Applied Strength

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Classic American PL cycling and getting "stuck" on a number...

One of the issues with my first plan for the PL meet in March was the fact that I got stuck on a number. That number was 5. 5 sets to be even more exact. Why? I'm not quite sure but I had become enamored with 5x5. Usually I shift volume and stay very low in volume but I got "stuck".

Looking back at it - on consecutive weeks I hit four pretty damn hard weeks of squatting and should be very happy with my results. Now with tweaking the form and getting serious again I will be going after a more classic PL cycle.

Each week I will work up to a work set of 2 reps and add a bit to the top set each week (basically working back from a goal double that I want to hit at the end of the cycle) for each lift.
Squat and bench on Monday - DL and some assistance work on Thursday - and KB swings in between.

Simple is best.

8 comments:

john said...: Brett,

You have mentioned FMS so many times that it's finally beginning to sink in through my thick skull.

My specific question is how effectively could I screen myself? If so, which resources (dvd, book, etc.)are absolutely essential?

I ask this because I'm sure that I have imbalances, but there is no screener (that I'm aware of) that's closer than a 5-6 hr drive from here.

Of course I know that ultimately there's no substitute for being screened in person by an experienced screener (which someday I will do), but I'm trying to find a way work with what I have available right now.

Thanks; 8:48 AM
Brett Jones said...: Get Athletic Body in Balance by Gray Cook (and DVD if you can) - it will walk you through the process of self screening and some corrections.
Hope you are doing well; 9:08 AM
Joe Sarti said...: Simple is best especially when consistently applied; 9:21 AM
john said...: Thanks. I just ordered book and dvd.; 9:54 AM
Mark Reifkind said...: I totally understand that compulsion with a set of numbers but I finally came to realize that the only number in powerlifting that really mattered was 1.Cause that's all that you get to do on the platform.
that and seeing what a poor predictor of compeition 1 RM or any other group of numbers was.
That was one of the best parts of having a max effort day and regularly only having to focus on a one rep max effort in a lift. really attuned you to that type of effort.; 4:12 PM
Brett Jones said...: Rif,
thanks - you are right 1 is the number that matters.
Doubles for training make sense in my mind (squat and bench - singles for DL).
This will get me back to my low volume ways...; 2:55 AM
fawn said...: Brett,

Didn't you tell me that anything over four was a waste of time? Or wast that 5....; 6:49 PM
Brett Jones said...: Fawn,
I fell victim to my own stupidity - a horrible thing I don't recommend to anyone. I think the original quote was something along the lines of - "anything over 3 reps is cardio"

Congrats on your meet this past weekend!; 3:32 PM