I’m sure most have looked into it by now. What do you guys think of the program? I like the idea of specialization workouts put together for an overall greater gain (shoulders/back/legs specialization). The tactic of each workout is new/extreme or RADICAL hah, but it’s coming from CT so I listen. I plan on giving it a shot after a couple of weeks of my current training methods. Who else plans on giving it a serious go? What do you guys think of the program from a bodybuilding stand point?
I looked through the program and its not that differnet than how im training right now. But im gonna try the specialization approach to see if my gains increase. And this isn’t something new. I did a search today on “specialization” and came up with and article by CT from 2005.
It seems EXTREMELY over-complicated.
[quote]mr popular wrote:
It seems EXTREMELY over-complicated.[/quote]
Yes, but then again it wasn’t meant for people to just copy and paste the workout and just follow it blindly (though it may appear that way from those printable charts). It was more meant to teach how to lift properly.
Also, I’m sure it’s not meant for beginner’s or even intermediates. I could be wrong but, if the bodybuilder in the video was struggling (Kevin Nobert? Or was it Sebastien?) then most people in here would probably be wincing.
the training program is the more important than the Anaconda supp, and they made the program access free. I like that they did it that way.
i’m staying with 5/3/1; I just started at the beginning of this year so i’m not going to switch yet. When i do i’ll go back to something based out of arnold’s “encyclopedia of modern bodybuilding”; probably this summer. I don’t think i’m advanced enough for what they’re trying to do with the CNS/activation and everything.
[quote]mr popular wrote:
It seems EXTREMELY over-complicated.[/quote]
It IS, but only to an un-trained eye. I mean, pretty much anyone that understands lifting can see that he’s just put fancy names on older techniques. Although im still really not sure what the purpose of “ratchet loading” is?
Everything is very well done, the video, the explanation and they even have a forum to answer people questions. Very good job to CT and TN seriously and we got this for free.
But, some people will try to follow and “understand” this program perfectly and will ask a bunch of stupid question to make it even more complex and will probably not achieve anything more than with any other program, because they are over thinking details instead of focusing on basic, like eating, sleeping, intensity in training and consistency.
Other people will understand the important concepts behind this program and when/how to applied it to any workout. Those people will often already use and understand some/most of the technique used by CT and they will probably tweak how they actually train, before trying this specific workout, well, they will probably never use this workout integrally.
I any case, it’s a really great job and to me, this is what make T-Nation top of the crown.
[quote]mr popular wrote:
It seems EXTREMELY over-complicated.[/quote]
x2
[quote]mr popular wrote:
It seems EXTREMELY over-complicated.[/quote]
I firmly Disagree
[quote]mr popular wrote:
It seems EXTREMELY over-complicated.[/quote]
Well, there was a big debate over whether to have it just be 5x5 for main exercises and 5x10 for accessory exercises on a basic split, or to go with this: finally a coin-toss was needed to decide, as results were identical.
TBT inverted on a Bosu ball fell just a touch short and thus didn’t make the final run-off.
[quote]dankid wrote:
Although im still really not sure what the purpose of “ratchet loading” is?[/quote]
?
Why are you commenting on the program then?
Complicated? They made videos of the entire thing… what exactly is so complicated about it? Going back and forth between exercises, is that what tripped you up? lol
[quote]Mr.Purple wrote:
Complicated? They made videos of the entire thing… what exactly is so complicated about it? Going back and forth between exercises, is that what tripped you up? lol
[/quote]
agree 100%. just do what the big guy in the video does. hardly rocket science.
1 Like
For the most part, the program recommended is comprised of concepts and techniques that Christian has been progressively putting out there in his writings. He always said that the I,BODYBUILDER program wasn’t a ‘program’ in itself, but more about the implementation of certain concepts.
If you look at the program outline that Tim put up, you realize that it’s simply a rotating specialization program (which Thibs always recommended) that employs different techniques in an effort to avoid excessive CNS fatigue, while allowing for maximum muscle growth stimulation. Again, it’s really not that complicated if you step back for a second (and if you’ve been following along as Thibs has explained the ‘real’ concepts he believes are the basis for making progress with some regularity in the gym.
S
its not complicated.
watch the videos and then its very simple
if they simplified it and wrote it down like 6x3, guess what would happen, noone would truly understand how to perform the sets and it would join the thousands of other internet workouts on the shelf.
[quote]Mr.Purple wrote:
Complicated? They made videos of the entire thing… what exactly is so complicated about it? Going back and forth between exercises, is that what tripped you up? lol
[/quote]
Nothing “tripped me up” at all. I understand the program, the concepts, and watched all the videos. Afterward I concluded that it looked over-complicated, and more importantly didn’t look like it would be any fun at all. lol
Personally I don’t want to have to think so damn much. I guess I’m one of the “dummies” that sticks to the old 3 sets of 8 reps that always seems to give me results without worrying about max force reps, ratchet loading, activation clusters, or force-spectrum ramping.
I just lift weights until I can’t lift them anymore, then next time I lift more.
I’ll jump on the bandwagon once people start blowing past everyone else while doing “I, Bodybuilder”.
Those are just fancy names though, and the concepts behind them are easy enough. Even if I’m not going to do that exact program, I got a lot out of watching the videos and reading CT’s thoughts on rep execution.
There is such a thing as over-complication, but CT is certainly not guilty of that. Your statement is false and unfair.
I saw the shoulder video. It didn’t look complicated at all to me. What’s so complicated about rack-lockouts with a pause (which I instinctively did with lockouts when following a WSB protocol), high-incline bench presses, and push presses?
Granted, there is some thinking going on here which some people aren’t into. I can empathize with that. Every time I went to the gym and had to much thinking to do, I found it exceedingly difficult to give it my all during sets. However, I think the main thing is that CT is driving home some profound points lately - giving it your all during sets, using progressively heavier low-rep feeler/warmup sets, resting periods depending on YOU, and ramping up to 1 or 2 all-out blast sets.
If anything, his newer concepts put an end to the rigidity and over-calculation of things like warmup sets, timed rest intervals, garbage sets, and continuing to perform an exercise when you’re clearly shot.
It would be ridiculous for CT and Tim to put out an “anti-program” and say, “Here are some new concepts; do whatever the hell you want with them!” They have to put out a written plan and at least TRY to drive home some new ideas and concepts.
I think what Biotest is GENIUS marketing. And I don’t say that sarcastically. They’re actually marketing their products while also providing their time and knowledge for FREE in the process.
I dunno. I think CT is an awesome guy and it’s apparent in his videos. He just seems like a humble guy that you can’t help but like. So even if he comes across as complicated sometimes, I overlook it and see what he’s really trying to get at. He’s going all out to find out what works and what doesn’t.
I think his BEST article was Pump Down the Volume.
My .02, one of the advantages of this “method” so to speak, is you’ll LEARN to push yourself harder, which will help progression in the beginner/intermediate trainee.
Several times, people log on with lackluster lifts and asking whats intensity and how they aren’t able to add weight to the bar…I’ve seen “beginners” completely unable to tighten up under the weight and explode even after a year of training the lift.
Without the right mindset, progression is out of the question…noobs will add some weight to the bar before they’re squirming and grinding out a couple of reps, meme temps changing the target muscles and execution to complete the lift. Then they change their routine and repeat the rigmarole.Someone following this program, complicated though it may be, WILL learn to explode up with heavy weights (relative to him) and thats of paramount importance.
Second, almost as important, he’ll figure out how to identify a “power groove” in a movement so as to avoid sticking points in between, so that he can use a “bomb stroke” and explode the weight out rather than shift gears in between.
Put together, this is probably a foolproof way for beginners and intermediates to learn how to progress.
[quote]mr popular wrote:
[quote]Mr.Purple wrote:
Complicated? They made videos of the entire thing… what exactly is so complicated about it? Going back and forth between exercises, is that what tripped you up? lol
[/quote]
Nothing “tripped me up” at all. I understand the program, the concepts, and watched all the videos. Afterward I concluded that it looked over-complicated, and more importantly didn’t look like it would be any fun at all. lol
Personally I don’t want to have to think so damn much. I guess I’m one of the “dummies” that sticks to the old 3 sets of 8 reps that always seems to give me results without worrying about max force reps, ratchet loading, activation clusters, or force-spectrum ramping.
I just lift weights until I can’t lift them anymore, then next time I lift more.
I’ll jump on the bandwagon once people start blowing past everyone else while doing “I, Bodybuilder”.[/quote]
[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
If anything, his newer concepts put an end to the rigidity and over-calculation of things like warmup sets, timed rest intervals, garbage sets, and continuing to perform an exercise when you’re clearly shot.
[/quote]
I totally agree. For some reason, I get the impression that a lot of people are missing this. It’s almost like the rigidity of most programs makes them feel safer. I teach high school kids, and let me tell you, I see an enormous number of kids these days who when given an open ended question, or an assignment that requires what we call ‘critical thinking’, they are completely lost. I guess there is a certain security in just regurgitating answers, or operating within a strictly limited series of guidelines. Unfortunately, these are more often than not, the students that fall right within the middle of the pack, never really excelling at much more than being test-takers. They never become the free-thinkers that actually make a noticeable difference. Similarly, I think it’s the I.B.B. program that will allow a smaller percentage of trainers to really exceed their former levels of accomplishments, and while many will progress somewhat, I think there will definitely be people either unable, or unwilling to follow it and achieve the gains they truly are capable of.
This is something that I don’t think I fully got until I had the chance to actually meet Christian. Obviously he loves training, and is ‘one of us’ in the truest sense. I know that the majority of my own training knowledge came from a selfish need to allow for my own progress. I figured that the more I knew, the better my training would be. When I would stumble upon some odd study, or article online (like when I first found testosterone.com almost 10 years ago), I would print it out, highlight it, and couldn’t wait to try out whatever new theory, concept, nutritional approach, you name it, that I had miraculously unearthed. Thibs is one of those guys who has an almost childlike, giddy, need to learn as much as he can. Lucky for us (and hopefully more people will realize this), whatever deal he’s got worked out with Tim, it allows us free access to his writing. Whether you love the Biotest supplements (which I admittedly do), or you think everything on here is one big marketing scam (seriously guys, get over it), you’d have to be an idiot to not realize how much free info you get on this damn site… and yes, Christin is a damn humble guy considering how much the man has achieved, and the following he has earned.
S