Category: Training Tips and Routines
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5×5 ish training notes and video
I’ve been keeping it simple: 3-5 sets, 3-5 reps, 3-5 exercises. The main exercises are deadlifts, dips, squats, and chin ups. In that order. I was doing this two days per week, using a thickbar for the deadlift, for about 3 months. Lately, I’ve changed the second workout to incorporate some overhead pressing and soon…
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Taking a rest—a good thing
Push, push, push. Seems to be the American way. Push, push, push leaves no time for relaxation and reflection…and integration. How can you integrate what’s been learned without pausing to let it assimilate? In training this is called the back off week. It keeps you from overdoing it. It’s like this: three weeks on, one…
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Simple and straightforward exercise, Pavel and Hulse style
A couple things I’ve mentioned recently: Pavel’s approach of 3-5 exercises, 3-5 sets, 3-5 reps and Elliot Hulse’s YouTube where he says that you can develop a kick ass body with just four exercises (the front squat, deadlift, chin, and dip). So that has been my focus. It’s simple. It’s not that difficult. And it’s…
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How fast do you need to progress?
I used to always increase the weight in my lifts. The problem is that muscles react fast, but tendons and ligaments don’t. So, inevitably one day I’d realize I’d done some damage and then I’d have an injury and have to recover. Gradually, over time, I’ve learned to dial this urge back. What’s the point…
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Do these four exercises and be really strong, Part 2
A couple weeks ago I wrote about four key exercises and then explained how to do two of them. This is the follow up post where I explain how to do the other two: the squat and the deadlift. The squat Your legs are pistons. Descend in controlled manner to the full squat position, keep…
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Do these four exercises and be really strong
At some point I discovered Elliot Hulse while watching YouTube at night. Watching YouTube is kind of a guilty pleasure. I can’t stand TV, but I think YouTube is great. You can search for whatever you want and once you get close to your topic, YouTube starts giving you a bunch of other stuff you’re…
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Morning deadlifts
Every now and then I get on a deadlift kick. Five days per week, as specified in power to the people by Pavel Tsatsouline. Just a simple linear cycle two sets of five, a working set and a back off set. I’ve worked up to decent weights this way but staying light right now. So,…
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Current Training and Stuff
My favorite time to train right now is between 8 or 10 in the morning. A lot of times I have conference calls in the morning. I’ll take these calls from home and then when they’re finished, exercise. Or, I’ll do stretches while I’m on the call. Two days per week I do weights in…
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Chin ups, dips, and pistols
Check out this bad boy: A little walk on a path and you find one of these suckers and you can get in a great workout. Chins, dips, and then pistols. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. A few circuits of these killer exercises and you’ll have quite a workout. Start with 8 reps for each exercise…
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Wiry Strength and the Nervous System—A Quick How-to
Man, I was watching Bruce Lee the other day. It’s been years since I’ve indulged. He was so small and powerful—it’s incredible. He’s been an inspiration since 1994, which is when I started working out. The thing about Bruce Lee is that he had amazing neurological strength. He knew how to contract his muscles. “From…