Coach,
I’m 6’6".
Any advice on getting my lower quad (VM) to grow?
I workout at home and am currently doing compound EDT but subing front squats for Zercher squats.
My upper legs and hammies are big but my VM just isn’t up to par.
And YES I go “ass to grass” on all squats.
Any help would be very appreciated.
Thanks
Now THESE are fun questions! Somehow I find it most interesting to talk ab otu myself 
OK, first thanks for the nice compliment. As for life lessons:
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Most people are wrong about everything. Do the opposite of what most people do and you can’t help but succeed.
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Find and follow your passion in life. Develop and master it. For me, what I do professionally is effortless - I can’t help but do what I do - it’s almost like it’s happening TO me, rather than me DOING it, if that makes sense.
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Success in business has more to do with marketing than it does with your expertise. If you want to make $$$ as a trainer/coach, you probably already know enough technically. You need to understand marketing.
[quote]Kinetix wrote:
Charles,
I consider your writing to be some of the most interesting and influential I’ve read. I particularly like your interest in self improvement (for lack of a better term). You seem to focus on “the big picture”.
What life lesson(s) have been most influential to you in your development as a strength coach and businessman?[/quote]
[quote]monkeyarms wrote:
My money would be on a strained levator scap. [/quote]
meaning my issue with my client and the neck cramp?
[quote]MountainDog wrote:
Coach,
I’m 6’6".
Any advice on getting my lower quad (VM) to grow?
I workout at home and am currently doing compound EDT but subing front squats for Zercher squats.
My upper legs and hammies are big but my VM just isn’t up to par.
And YES I go “ass to grass” on all squats.
Any help would be very appreciated.
Thanks[/quote]
bump as I am 6’6 and I have the same issue
Try Slow step-ups and hack squats and/or leg presses with your heels slightly elevated off of the platform (a 1/2 inch will do). Another drill I use is Bulgarian Split squats with the weight of front leg prinarily on the forefoot.
NOTE: Pressing from heels activates hamies, pressing from toes activates quads (primarily)
[quote]MountainDog wrote:
Coach,
I’m 6’6".
Any advice on getting my lower quad (VM) to grow?
I workout at home and am currently doing compound EDT but subing front squats for Zercher squats.
My upper legs and hammies are big but my VM just isn’t up to par.
And YES I go “ass to grass” on all squats.
Any help would be very appreciated.
Thanks[/quote]
Thanks Charles. The value of life lessons (especially without having had to make the mistakes to learn them) is priceless.
Your passion for what you do shines through in your work. I can only hope I’m having as much of an impact on those I work with. I absolutely love what I do, but I always thought (perhaps naively) that my passion for fitness alone would bring in the clients. Obviously this isn’t the case.
Would you be so kind as to recommend some books/sources of information on marketing.
Coach,
Do you use any “triggers” to create a focused state for training? And if so, how did you go about creating such for yourself or other athletes? I’ve read of NLP and such but could never get a handle on how to apply it to training.
thanks,
DH
You bet. There are various resources out there…anything from Dan kennedy or Jay Abraham will be very useful. I’m also going to plug my apprenticeship group, which I formed last year becasue I found that too many coaches and trainers suffer unecessarily in terms of making a decent living. Hope that helps out, and I can’t state this enough, if you’re great at what you do and still aren’t making a good living, there IS hope, you just need to lean how to market and position yourself.
[quote]Kinetix wrote:
Thanks Charles. The value of life lessons (especially without having had to make the mistakes to learn them) is priceless.
Your passion for what you do shines through in your work. I can only hope I’m having as much of an impact on those I work with. I absolutely love what I do, but I always thought (perhaps naively) that my passion for fitness alone would bring in the clients. Obviously this isn’t the case.
Would you be so kind as to recommend some books/sources of information on marketing.
[/quote]
[quote]bigpump23 wrote:
monkeyarms wrote:
My money would be on a strained levator scap.
meaning my issue with my client and the neck cramp?[/quote]
Yeah, sorry about that, I screwed up trying to quote your post.
I’ve seen levator scap problems before with lateral raises. The trainee gets fatigued near the end of a set and tries to make up the difference with scapular elevation on their weaker side.
If it is levator scap, I’d go with ice massage and emphasize a proper retracted-scapulae posture to take any strain off the muscle.
After the swelling subsides, ART or some other form of massage along the length of the muscle belly will help. Maybe even some trigger point work.
When returning to the exercise, be sure to keep a few reps in the can (don’t go to failure) to help prevent reoccurrence.
Of course, this is the internet, and I could be a total loon, so don't take this as medical advice and suggest she gets it looked at, to be sure there's not something more serious going on.I’ll tell you what works great for me: I vividly imagine that I’m standing in front of someone I greatly respect? someone in my own field, perhaps a colleague, mentor, or competitor. In other words if you were performing in front of a group of respected peers, what would that do for your intensity? For me, it helps a lot.
[quote]Disc Hoss wrote:
Coach,
Do you use any “triggers” to create a focused state for training? And if so, how did you go about creating such for yourself or other athletes? I’ve read of NLP and such but could never get a handle on how to apply it to training.
thanks,
DH[/quote]
Charles,
For an advanced trainee (10 years), what would you best guess be as to how many reps that 80% equates to? Also on EDT you suggest the use of 75%. Should this be altered for persons such as myself? Looking primarily for hypertrophy.
thanks,
DH
Coach:
Do you think that it is ideal to squat and deaqdlift in the same workout?Would you call overhead squats a lower body exercise?
Here’s something that works REALLY well: Waterbury method for core lifts, EDT for aux lifts. Really. Now I’m cooking up a way for readers to simulate the way i do core lifts here in AZ with a Tendo unit, but until then, try this suggestion and tell me what you think.
[quote]Disc Hoss wrote:
Charles,
For an advanced trainee (10 years), what would you best guess be as to how many reps that 80% equates to? Also on EDT you suggest the use of 75%. Should this be altered for persons such as myself? Looking primarily for hypertrophy.
thanks,
DH
[/quote]
Thank you again. Your advice has been most helpful. Perhaps I’ll look into that group of yours.
I have another question of interest (if you have time). I’ve seen or heard many strength coaches speak of mentors. Some mentors have shaped careers while others have shaped physiques and personal philosophies.
Did you have any mentors? AND how on earth would someone go about finding someone to impart wisdom like that? Is it all a matter of luck?
[quote]deshawn wrote:
Coach:
Do you think that it is ideal to squat and deaqdlift in the same workout?
Generally no.
Would you call overhead squats a lower body exercise?[/quote]
Depends on your strength topography and somatype. If you’re got super strong legs but haven’t OH squatted, your upper body will take the hit.
It sure is smoggy here in LA. I’ve got my “Tito for President” shirt on and I’m looking for some CA babes to guide me through some salacious studies of anatomy.
Charles, yes I’m a “key” witness. But hey, I was young and my parent’s needed the money. Besides, I love roller coasters and wine.
By the way, do you have a larger pic of your avatar? I KNOW those arms ame from EDT and I’d love to use your pic in my marketing!
[quote]Disc Hoss wrote:
Charles,
For an advanced trainee (10 years), what would you best guess be as to how many reps that 80% equates to? Also on EDT you suggest the use of 75%. Should this be altered for persons such as myself? Looking primarily for hypertrophy.
thanks,
DH
[/quote]
Chad, I’m just dying to know…was it warm milk or “jesus juice” that did you in?
[quote]Chad Waterbury wrote:
It sure is smoggy here in LA. I’ve got my “Tito for President” shirt on and I’m looking for some CA babes to guide me through some salacious studies of anatomy.
Charles, yes I’m a “key” witness. But hey, I was young and my parent’s needed the money. Besides, I love roller coasters and wine.
[/quote]
It’s been nice chatting with everyone, gotta go for now. I’ll be back tomorrow night…
Over at the physique photo stop. But the quality stinks. My camera is evidently not the greatest. “Tell’em Dave Barr sent ya”.
And yes, EDT is the miracle grow I’ve been poppin’
DH
[quote]CharlesStaley wrote:
By the way, do you have a larger pic of your avatar? I KNOW those arms ame from EDT and I’d love to use your pic in my marketing!
Disc Hoss wrote:
Charles,
For an advanced trainee (10 years), what would you best guess be as to how many reps that 80% equates to? Also on EDT you suggest the use of 75%. Should this be altered for persons such as myself? Looking primarily for hypertrophy.
thanks,
DH
[/quote]