Pavel Tsatsouline’s approach to strength

I want to jot down some thoughts about my training and what has been really working well for me this past year.

First of all, I owe a lot of credit to Warrior’s Way by Jon H. Hansen. This book and its focus on isometric structure is transformative.

But then there is the Pavel approach–just a couple exercises. That’s his approach in Power to the People and its even referenced in his first kettlebell book (two lifts, a quick lift like the snatch and a slow lift like the bent press).

So, consider this.

Now, you have volume and strength training. Strength training without volume for me is disastrous. And strength training anywhere near my limit just doesn’t work. Plus, strength…how much do you need? How much do you want? There are preferences at play here.

Not that I expect you to think about this, you can if you want, but perhaps you just want to take what I’m saying at face value: I’m a dad with young kids. My training revolves around not being sore AF, tired AF, or putting myself in a position where I need substantial recovery time that impacts my life. I can’t afford that.

Then there is the practical aspect. 30 minutes daily brisk walking is a no-brainer. It’s the lowest of low-hanging fruit that if you’re not doing it and not getting any other cardio respiratory work, I can safely say you’re making a huge mistake. You can move beyond this, but walking has unique benefits that I’m not willing to give up to pursue other cardio interests. Chief among these benefits is walking in the neighborhood: seeing and being seen. Your neighborhood is your community–a true WMFer will want to build it up and partner up with others who have similar interests in establishing a place to raise kids and live a life.

Building strength on top of this foundation is important to me. One, the kids love it. That means something to me. To my ego perhaps, but there is a sense of capability that comes with strength.

Two, I need it. For yard work especially, but just for other things that can be as simple as carrying in groceries or as scary as possibly delivering a life-saving side kick or right cross.

When it comes to strength, Pavel is the man. And his two exercise framework is pretty interesting.

I want to encourage you to lengthen your timeframe here. Instead of thinking of the day, think of the week, the month, and the year. Let’s say you decided to do two sets of 5 deadlifts @ 135 pounds five days a week for 50 weeks of the year. That’s 337,500 pounds for the year. Now, you progressive weight lifting types would say well you have to add more weight.

To which I reply, why?

Sure, you could add more weight. But our culture is all about more, more, more and it’s all superficial. For example, I can add more weight to my 135 pound deadlift. But, could I instead focus and concentrate more and feel every aspect of the movement?

I could read book after book, but could I instead read the same book several times and extract maximal value?

This is where I’m at. This is where I’m landing at the moment. A focus on the essential.

Bruce Lee is echoing through my head: “It’s not about daily increase but decrease, hack away the inessential.”

So, that’s what I like about Pavel Tsatsouline’s approach to strength – picking key exercises and executing them with full concentration and awareness.

What about you and your training?