

So delt/bicep thingy is still nagging, so not going to push for 1RM’s, just to be safe. I have solid PR’s with triples though, so I’m basing stuff off that.

Decided to run a Ed Coan style progression plan, kind in the same vein as Layne Norton’s PHAT routine with some ‘pump’ days thrown in. First couples of weeks of Coan is very light, and added with pump days I’m hoping this will allow me to heal up well and not make this nagging issue an injury.

Yesterday I did a Chest/Back pump day, everything very light.

Banded Bench: Doing these to correct bar path a bit, just very light to ingrain the motor pattern.
95x3x6

Wide Grip Paused Bench Press:
135x3x12

Inverted Rows ~SS~ Band Flies: Pause at the top of both
BW/Orange Minis x 4 x 10/20

Kneeling Band Pulldowns ~SS~ Deadstop Rows: Light stuff still, not wanting to mess with the issue
Orange Minis/75’sx3x20/12

Incline Rows ~SS~ Pullovers: Pause for 2 ct at top of each row, Pullovers JM style
40’sx/40x4x12/12

So really like supersets with back work, a contraction lift with a stretch lift always just feels right, and allows me to up volume/density without messing with heavier weights. So yeah, a bit of a shift style of training wise but I think the strictly heavier stuff was taking a bit of a toll, so I have to alternate that a bit

Delts and Arms Pump

Strict Press: Just light, nothing hard
95x2x10-12

Rear Delt Flies ~SS~ Band Laterals:
15’s/Orange Minis x 4x30

Single Arm Laterals:
25’sx2x15-15

Reverse Curls ~SS~ Band Kickbacks: Paused at top on every second rep of the curls
65/Orange Mini x 3x20/20

Decline BB Push-ups: Super close grip, much pump, many difficult
BWx3xAMRAP

Neutral Grip Curls:
50x3x12

Decline EZ Extensions ~SS~ Incline Curls: Paused extensions on the floor for each rep behind head, rose incline each set for curls so it was a kind of mechanical dropset
50/15’sx3x10/15

I’ll likely change my pump workouts around often, minus the main movement. Right now just trying to not stress my joints in any way.

Hey, Spidey, I decided to stop by to check out your lifts. If you won’t mind me commenting on your lifts, I’d like to. I bench a lot more than you (I benched 205X13 a couple weeks ago on my rep day, and have a really out dated paused max of 285), and my beltless pause squat is as strong as your belted squat. I am just telling you that so you know I am not some online keyboard form warrior or something like that. lol

Anyway, for your squat: Your knees are caving a lot. That is somewhat common in quad dominant squat styles like yours, but is also really awful for you (knee health wise) when you cave that much as a low bar squatter. In my opinion, you will want to push your knees out more actively in the bottom of the lift, and try to think of opening up your hips when you are descending in the bottom 2/3-3/4 area of the lift. You might also want to try to use your glutes and hamstrings a bit more in your squat.

Your bench looks fine other than you probably want to tuck a little bit more (it looks like you are flaring a lot from the 205X3 video). You could also just use gaining a lot of mass in the arms, shoulders, and back. Also, how wide is your grip? It’s kind of hard to see in your video.

Also, I have to say this: You have a strong deadlift. However, your form could use a bit of work. Your knees cave a lot in your sumo deadlift, especially when you get the weight moving. You may want to pull in your stance very slightly while you are working on getting the strength, and mobility to not have to cave in the bottom.

You may also want to work on your set up. Looking back to earlier videos before you most recent ones (the most recent is hard as fuck to judge form on), you need to open up your hips in the bottom, and arch a bit (it pulls your hips down while getting your chest up so your shoulders are behind the bar).

Back when I pulled sumo (and still whenever I use sumo as an assistance exercise), I set my stance, get a big breath of air and brace my abs, grab the bar, pushed open my hips (think about opening up the hips while pushing at the sides of your feet and getting your knees to track with your shins) and pull the slack out of the bar while thinking about arching (this will force you to get upright and your shoulders behind the bar while getting your hips in the right position) then I pulled the weight by pushing out at the sides of my feet while leading with my chest, then finished the lift by just focusing on pushing my hips through once the bar got past my knees.

Also, where the heck is your glute, and hamstring training? I haven’t seen a single RDL, SLDL, good morning, GHR, back extensions, pull through, swing, hip thrust, or anything aside from a quad dominant style of deadlifts that trains your glutes or hamstrings. Try to include at least one hip hinge exercise (hopefully one big compound like SLDL/Good morning/RDL, then one small one like GHR, pull through, back extension, DB/kettlebell swings, etc) as an assistance exercise every time you squat and deadlift. You are probably (and you look like it) super quad dominant, and your body is trying to use them as much as possible. In one video you didn’t even lock out half of your deads.

Anyway, good luck on your lifting. Feel free to use any of the advice as much as you want (or not use it at all if you are inclined to do so lol).

By the way, you could probably benefit from wide sumo SLDL’s. To do them, get a very wide stance (your sumo stance or slightly wider depending on flexibility), push your hips back while keeping your legs somewhat straight (your knees shouldn’t be locked, but shouldn’t bend a lot), then grab the bar, arch your back and extend your hips while pushing from the sides of your feet and squeeze your glutes hard at the top then lower slowly, pause on the floor or reset then repeat as many reps as you want (I use them for moderate reps).

I had gotten these from Louie Simmons (he had a massive hard on for them/still does).

Des: Thanks for all the advice, seriously. I need all the help I can get. I’ve restructured my routine a bit already to address some of the issues you’ve pointed out, and I can post it if you anyone is interested.

The Squat is kind of weird, I’m not really sure if I’m doing a high bar or low bar form, my leverages are weird for it. I’m not sure if I need to go with this slightly wider stance, or go back to a more narrow stance.

Bench I’ve tweaked my form, I’ll show get a video tomorrow.

If you have any ‘examples’ of the style of lifting I should emulate, post them away. I really concentrate on pushing my knees out in Squats and Sumo, but it just doesn’t happen lol. Is that what the Sumo SLDL would address I guess?

Seriously, thanks for the lengthy write-up!

Coan Power Lower:

Meh my little bro has the flu, my sister is also sick, so I may be coming down with something. Just felt gross all morning. So not a good way to start off this cycle lol

Back Squat: I warmed up with some Squats with bands around my thighs. Got the glutes firing and getting my knees to stay out, but but kind of fatigued me for my work sets lol
250x2x8

Front Squats: Paused, easy
165x2x8

SLDL’s: Did these from a small deficit, constant tension, my hammies have missed the love lol
135x3x15

Lunges:
2x10

Abs/Calves

Good workout, was tired by the end but didn’t feel rundown. Just kind of feeling under the weather though, so going to gorge tonight and fight off the illness lol

[quote]Spidey22 wrote:
Des: Thanks for all the advice, seriously. I need all the help I can get. I’ve restructured my routine a bit already to address some of the issues you’ve pointed out, and I can post it if you anyone is interested.

The Squat is kind of weird, I’m not really sure if I’m doing a high bar or low bar form, my leverages are weird for it. I’m not sure if I need to go with this slightly wider stance, or go back to a more narrow stance.

Bench I’ve tweaked my form, I’ll show get a video tomorrow.

If you have any ‘examples’ of the style of lifting I should emulate, post them away. I really concentrate on pushing my knees out in Squats and Sumo, but it just doesn’t happen lol. Is that what the Sumo SLDL would address I guess?

Seriously, thanks for the lengthy write-up![/quote]
Alright, I am not going to be able to spend much time on this since I have to pack up to visit my bro for christmas.

For your sumo deadlift, I’d say with your strong quads and similar proportions, emulating Dan green’s sumo style would be good. I definitely wouldn’t emulate his squat with your knee caving though.

For your squat, check out some of ed coan’s squat videos. Both Dan Greene, and Ed Coan are pretty long arm and leg lifters that have fucking beastly lifts. Ed coan’s squat style is a bit more comfortable, and balanced though. I’ve squatted both styles, and I personally chose squatting like Ed coan because my IT band (I think that’s the right term) wanted to kill me from over use.

For bench… I will have to do some digging for that another time. Lots of shit works with benching (look at Csulli for example lol), however I think a lot of tuck and touching low is better for long armed lifters. That might not apply to you since you came from more of a bodybuilding back ground (so your shoulders and chest are probably a lot stronger than your triceps), right? Oh, if you haven’t checked out the “So you think you can bench?” series, I’d recommend it.