Weightlifting Action Photos: Bruce Klemens
Cover Image: Lee James
Copyright © 2017, Poliquin Performance Center 2, LLC. All rights reserved
First Edition, 2017
All materials, content and forms contained on or in this publication are the intellectual property of Poliquin Performance
Center 2, LLC, and may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or displayed without the expressed written permission of
Poliquin Performance Center 2, LLC.
Poliquin Performance Center 2, LLC, does not warrant, either expressly or implied, the accuracy, timeliness, or
appropriateness of the information contained in this publication. Poliquin Performance 2, LLC, disclaims any responsibility
associated with relying on the information provided in this publication. Poliquin Performance Center 2, LLC, also disclaims all
liability for any material contained in other publications.
Warning: Before beginning any exercise program, consult with your physician to ensure that you are in proper health. This
book is not meant to provide medical advice; you should obtain medical advice from your private health care practitioner. No
liability is assumed by the Poliquin Group for any of the information contained herein.
Table of Contents
WORKOUT SYSTEMS BOOK I
INTRODUCTION 1
1. The 1-6 Method 2
2. 5,4,3,2,1 Method 6
3. Cluster Training 10
4. Contrast Training 14
5. Matveyev Periodization Model 18
6. Modified Hepburn Method 22
7. The Okunyev Formula 28
8. One Lift a Day 34
9. Patient Lifter Method 40
10. Priority Training 44
11. Reg Park’s 5x5 Program 48
12. The Sports Palace System 54
13. Squat Every Day 59
14. Strongest Shall Survive Program 64
15. Westside Barbell Program 69
Glossary 75
INTRODUCTION
The workouts presented in this compendium of articles are among the most effective for
improving strength. Some, such as the 5x5 Method, are more effective for improving muscle
size, but they do so at the expense of developing maximal strength. As a general guideline,
these are the general loading parameters of developing the various types of strength.
Strength Quality
Muscle Fiber Type Time Under Tension (TUT) Reps Intensity
(Percent 1RM)
Strength Endurance
Type I
70 seconds +
13 +
30-69%
Hypertrophy
Types IIa
40-70 seconds
9-12
70-78%
Functional Hypertrophy Type IIx
20-40 seconds
6-8
79-84%
Relative Strength
1-20 seconds
1-5
85-100%
Type IIb
This book will focus on programs that develop functional hypertrophy and relative strength,
but consider that these fitness qualities are interrelated, such that developing relative
strength can have a positive effect on improving strength endurance.
From this starting point, creative sports scientists; strength coaches, personal trainers, and
athletes have developed systems that apply these guidelines. This book represents a
sampling of such programs, selected because they have stood the test of time by
consistently producing success.
Chapter 1
Vince Anello is the first man under 200 pounds bodyweight to deadlift 800 pounds. His relatively short torso and long arms gave him
an ideal physique for this lift.
1. The 1-6 Method
SUMMARY: The 1-6 Method shows how to apply research to training. In physical medicine, the concept of a phenomenon
called post-tetanic facilitation (PTF) has been used in the treatment of many neurological conditions. The 1-6 Methods
shows a practical way to apply the research on PTF to more effectively improve strength.
The 1-6 Method
The 1-6 Method, which uses a variety of repetition protocols to achieve results, can
produce dramatic increases in strength and size. It is based on the concept of a
neurological phenomenon called post-tetanic facilitation (PTF), which has been the subject
of considerable research. One of the early researchers in this field is German strength
physiologist Dietmar Schmidtbleicher, probably best known for his pioneering work in the
field of power development. You can also find a detailed scientific discussion of PTF in
Roger Enoka’s textbook, Neuromechanics of Human Movement, 4th ed. (Human Kinetics,
2008).
In simple terms, PTF describes the process by which a more powerful muscular contraction
is achieved if that contraction is preceded by a strong muscular contraction. Valeriy Borzov,
a Russian track and field athlete who won gold medals in the 100m and 200m sprints at the
1972 Olympics, used post-tetanic facilitation to “power up” his legs before sprinting.
The basic premise of the 1-6 Method is to use maximal loads to increase the activation of
the nervous system before performing sets of higher reps. The result is that you will be able
to use heavier weights in those 6-rep sets, which will enable you to build bigger and
stronger muscles.
Another bonus: The system taps into the higher-threshold motor units responsible for the
production of explosive strength, so it’s great for athletes who want to gain weight while
increasing power. As such, it’s ideal for wrestlers, MMA fighters, and athletes in grappling
sports such as Jiu-Jitsu.
Here is the gist of the 1-6 Method: Perform a maximum single repetition (1RM), rest, and
then perform the remainder of the exercise using as much weight as you can for 6 reps
(6RM). The rest period is 3-10 minutes; however, if you choose to perform supersets, you
would spend less time passively resting.
As an example, let’s say you can incline press 220 pounds for 6 reps and 265 for 1 rep. If
you perform that 1RM four minutes before a 6RM, you will probably be able to use 225-230
pounds. In fact, you might find that you will use more weight on the second and third 6RM
series (i.e., waves), such as with outlined in this workout:
Sample Incline Bench Press Workout, 1-6 Method
Set 1: 1 rep with 265 pounds
Set 2: 6 reps with 220 pounds
Set 3: 1 rep with 270 pounds
Set 4: 6 reps with 225 pounds
Set 5: 1 rep with 272.5 pounds
Set 6: 6 reps with 230 pounds
To show you how to use the 1-6 Method with supersets (to reduce the amount of passive
rest time) here is an example of a leg workout with the first superset using the 1-6 Method:
Sample Leg Workout, 1-6 Method
A1. Back Squat, (1,6,1,6,1,6), 50X0, rest 120 seconds
A2. Lying Leg Curl, Feet Neutral, (1,6,1,6,1,6), 50X0,
rest 120 seconds
B1. Barbell Lunge, 4 x 6-8, 40X1, rest 120 seconds
B2. Romanian Deadlift, 4 x 6-8, 40X1, rest 120 seconds
When designing your 1-6 Method workouts, consider that the goal of this routine is to
promote large increases in strength and in the cross-sectional area of the high-threshold
motor units. As such, you should use it primarily with exercises that work the large muscle
groups, such as squats and presses. Also, because you’re going to be doing a series of
1RM lifts, it’s imperative that you warm up. The warm-up should always consist of doing
reps with the first pair of the exercises listed in the workout. If you’ve warmed up properly,
there’s very little need to warm up for the second pair. Using the workout
example above, your squat warm-up might be 5 reps x 135 pounds, then 3 x 185, then 2 x
225, before you start the working sets.
As with any workout system, when you reach a point of diminishing returns you need to
change workouts. A four-week cycle is extremely effective using a training split as follows:
Day 1, Arms; Day 2, Legs; Day 3, Off; Day 4, Chest and Back, Day 5, Off.
The 1-6 Method is based on strong science. Give it a try and you’ll be surprised at how
quickly you can increase your functional hypertrophy and power.
Chapter 2
A three-time world champion, Bulgaria’s Blagoy Blagoev set 43 world
records. His snatch of 195.5 kilos at 90 kilos bodyweight that he set in
1983 is still considered pound-for-pound the best snatch ever.
2. 5,4,3,2,1 Method
SUMMARY: Bob Hoffman was one of the most influencial men in weightlifting and weight training. One workout that he wrote
was a pyramid system called the 5,4,3,2,1 Training Method. There is a skill involved in lifting heavy weights, and the 5,4,3,2,1
method teaches the muscles and nervous system how to express their true 1-rep maximum.
5,4,3,2,1 Method
Bob Hoffman was born in 1898, and a lifetime of service to the sport earned him the
nickname, “The Father of American Weightlifting.” Hoffman was a prolific writer, and in his
early works he described a pyramid type of program design known as the 5,4,3,2,1
Training Method.
Hoffman believed that a good guideline for getting strong was to perform a total of 15
“quality” repetitions of a given exercise: 5,4,3,2,1 equals 15 reps, as does 5x3 and 3x5.
Although there are flaws in this logic as sets of 5 produces a different training stimulus than
sets of 3, the 5,4,3,2,1 Training Method became a widely-used program used by countless
athletes in the Iron Game. It was a favorite of Dr. Mauro Di Pasquale, a former world
powerlifting champion and popular writer on strength training, nutrition, and supplements.
One benefit of the 5,4,3,2,1 method is that it teaches the muscles and nervous system how
to express their true 1-rep maximum. That is, it’s difficult to go from performing habitual
sets of 10-12 reps to doing a true 1RM because these higher reps don’t recruit the higherthreshold fibers that produce maximum muscle force.
Powerlifter John McKean wrote about the training method in 1969 in Muscular
Development, a magazine owned by Hoffman. Here is what he said about it. “The
countdown provides the lifter with several advantages. First of all, he is relieved of the
boredom of doing set after set with the same weight or for the same number of counts.
Secondly, he looks forward to each coming set because, in his mind, the decreased
repetitions make it easier to perform. Of course there is more weight to contend with but
those detestable reps are diminished! It can also be seen that the body acquires a gradual
adjustment to an ever-increasing weight. When one can force his mind and body to accept
heavier workloads, he begins to improve.”
The program is simple. After performing several warm-up sets, anywhere from 1-5 reps
with progressively heavier weights, you select a weight equal to your 5-repetition maximum
(5RM), and perform 5 reps. From here you add 2-3 percent more weight every set, doing
one fewer rep each set until you reach your 1RM. The difficulty a particular set is
determines how much weight you will use for your next set. If a weight is easy, increase by
3 percent or more. If the weight is a struggle, a 1 percent increase is a better choice.
Here’s what a typical work/set progression would look like for a squat (after warm-up),
assuming the 1RM for the movement is about 300 pounds:
Sample Work/Set Progression
265 x 5
270 x 4
275 x 3
282.5 x 2
290 x 1
NOTE: Increase resistance by 2.5-pound increments, using Plate Mates™ or record plates.
Obviously, you’ll need to adjust the starting weight upwards by small amounts as you
progress. For instance, if you successfully completed all the reps (5,4,3,2,1), you’ll need to
add a small amount of weight on the first set of the next workout.
Agonists and antagonists muscles can be alternated with supersets using this training
method. Here is a sample routine arm routine using the 5,4,3,2,1 method:
A1. Decline Close-Grip Bench Press, 5,4,3,2,1, 3210,
120 seconds rest
A2. Scott One-Arm DB Curl, 5,4,3,2,1, 3010,
120 seconds rest
B1. Incline BB Triceps Extension, 5,4,3,2,1, 3110,
120 seconds rest
B2. Standing Reverse Curl, 5,4,3,2,1, 3210,
120 seconds rest
There are many interpretations of the 5,4,3,2,1 Training Method. For example, weightlifters
were known to add several more single reps at the end of the program to further stimulate
maximal strength, such as with the following progression: 5,4,3,2,1,1,1. Also, some lifters
would not use maximal weights for the first two sets, starting with perhaps 80 percent of
their 5-rep maximum (1RM) and progressing to maximal weights.
If you want to learn more about this popular training method, a book that discusses it in
detail is Gray Hair and Black Iron: Secrets of Successful Strength Training for Older Lifters
by Brooks D. Kubik (www.oldtimestronger.com). Most of Hoffman’s books are out of print,
but Bill Hinbern (superstrengthtraining.com) re-released the York Barbell and Dumbbell
System, which is probably the earliest writing on this program.
The 5,4,3,2,1 Training Method has a long history, and it’s popularity suggests that it can be
an effective way to shock your muscles into higher levels of strength. Give it a try, for old
time’s sake!
Chapter 3
Pound-for-pound, the greatest weightlifter in history is three-time Olympic champion Naim Suleymanoglu. At a bodyweight of only
132 pounds, the “Pocket Hercules” snatched 336 pounds and clean and jerked 418 pounds.
3. Cluster Training
One of the most effective methods for developing strength is Cluster Training. It was popularized in the 70s by weightlifting
coach Carl Miller, but it took several decades before its value was recognized by the rest of the Iron Game community and
the field of strength and conditioning.
Cluster Training
One of the most effective methods for developing strength is Cluster Training, a method
popularized in the 70s when Carl Miller wrote about it in weightlifting magazines.
In traditional strength training, the athlete is often prescribed a workout using the following
loading parameters: 5 sets of 5RM, with muscular failure achieved on the last repetition of
every set, and rest intervals of about four minutes. In this workout, the athlete would
execute a total of 25 repetitions at 85 percent of 1RM in roughly 25 minutes.
With cluster training you select a higher percentage of your 1RM and rest longer between
reps, for example, 10-15 seconds. Rather than performing 5 sets of 5RM at 85 percent,
you might be able to use 90 percent of your 5RM. Therefore, Cluster Training would
increase the total training time under higher tension for the high-threshold fast-twitch fibers,
a prerequisite for reaching hypertrophy of these selected fibers.
With cluster training, success in all sets and reps is critical. It is better to use a weight that
is initially too light than a weight that is too heavy. Let’s say your best close-grip bench
press is 300 pounds and your 3RM is 270 pounds. You could start the first cluster at the
3RM weight: 270 pounds, but it would be better to start at 255 pounds; move up if it is too
easy.
A 2012 study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research tested the
effects of inter-repetition rest during multiple sets of the power clean. This study compared
peak power output, force, and velocity in the power clean with no inter-repetition rest, or
with either 20 seconds or 40 seconds of rest.
Participants were trained college-aged men, and they performed 3 sets of 6 reps of the
power clean at 80 percent of the 1RM. After each rep in the “no rest” group, participants
returned the barbell to the floor in a controlled manner and immediately performed the next
rep. The subjects in the “rest” groups rested for 20 or 40 seconds in the start position of
the power clean after they had returned the barbell to the floor.
Results showed that peak power significantly decreased by 16 percent during the “no rest”
sets (i.e., there was a 16 percent drop in peak power from the 1st to the 6th rep of the
set), compared to a decrease of 5.5 percent in the 20-second rest sets and to a decrease
of only 3 percent in the 40-second rest sets. Peak force also decreased significantly in the
“no rest” sets, whereas the other two rest groups maintained peak force throughout the set.
Peak velocity of the bar also decreased significantly by 10 percent in the “no rest” group
and dropped by only 3.8 percent and 1.7 percent in the 20-second and 40-second rest
groups, respectively.
Previous studies support mixing up training protocols with inter-repetition rest. A study of
elite Australian rugby players found that using inter-repetition rest improves lower body
power and velocity when training the power clean and squat. This study indicated that
cluster training can lead to greater neural adaptations and the recruitment of more Type II
muscle fibers.
Finally, a 2010 study on cluster training for the upper body found that this method allowed
participants to perform a high number of repetitions while maintaining the velocity of the
lifting motion, even when fatigue would have become a factor in a traditional training
scheme. The researchers concluded that cluster training is effective for developing power
and speed for sports and should be programmed accordingly. As such, upper body cluster
training can be used in sports such as wrestling, boxing, or judo, while lower body power
may be enhanced for rugby, soccer or football, or for track and field throwing events.
Although commonly used for exercises that recruit a lot of muscle mass, such as squats,
cluster training can also be used for smaller muscle groups. Here is an example of a cluster
training superset that combines a large muscle group upper body exercise with a smaller
one:
Sample Cluster Training
A1. 10-Degree Decline Close-Grip Bench Press, 3-5 clusters (5 x 1), 50X0, rest 10
seconds between reps and 120 seconds between sets
A2. Scott EZ Bar Semi-Supinated-Grip Curl,
3-5 clusters (5 x 1), 50X0, rest 10 seconds between reps and 120 seconds between sets
When you are ready to give cluster training a try, you should increase the weight only if all
reps and sets are successful. When you are ready to move up, a general guideline would
be to increase the weight by 1 to 3 percent.
It’s been said that the best workout program is the one you’re not using, which relates to
the idea that variety is essential to achieving rapid increases in strength and power. One
type of workout that should definitely be in your weight training toolbox is cluster training.
John Kuc was a three-time World Powerlifting champion who was the first to deadlift 850 pounds; his world record deadlift of 871
pounds set in 1980 stood for 15 years. At the 1972 AAU World Powerlifting Championships, Kuc squatted 905 pounds, bench pressed
600, and deadlifted 845 for a 2350 total. These lifts were performed under strict judging and performed with just ace bandages on his
knees.
4. Contrast Training
The concept of “bridging the gap” in strength training refers to applying strength developed in the weightroom to athletic
competition. One method of training designed to accomplish this is contrast training, which combines strength training with
plyometrics.
Contrast Training
Strength training and plyometrics are usually regarded as separate conditioning methods,
with the plyometrics being performed first in a training session. Contrast training “bridges
the gap” between these two training methods to help athletes increase their running speed,
jumping ability, and power.
Contrast training works on the concept of “post-tetanic potentiation” (PTP), which states
that a more powerful muscular response can be performed if it is preceded by a strong
muscular contraction. We often see baseball players swing weighed bats before stepping
up to the plate, such that they will be able to hit the ball harder. This is an example of PTP.
Here’s another example.
Let’s say you are lifting boxes of various weights. When you lift the heaviest boxes, you
recruit the powerful fast-twitch muscle fibers. When you lift a much lighter box after lifting a
heavy one, you might find that the box almost flies out of your hands. Although you don’t
need to recruit those powerful fibers, the nervous system was conditioned to activate those
fibers when you lifted the heavier box. This is the PTP effect.
PTP is the reason this training works, and the term coaches used to describe this method is
contrast training. This term fits, as you are contrasting two radically different training
methods in the same set to create more powerful muscular contractions.
One form of contrast training was used by Canadian strongman Doug Ivan Hepburn.
Hepburn won the 1953 World Weightlifting Championships and was the first man to bench
press 500 pounds, eventually lifting 545. Hepburn used a method where he would start his
workouts with heavy singles, followed by the same exercises but with slightly lighter weights
so that more reps could be performed.
Another form of contrast training is wave loading, popularized by Bulgarian weightlifters in
the ’70s and introduced to the bodybuilding community in the magazine Muscle
Builder/Power with an article detailing the training of Andon Nikolov, an Olympic champion in
weightlifting from Bulgaria. Nikolov went on break several world records held by David
Rigert, one of Russia’s most popular lifters. This article explained how Nikolov would work
up quickly to a one-rep max in either the snatch or the clean and jerk, then based upon
these results reduce the weight to be able to perform multiple reps of these exercises for
several sets.
One more type of contrast training involves performing a heavy weight training exercise
followed immediately by a plyometric exercise. A longer rest is taken after the plyometric
exercise to ensure near complete recovery. Here is an example of a contrast training
superset for the lower body designed to improve the vertical jump:
Sample Contrast Training
A1. Back Squat, 5 x 3, 40X1, rest 15 seconds
A2. Box Jump, 5 x 10, 10X1, rest 180 seconds
In this example, the squats will stimulate the nervous system to activate the powerful fasttwitch fibers without creating excessive fatigue in the athlete, and those fibers will be still be
activated during the box jump. For the upper body, you could perform a bench press
followed immediately by Marine push-ups (clapping at the top), as follows:
A1. Bench Press, 5 x 3, 40X1, rest 15 seconds
A2. Marine Push-ups, 5 x 10, 10X0, rest 120 seconds
To increase sprinting speed and leg power, you can use contrast training within the same
set of an exercise with a push sled. To do this, you would grasp the vertical handles near
the top and push the sled for about 10-15 yards. Without breaking stride, you would release
the handles, step to the side of the sled and take off in an all-out sprint for another 15- 20
yards. You’ll find that when you release the handles, you will experience a sudden burst of
speed as if someone was pushing you from behind. The result is that you will run faster
than you could otherwise.
As for the weight of the sled, traditionally track coaches warned against using more than 10
percent of bodyweight for this type of training, but more current research is suggesting that
weights of 30 percent of bodyweight, or more, can be used effectively. However, you don’t
want to push a sled for more than 25 yards because you want to stay in the acceleration
phase of running. As for the weight to use, that decision varies with the level of strength of
the athlete – a good rule of thumb is to use the weight that gives the athlete the greatest
kick when the athlete lets go of the sled.
Finally, consider that contrast training is very taxing on the nervous system, so it should
seldom be performed more than twice a week (with ideally two days rest between training
sessions) to avoid overtraining. Using this type of training once every five days or just once
a week may be the best approach.
Contrast training can be a valuable training method for helping athletes become faster and
more powerful, and as such strength coaches should consider trying it with their athletes.
Chapter 4
In 1971 Vasily Alekseyev became the first to clean and jerk 500 pounds. He won the Olympic Games twice and broke 80 world
records. His best official lifts were a 521-pound Olympic press, a 418-pound snatch, and a 564-pound clean and jerk. He was featured
on the cover of the April 14, 1975 issue of Sports Illustrated with the title, “World’s Strongest Man.”
5. Matveyev Periodization Model
SUMMARY: Periodization is a method of fatigue management used in the long-term design of workouts. One of the most
well-known forms of periodization is the model proposed by Russian sports scientist Leonid Matveyev nearly 50 years ago.
Although there are issues with using this workout with advanced athletes, it is useful in helping students of the Iron Game
how to manage all the loading parameters of training so that athletes can avoid overtraining and peak for competitions.
Matveyev Periodization Model
Periodization is a method of fatigue management used in the long-term design of workouts.
Periodization is a method of fatigue management used in the long- term design of workouts.
“Manipulating all the variables of training so that an individual reaches peak performance at
the most appropriate time” is one popular definition of periodization. Another definition is
that periodization is “a type of fatigue management system that uses training cycles that
repeat.” However you explain it, the most well-known form of periodization is the model
proposed by Russian sports scientist Leonid Matveyev nearly 50 years ago.
“Manipulating all the variables of training so that an individual reaches peak performance at
the most appropriate time” is one popular definition of periodization. Another definition is
that periodization is “a type of fatigue management system that uses training cycles that
repeat.” However you explain it, the most well-known form of periodization is the model
proposed by Russian sports scientist Leonid Matveyev nearly 50 years ago.
Matveyev’s periodization model proposes that training should gradually progress from low
intensities and a large volume of work to high intensities and a low volume of work. To
review, in weight training volume refers to the number of reps and sets performed, and
intensity refers to how much weight is lifted in relation to an individual’s best result for one
repetition.
Let’s compare an exercise performed for a 3x3 protocol to one performed for 10x10. The
sets of 3 reps would be considered high intensity and low volume, and the sets of 10 reps
would be considered low intensity and high volume. The sets of 10 may seem harder (and
thus more “intense”), but you can use heavier weights for sets of 3, so the intensity is
considered higher.
In a paper published in 1981 called “A Hypothetical Model for Strength Training,” US
researchers showed how to covert Matveyev’s periodization model into a weight training
program.
The program consisted of three phases, each phase lasting three to four weeks. The first
phase had the lowest intensity level and the highest volume, and the third phase had the
highest intensity level and the lowest volume. A fourth phase that uses low reps but with
light weights could be added to enable athletes to peak for competitions or maintain a high
level of fitness for an extended period. Here is how the US sports scientists broke down the
workout in terms of reps and sets:
Phase 1: Hypertrophy, 3-5 x 6-12
Phase 2: Basic Strength, 3-5 x 6 (or less)
Phase 3: Strength and Power, 3-5 x 1-5
Phase 4: Peaking or Maintenance, 1-3 x 1-3
In the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s textbook, Essentials of Strength
Training and Conditioning, a 17-week program using this periodization model was
presented. This program progressed from sets of 8-12 reps in the first phase to 1-2 reps in
the maintenance/peaking phase.
One problem with the American workouts was that the time between the first and third (and
fourth) phase was so long that the trainee would lose much of the muscle mass gained in
the first phase. To resolve this issue, Dr. Mike Stone, one of the authors of the paper
published in 1981, said that muscle mass could be maintained by performing an additional
set of 10 reps during the second and third phases.
Even though he wrote this periodization model, Matveyev warned that there are many
problems with it when applied to athletics. For example, it would be difficult for athletes to
work on their sports techniques when performing workouts involving a high frequency of
sets to failure for several weeks. Another issue is that for advanced athletes, the phases
are performed for too long and these athletes would quickly reach a state of diminishing
returns. In the NSCA version, the first phase was six weeks long. As such, this type of
training system would be more appropriate for a beginner who takes longer to adapt to a
workout.
One positive consequence of the periodization model presented by Dr. Stone and his
colleagues is that it got the strength coaching community away from looking at a single ideal
set-rep protocols, such as 5x5 or 5,4,3,2,1. In the early 70s, one multiple-set/rep
periodization protocol was presented by Dietmar Schmidtbleicher, a German sports
scientist who wrote about this in a track and field coaching publication.
Schmidtbleicher’s model alternates between shorter periods of higher volume and lower
intensities to periods of higher intensities and lower volume. This protocol would help
maintain the muscle mass developed in the first phase, and the variety prevents the trainee
from completely adapting to the workouts. The following is an example of this periodization
model:
Weeks 1-2: 3 x 10
Weeks 3-4: 5 x 6
Weeks 5-6: 3 x 8
Weeks 7-8: 5 x 4
Sports scientist Dr. Mel C. Siff has written extensively on Russian training methods, even
co-authoring a textbook on the subject with Russian sports scientist Dr. Yuri Verkhoshansky.
Siff said that the focus on this one Russian periodization model is not a true reflection of
Matveyev’s body of work, which includes discussions about a variety of periodization
models. This is true, but the popular model of periodization Matveyev created may be a
good starting point for beginners.
Chapter 5
One of the most massively-muscled powerlifters of his era, Doug Young won three IPF World Championships and bench pressed 612
pounds without any supportive gear. Young lifted in the 275-pound class and could also squat 722 pounds and deadlift 738 pounds – he
won the 1977 Championships despite suffering three broken ribs.
6. Modified Hepburn Method
SUMMARY: Doug Hepburn was one of the strongest men of his era, being the first man to bench press 500 pounds. He won
the World Weightlifting Championships and performed feats of strength that few could match. There are two components to
this training system, the first focuses on developing maximum strength and the second on developing functional hypertrophy.
Modified Hepburn Method
In the early days of the Iron Game there were several amazing athletes who achieved
Herculean levels of maximal strength. Their formula for success was an optimal mix of
principle-based training, sound nutrition, adequate recovery, and a drive to improve. One
such athlete was Doug Ivan Hepburn.
Hepburn was born in Vancouver, Canada, on September 16, 1926. Born cross-eyed and
with a clubfoot, Hepburn took up weight training when he was 15 and overcame his
disabilities to become incredibly strong. By age 18 he could squat 340 pounds, bench press
260 and curl 140. Many strength historians argue that at his peak Hepburn was the
strongest man in the world.
Hepburn won the gold medal at the 1953 World Weightlifting Championships as a super
heavyweight and could push press 445 pounds and deadlift 705. Hepburn was the first man
to bench press 500 pounds (eventually lifting 545), and his record-breaking success in such
basic strength exercises earned him the title of “Grandfather of Modern Powerlifting.”
The system that follows was inspired by Hepburn, with a bit of Hungarian and Romanian
weightlifting methodologies mixed in. It is called the Modified Hepburn Method and consists
of two parts.
Part 1: Heavy Singles Work
With this system, after a good warm-up you use heavy weights that will recruit the highestthreshold motor units (i.e., fast-twitch fibers). Specifically, you start with a weight you can
lift for 5 singles and progress to where you can complete 8 singles with the weight. After
you have done your singles, go back down to a weight at which you can complete 5 sets of
3 reps. At this intensity step you want to get to the level where you can successfully
complete 5 sets of 5 repetitions.
For success with this strength building system you must adhere to the following guidelines:
• Perform the singles with 95 percent effort. It is the volume of high intensity, not just the
intensity, that dictates the training effect.
• On the 8th single, if you feel particularly strong, increase the weight for the next
workout
• Provide enough rest between sets to ensure adequate recovery (at least 120 seconds)
Part 2: High-Threshold Hypertrophy Work
At this intensity step, you should work with about 72 to 78 percent of your 1RM. Again, rest
at least 120 seconds after each set to ensure adequate recovery. The idea is that once you
have excited the nervous system with the singles completed in part 1, you do hypertrophy
work for the higher-threshold motor units.
For a practical example, let’s look at one individual’s progression – we’ll call him Tom –
using this training system. In this case, Tom’s best incline press is currently 320 pounds. His
workout progression for his first three workouts could look like this:
Workout 1
Part 1: (heavy singles) at 50X0 tempo
Set 1: 305 x 1
Set 2: 305 x 1
Set 3: 305 x 1
Set 4: 305 x 1
Set 5: 305 x 1
Part 2: (high-threshold hypertrophy work) at 3210 tempo
Set 1: 240 x 3
Set 2: 240 x 3
Set 3: 240 x 3
Set 4: 240 x 3
Set 5: 240 x 3
Tom was conservative on his first workout to ensure he completed all his reps. Let’s look at
his next workout.
Workout 2
Part 1: (heavy singles) at 50X0 tempo
Set 1: 305 x 1
Set 2: 305 x 1
Set 3: 305 x 1
Set 4: 305 x 1
Set 5: 305 x 1
Set 6: 305 x 1
Set 7: 305 x 1
Set 8: 305 x 1
Tom reached the goal of completing 8 singles. For his next workout, Tom should aim at
doing 8 singles with an even heavier weight.
Part 2: (high-threshold hypertrophy work) at 3210 tempo
Set 1: 240 x 5
Set 2: 240 x 5
Set 3: 240 x 5
Set 4: 240 x 4
Set 5: 240 x 3
Tom fell short of his goal by three reps, so he will stay at that weight for his next workout.
Workout 3
Part 1: (heavy singles) at 50X0 tempo
Set 1: 310 x 1
Set 2: 310 x 1
Set 3: 310 x 1
Set 4: 310 x 1
Set 5: 310 x 1
Set 6: 310 x 1
Set 7: 310 x 1
Set 8: 310 x 1
Tom again reached the goal of doing 8 singles, so he needs to try to perform 8 singles with
more weight on his next workout.
Part 2: (high-threshold hypertrophy work) at 3210 tempo
Set 1: 240 x 5
Set 2: 240 x 5
Set 3: 240 x 5
Set 4: 240 x 5
Set 5: 240 x 5
Tom completed all 5 sets! He should now increase the weight so he is back down to at least
5 sets of 3.
After completing seven workouts using this system, Tom should rest five days and then
attempt a new max on the incline press. At the rate he was progressing he would probably
finish with 347.5 pounds, which is 27.5 pounds above his previous best.
This training system can be used for other body parts. For example, here is an advanced
arm workout, performed twice a week with at least two days rests between workouts:
A1. Decline Close-Grip Bench Press, 8 x 1, 50X0, rest 120 seconds
A2. EZ Bar Reverse-Grip Scott Curl, 8 x 1, 50X0, rest 120 seconds
B1. Decline Close-Grip Bench Press, 5 x 3-5, 40X0, rest 120 seconds
B2. EZ Bar Reverse Grip Scott Curl, 5 x 3-5, 40X0, rest 120 seconds
You can’t find a more solid formula for strength training than Doug Hepburn’s. Hepburn died
in 2000, but his legacy is proving that the human body has not dramatically evolved in the
last 50 years and that basic hard work still prevails. There are no shortcuts – that’s the
Doug Hepburn way!
Chapter 6
Bulgaria’ Yoto Yotov (left) is a two-time Olympic silver medalist and Belgian’s Serge Reding (right), a three-time Olympian who also
won a silver medal. Both reached the elite level of their sport with strikingly different physiques.
7. The Okunyev Formula
SUMMARY: With all the variables that can influence performance on a given day, including what time of day the you lift or
how much sleep you got the night before, it is nearly impossible to predict the exact weights to use in a given exercise. With
the Okunyev Method, you use an intensity bracket that provides a range of specific weights to use based upon a percentage
of an athlete’s 1RM (one-repetition maximum).
The Okunyev Formula
Weightlifters and other strength-power athletes often use percentages for exercises to
determine how much weight to lift. An alternative is to use intensity brackets. This is a
formula for program design that appears to have been introduced 30 years ago by M.S.
Okunyev, a former head coach of the USSR National Junior Weightlifting Team.
One issue with percentage systems is that they lock you into specific weights, regardless of
what you are capable of lifting that day. If you are not having a good training day, the weight
will be too heavy; on a good training day, too light. Further, many individuals get frustrated
trying to follow precise percentage-based workouts and thereby may increase their risk of
injury. If a weightlifter is told to perform 90 percent of their best clean and jerk for three
sets of two reps and they miss both reps on that first set, rather than reducing the weight
they may continue trying that same weight for their remaining sets, thus subjecting
themselves to a greater risk of injury as their technique becomes compromised.
The bottom line is that with all the variables that can influence performance on a given day,
including what time of day the you lift or how much sleep you got the night before, it is
nearly impossible to predict the exact weights to use in a given exercise. With the Okunyev
Method, you use an intensity bracket that provides a range of specific weights to use based
upon a percentage of an athlete’s 1RM (one-repetition maximum).
Here are a few examples:
Here are a few examples:
1RM: 100 kilos (220 pounds)
Intensity Bracket: 90-95 percent
Weight Range: 90-95 kilos (198-209 pounds)
Workout:
Set 1: Warm-up: 50 kilos x 5
Set 2: Warm-up: 70 kilos x 4
Set 3: Warm-up: 85 kilos x 3
Working Sets: 90-95 kilos x 5 x 2 – or to use another form of notation: (90-95 x 2)5
Using the above formula, here is what a workout could look like if an athlete is feeling
strong:
Strong Training Day
Set 1: 90 x 2
Set 2: 92.5 x 2
Set 3: 95 x 2
Set 4: 95 x 2
Set 5: 95 x 2
As you can see, each set is dependent upon how many reps are performed in the previous
set, or how difficult the previous set felt. If you are having an off day, stay at the lowest
weight in the intensity bracket, as follows:
Weak Training Day
Set 1: 90 x 2
Set 2: 90 x 2
Set 3: 90 x 2
Set 4: 90 x 2
Set 5: 90 x 2
As a general rule, the intensity bracket depends upon the complexity of the exercise. A
complex exercise that requires a high skill level or is especially taxing, such as a snatch or
deadlift, would require a wider intensity bracket (such as 5-10 percent); simpler exercises,
such as a bench press or biceps curl, a narrower bracket (such as 2.5-5 percent). Further,
with the Okunyev Method, you can build in some safety guidelines about what weights to
select in an intensity bracket.
For example, using the above exercise prescription, establish a rule that if a rep is missed,
for the next set you must drop down to the lightest weight in that intensity bracket. Here are
some possible workout scenarios:
Example 1
Set 1: 90 x 2
Set 2: 95 x 0
Set 3: 90 x 2
Set 4: 92.5 x 1
Set 5: 90 x 1
Example 2
Set 1: 90 x 2
Set 2: 92.5 x 1
Set 3: 90 x 2
Set 4: 92.5 x 2
Set 5: 95 x 2
Example 3
Set 1: 90 x 2
Set 2: 95 x 2
Set 3: 95 x 2
Set 4: 95 x 1
Set 5: 90 x 2
This system could also be effective with a form of cluster training in which extended rest
periods are used between repetitions in a set. If you can front squat 80 kilos for three
repetitions, but with a 15-second rest between reps, you may be able to use 82.5 or even
85 kilos for three reps. Here is how such an exercise prescription could be written using the
Okunyev Method:
A. Front Squat: (80-85 x 1/1/1)5, 15 seconds rest between sets
You can also vary the number of sets, for example:
A. Front Squat: (80-85 x 1/1/1)3-5, 15 seconds rest between sets
And you could experiment with a form of cluster training in which you use short rest intervals
between sets, for example:
A. Front Squat
Series 1: (80-85 x 3)2, 1 minute rest between sets
Rest 3-5 minutes
Series 2: (82.5-87.5 x 2)2, 1 minute rest between sets
Rest 3-5 minutes
Series 3: (85-90 x 1)2, 1 minute rest between sets
…or you can proceed in the other direction so you can use heavier weights (as there is less
cumulative fatigue before the heaviest sets):
B. Front Squat
Series 1: (85-90 x 1)2, 1 minute rest between sets
Rest 3-5 minutes
Series 2: (82.5-87.5 x 2)2, 1 minute rest between sets
Rest 3-5 minutes
Series 3: (80-85 x 3)2, 1 minute rest between sets
This form of cluster training also helps prepare weightlifters for competitions when they find
they are following themselves in the weight progression and consequently only have two
minutes to perform their next attempt. If weightlifters train allowing 4-5 minutes of rest
between sets, or even longer, often they find themselves experiencing undue stress during
competitions when the rest time between sets is shorter.
Online coaching is extremely popular today, and this flexible system works well for them
because they do not have direct, daily contact with their clients. Whether you train yourself
or train others, the Okunyev Method is a great alternative program-design system to help
you fine-tune your workouts for maximum results.
Chapter 7
Russia’s David Rigert is an Olympic Champion who set 68 world records in his career, establishing records in three different weight
classes. Rigert was heavily muscled and in training power cleaned 485 pounds, snatched 440 pounds, bench pressed 463 (with legs
raised), and did a strict military press with 374 pounds.
8. One Lift a Day
SUMMARY: The number of training systems available is seemingly countless, and many are especially complex. “One Lift a
Day” is about the simplest method of training available because you just perform one exercise a day, such as a squat or a
deadlift. For those who have little time to train and want to get the most “bang for your buck” from a workout, this program
might be just what you need.
One Lift a Day
Training stuck in a rut? Confused about all the complex workout systems with combinations
of supersets, tri-sets, and giant sets – prescribed with confusing variations of light, medium,
and heavy poundages? Want to take a break with a ridiculously simple workout system that
increases strength and muscle mass fast? Then consider the workout philosophy, “One Lift
a Day.”
One lift a day workouts entail focusing on one multi-joint exercise in a single workout. This
training approach has been around for so long, and there are so many variations of it, that
it’s difficult to determine its origins. However, one sport that has embraced the concept for
over a half a century is weightlifting.
Unlike bodybuilding or sports-specific training in which pumping iron is used to achieve a
specific goal, such as physique transformation or athletic fitness, weightlifting is unique in
that the barbell is the sport. A lifter performs snatches and clean and jerks in training, and
performs those same lifts in competition. Also, because of the technical complexity of the
lifts and the lower number of reps performed, a large number of sets are needed to
adequately warm-up for the heavier attempts and to achieve sufficient training volume. The
problem is that performing both the snatch and the clean and jerk in a single training session
is not the best way to perfect the technique of the lifts.
A relatively lighter weight is used in the snatch than the clean, and lifters have found that
performing one lift before the other can adversely affect the timing of the second exercise.
For example, if snatches are performed first, a lifter may try to pull the bar too fast off the
floor in the clean. Pulling too fast off the floor in the clean for one’s strength level may cause
the lower back to flex excessively, reducing the acceleration on the bar and placing
excessive stress on the spine. If the clean is performed first, the lifter’s lower back may
become too fatigued to achieve optimal speed during the lift.
For these reasons, weightlifters often design their workouts such that they only focus on
one lift per training session, with the addition of an auxiliary exercise, such as a pull or a
squat. In fact, Bulgarian weightlifting guru Ivan Abadjiev said that following the concept of
training specificity, he could see weightlifters only performing two lifts in training: the snatch
and the clean and jerk, with no squats.
Other Iron Game athletes who have used the concept of one lift a day are powerlifters. A
powerlifter might focus on the squat on Monday, bench press on Wednesday, and the
deadlift on Friday. Bodybuilders have also used the concept to bring up a lagging body part
that was hurting their symmetry, such as devoting a single workout session to overhead
pressing exercises to widen their shoulders and thus improve their V-taper. In effect, these
bodybuilders are practicing structural balance.
From a training intensity perspective, performing one lift a day may increase the intensity of
the exercise. Bulgarian strength coach Angel Spassov lectured to strength coaches in the
US in the late 80s and early 90s that testosterone levels would achieve their highest levels
in about 15 minutes into the workout, and maintain that level for about 30 minutes; after 30
minutes testosterone levels would decrease, and as such the quality of the workout would
suffer.
Using this idea as part of their scientific foundation, weightlifting coaches from Bulgaria
designed their workouts to last about 45 minutes. However, to achieve sufficient volume in
their workouts, their athletes would train several times a day. For example, a lifter might
snatch in the morning, clean and jerk in the afternoon, and squat in the evening; many
Bulgarian weightlifters who won Olympic gold were known to train five times a day, six days
a week, using this system.
In the late 80s, this idea of one (or a few) lifts per training sessions inspired the creation of
a popular bodybuilding workout by Leo Costa and Dr. R.L. Horine called “The Bulgarian
Power Burst System,” which presented the idea of a bodybuilder performing multiple
training sessions a day and performing relatively few exercises each workout. However, it
should be noted that when asked about the program at an Eleiko Strength Summit in 2011,
Coach Abadjiev said that he was not consulted in the development of this workout system
nor had he read the book written by Costa and Horine.
From a psychological perspective, one lift a day workouts provide a refreshing change from
traditional workouts. Knowing that you only have to go all-out in a single exercise may
increase your motivation to train. On a more subjective level, there is research suggesting
that focusing on a single exercise may have advantages over training multiple lifts in a single
workout session.
In 2012, researchers from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences presented a study that
looked at the differences between training 3 days a week and extending that same workout
to 6 days a week. This study involved 16 powerlifters (13 men, 3 women) who had
competed in national competitions. The workouts lasted 15 weeks, with the athletes
performing 3 or 6 weekly training sessions. Total training, volume, training intensity and
exercises for both groups were nearly identical. The authors concluded, “Dividing total
training volume into 6 smaller sessions was more effective than the traditional 3 sessions
per week regime both for the increase in 1 RM [1-repetition maximum] in squat and benchpress, as well as for the increase in thigh muscle CSA [cross sectional area]. The
mechanisms behind the superior effects of more frequent and smaller sessions cannot be
directly addressed in this study, but more frequent stimuli for hypertrophy and less fatiguing
sessions might be possible explanations.”
The lifts performed in a one lift a day training session should be those that involve a
maximum amount of muscle mass. To use an extreme example, a bench press would be
better than a triceps kickback. It follows that a leg press would be more effective than a leg
extension, but a squat would be more effective than a leg press.
Example of a weekly “One Lift a Day” program:
Monday: Back Squat
Tuesday: Chin-up
Wednesday: Military Press
Thursday: Deadlift
Friday: Bent-Over Row
Saturday: Bench Press
Sunday: Rest
How many reps and sets to perform for each exercise depends on the training goal. Lower
reps would develop the highest level of relative strength, medium reps functional
hypertrophy, and higher reps, hypertrophy and strength endurance. Using a back squat, for
example, the set/reps could be programmed as follows: 6-8 sets x 2-4 reps (relative
strength), 4-6 sets x 4-6 reps (functional hypertrophy), 4-5 sets x 10-12 reps (hypertrophy).
Combinations of these loading parameters could also be used, such as alternating between
phases of hypertrophy and functional hypertrophy, for those who want to develop high levels
of size and strength.
Although the core idea of this workout is one lift a day, often an auxiliary exercise using the
same muscle groups is included. Mark Rippetoe, in his book Practical Programming for
Strength Training, offered this example:
Monday: Bench Day + Assistance (shoulders and triceps)
Tuesday: Squat Day + Assistance (hamstrings and lower back)
Thursday: Press Day + Assistance (chest and triceps)
Friday: Light Squat + Deadlift + Assistance (back)
Expanding on this idea, Rippetoe says on Monday the sequence could be bench press,
seated dumbbell press, seated triceps extension. As for reps and sets, he said for the
bench press you could do 5x5 on week 1, 5x3 on week 2, and 5x1 on week 3; the
remaining exercises would be performed for 3-5 sets of 10-12 reps each week.
Another appealing aspect of the one lift a day workouts is that because there are more rest
days between a lift, you can supposedly train harder. No need to cycle your training
intensities among “light, medium, and heavy” workouts. So rather than have
heavy/medium/light days in various combinations, you simply perform the heaviest weights
you can for that day based on the number of reps prescribed.
One lift a day workouts would probably be more effective for immediate-level trainees (i.e.,
those with at least one year of training experience) and advanced trainees. It’s not to say
that a beginner cannot make progress on this type of workout, but that they may achieve
better results with a more conventional program that has a greater training frequency for
each lift.
If you want to try a simple, proven weight training system that has you going “hard and
heavy” every workout, “One Lift a Day” workouts may just be the workout system for you.
REFERENCES
Raastad T, Kirketeig, A, Wolf, D, Paulsen G. “Powerlifters improved strength and muscular adaptations to a greater extent
when equal total training volume was divided into 6 compared to 3 training sessions per week” (abstract). Book of
abstracts, 17th annual conference of the ECSS, Brugge 4-7 July 2012.
Rippetoe, Mark; Barker, Andy. Practical Programing for Strength Training, 3rd Edition, 2013, pp. 156-157, The Aasgaard
Company, Wichita Falls, Texas
Chapter 8
Mike MacDonald is the only powerlifter to hold the world record in the bench press in four bodyweight classes at the same time. His
best lifts are 522 at 181 pounds, 562 at 198 pounds, 603 at 220 pounds, and 635 weighing 232 pounds. With the help of Warren Tetting
who builds exercise equipment, MacDonald designed a cambered bar that enabled him to work the pectorals through a greater range
of motion.
9. Patient Lifter Method
SUMMARY: The rationale for the Patient Lifter Method is that using the same weight over and over becomes so boring that
the desire for change motivates trainees to get stronger so they can move on to a new workout. With this training method,
trainees start off with weights they can handle comfortably for 6 sets of 2 reps. They are not allowed to increase the weight
until their strength increases to the level where they can perform 6 sets of 4 reps. That’s it!
Patient Lifter Method
Slumps are a part of sports, with the Iron Game no exception.
When a basketball team misses a lot of foul shots in a game, the coach will often have the
players perform a tedious number of free throws during the next practice. In effect, this
method uses boredom to achieve the desired result. Such is the inspiration for the Patient
Lifter Method.
With this training method, trainees start off with weights they can handle comfortably for 6
sets of 2 reps. They are not allowed to increase the weight until their strength increases to
the level where they can perform 6 sets of 4 reps. That’s it!
The rationale for this type of training is that using the same weight over and over becomes
so boring that the desire for change motivates trainees to get stronger so they can move on
to a new workout. From a more scientific perspective, the Patient Lifter method works by
the law of repeated efforts.
One definition of that law is that adaptation will occur if an activity is repeated enough,
which suggests that if you continue to use the same load workout after workout, the
nervous system will eventually be forced to accept that weight as normal. This process is
not a visualization (such as saying to yourself, “Next workout I know I can hit 6 sets of 4
reps!); rather, it is a physiological adaptation.
Regarding the starting weight, it will be 80 to 87 percent of your 1-repetition maximum,
depending upon your current neurological efficiency. Neurological efficiency refers to how
effectively an individual recruits their higher-threshold muscle fibers.
Athletes who are neurologically inefficient, as in the case of beginners, will respond better
to the 80 percent load because they cannot effectively recruit the higher-threshold muscle
fibers to help them lift the weight. Neurological efficiency is one reason that the Advanced
German Volume Training Program (designed for trainees who have at least five years of
training experience) uses sets of 6 reps instead of the 10 reps prescribed in the German
Volume Training program.
When using the Patient Lifter method, you need to take 4-5 minutes’ rest between sets to
allow your nervous system to recover completely. However, if you pair exercises for agonist
and antagonist muscles, you can cut that rest time just about in half. If you pair the biceps
with the triceps, for example, you could rest 120 seconds after each exercise so that by the
time you return to the biceps, you will have nearly 5 minutes’ rest (it adds up to more than 4
minutes because you have to include the time it takes to perform the triceps exercise).
Here is a sample arm workout using
the Patient Lifter method:
A1. Close-Grip Barbell Scott Curl, 6 x 2-4, 4010, rest 120 seconds
A2. Close-Grip Bench Press, 6 x 2-4, 4010, rest 120 seconds
B1. Standing EZ Bar Curl, 6 x 2-4, 4010, rest 120 seconds
B2. Close-Grip Bench Press Rack Lock-Out, 6 x 2-4, 2210, rest 120 seconds
If you’re fouling out with poor gains in your lifting, it’s time to turn things around. Let
boredom work for you by trying the Patient Lifter method.
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
As a child, Marv Phillips fell from a tree and reportedly tore his right arm completely from his body. Surgeons used 287 internal
stitches and 167 external stitches to sew his arm back on. Phillips was a 1974 national champion in powerlifting and broke the world
record in the squat seven times, with a best of 848 pounds in the 242-pound bodyweight class..
10. Priority Training
SUMMARY: A sensible guideline in training is to perform the most effective exercises early in the workout. The popular name
for this approach is Priority Training.
Priority Training
The 1966 Mr. Universe was one of the few bodybuilding competitions Arnold
Schwarzenegger lost. The winner, America’s Chet Yorton, was not nearly as massive as the
Austrian Oak but distinguished himself with large, diamond-shaped calves that were an
apparent weakness for Arnold. This loss convinced Arnold to make calf work a priority in his
training, and the result was that he turned a weakness into a strength and went on to an
undefeated run in the Mr. Olympia.
Arnold’s story is testament to the value of Priority Training, which suggests that you need to
perform the most important exercises early in your workout.
Those who write time management books and planning diaries always talk about setting
priorities with “To Do” lists. This is good advice because to achieve your goals it’s best to
focus first on those tasks that will provide the most impact, increasing the likelihood they will
get completed. Likewise, a sensible guideline in training is to perform the most effective
exercises early in the workout.
What are the most effective exercises? There are a number of factors to consider – here
are a few:
1. Exercises that recruit the maximum amount of muscle fibers. For example, the triceps
has three heads: long head, lateral head, and medial head. You should generally perform
exercises that work all three heads rather than just one or two. An excellent resource on
what exercises work which muscle groups is Target Bodybuilding by Per A. Tesch, PhD.
Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Tesch was able to determine which muscle
groups were used in 60 common exercises, many of them arm exercises, and how hard
they worked.
A practical way to determine which exercises activate the most muscle fibers is by how
much weight can be used in those exercises, obviously assuming that proper form is
respected. Therefore, dips on V-bars will do far more for your triceps development than
triceps kickbacks, and triceps pushdowns will not be as effective as close-grip bench
presses or seated-half presses in rack for rapid strength and mass gains in the triceps. For
the elbow flexors, one-arm Scott hammer curls will recruit more fibers than lying prone
dumbbell curls or incline bench concentration curls.
2. Technical complexity. Compound exercises with a high technical component, such as the
Olympic lifts and their variations, need to be performed first in a session; also in this
category are exercises used in the training for strongman competition, such as keg and
sandbag lifts. These exercises require a great deal of concentration and coordination, and
therefore they should be performed when the trainee’s energy lev- els are highest and the
nervous system is rested and in a wakeful state. Thus, a snatch should be performed
before a push press, a push press before a squat, and a squat before a biceps curl.
One bonus of this training method is that it saves time. Many complex exercises involve a
large amount of muscle mass, and as such they serve as an effective warm-up for other
exercises. For example, if you started your workouts with the military press, you might need
just three warm-up sets before you would be ready for maximal-effort sets.
3. Muscle fiber type. For optimal recruitment of the fast-twitch fibers from an exercise, one
must train them when the central nervous sys- tem is fresh; hence, at the beginning of the
training unit (or session). Here is an example of a workout that starts with an explosive
exercise followed by a strength exercise.
A. Power Clean, 7 x 3, 11X1, rest 150 seconds
B. Front Squat, 6 x 5, 4, 3, 3, 4, 5, 3010, rest 150 seconds
A practical example of how to apply this principle would be when working the calves. The
gastrocnemius is roughly 60 percent fast-twitch fibers, and the soleus is approximately 88
percent slow-twitch fibers; therefore, the gastrocnemius should be trained first. By the
same logic, in the case of elbow flexor training, the brachialis should be trained before the
biceps brachii because the brachialis has more fast-twitch fibers than the biceps brachii.
Other examples of muscles that are primarily fast-twitch include adductor longus, biceps
femoris, pectoralis major, psoas, rectus abdominus, and triceps.
There are exceptions where you would perform a slow speed exercise before a fast speed
exercise in a superset. This is the case with contrast training, where a heavy weight is used
first in a superset to stimulate the nervous system before an explosive exercise. Here is an
example.
A1. Back Squat, 8 x 3, 4010, rest 45 seconds
A2. Barbell Jumps, 8 x 6-8, 10X0, rest 180 seconds
4. Training Goal. The order of the exercises will change as the goals of the individual
change. A chain is only as strong as its weakness link, and the exercise order should be
arranged to reflect these goals. For example, when many bodybuilders decide they want to
compete, they often find that their calves are relatively weaker compared to their other
body parts. As such, calf exercises should be performed first, or at least early, in a training
session. The same principle applies to sports specific training.
A short-term training goal for a downhill skier might be to improve hamstring strength in the
off-season. Often the stress on the quadriceps from practicing their sport is enough to
maintain, and even increase, strength in the quadriceps. However, without supplemental
weight training, during the season it’s easily possible to develop a relative weakness in the
hamstrings. As such, performing hamstring exercises first in a workout can help athletes
achieve structural balance.
Now that you have your priorities straight, it’s time to get to work!
Al Feuerbach broke the world record in the shot put in 1973 with a put of 71’7”. He competed in the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games,
and in 1974 won the Senior National Weightlifting Championships in the 242-pound bodyweight division with lifts of 341 in the snatch
and 418 in the clean and jerk.
11. Reg Park’s 5x5 Program
SUMMARY: Reg Park was one of the most popular bodybuilders in the early days of physique competition, winning the most
prestigious titles of his era. He also possessed tremendous strength, being the first bodybuilder to bench press 500 pounds,
and was one of the few bodybuilders who possessed 20-inch arms. As such, this program is designed to make an individual
as strong as they looked.
Reg Park’s 5x5 Program
One of the most popular workouts during the past half-century is Reg Park’s 5x5 System.
Not to be confused with the version developed by strength coach Bill Starr that has proven
to be especially popular with football players, Park’s workout is designed to develop a
physique that is as strong as it looks.
There have been many variations of the 5x5 training system, but one source can be found in
Reg Park’s book, Strength and Bulk Training for Weight Lifters and Body Builders,
published in 1960. It was a workout that helped Park become not just a bodybuilding legend
and one of the strongest bodybuilders in his time, but also a movie star.
Park played Hercules on the big screen in five movies, his first being Hercules and the
Captive Women in 1961. In the days before CGI, if you wanted an actor to look like
Hercules, that actor had to pack on a lot of muscle in the gym. Park had done just that,
building a balanced physique that included 20-inch arms.
Park’s first major bodybuilding competition was the Mr. Britain in 1946, where he placed
forth, winning the title in 1949. In the amateur NABBA Mr. Universe competition in 1950,
Park placed second to Steve Reeves, another bodybuilder who played Hercules in movies.
Park won the overall title in the amateur NABBA Mr. Universe in 1951, and the pro divisions
in 1958 and 1965. He placed second to Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1970 by just ½ point,
and again placed second in 1973. Very few professional athletes have stayed at the top of
their game for nearly three decades, which is why there has been considerable interest in
how Park trained.
Park believed that one of the benefits of using a 5x5 protocol it that it develops tremendous
strength. Many years later Starr said he used 5x5 for his workout because the available
research at the time suggested that the optimal range of reps to build strength was
between 4-6. For Park this was certainly true, as he was the first bodybuilder to bench
press 500 pounds. He did this lift in 1953, long before the creation of the supportive gear
used today by many powerlifters. Consider too that the first man to bench press 500
pounds was Canadian weightlifter Doug Hepburn. Hepburn outweighed Park by 60 pounds
and accomplished this milestone lift just 10 days before Park matched him.
Although you can use this set/rep protocol with any exercise, it is usually reserved for core
exercises such as squats, deadlifts, and bench presses. Park would use 5x5 for these core
exercises, but perform higher reps for isolation exercises such as calf raises and triceps
extensions.
The basic goal of Park’s workout is to perform two progressively heavier sets of 5 reps of
an exercise, then three sets of 5 using the same weight. When you can complete all three
sets with the heavier weights, increase the weight on all five sets by 5-10 pounds.
Supersets were not performed in Park’s system so that you could focus on putting the
maximum effort into each set. Here is a three-phase outline of Park’s workout:
Phase 1
(3 months - M/W/F)
Back Squat, 5x5
Bench Press, 5x5
Deadlift, 5x5
Pull-up, 5x5
45-Degree Back Extension, 5x5
Abs, 5x5
*Super-set the last two exercises (back and abs).
Phase 2
(3 months - M/W/F)
Front Squat, 5x5
Back Squat, 5x5
Bench Press, 5x5
Standing Barbell Shoulder Press, 5x5
High Pull, 5x5
Deadlift, 5x5
Standing Barbell Calf Raise, 5x25
Pull-up, 5x5
45-Degree Back Extension, 5x5
Abs, 5x5
Phase 3
(3 months - M/W/F)
Front Squat, 5x5
Back Squat,5x5
Standing Barbell Shoulder Press, 5x5
Bench Press, 5x5
Bent-over Barbell Row, 5x5
Deadlift, 5x3
Behind-the-Neck Press or One-Arm Dumbbell Press, 5x5
Barbell Curl, 5x5
Lying Triceps Extension, 5x8
Standing Barbell Calf Raise, 5x25
Pull-up, 5x5
45-degree back extension, 5x5
Abs, 5x5
The problem with this system is that when an individual reaches a higher level of strength,
more warm-up sets are needed. If someone can squat 350 pounds for five reps, performing
one set of let’s say 135x5 and one of 300x5 may not be enough warm-up to perform 350
for sets of 5. Squatting is a skill, and two warm-up sets is probably not enough work to
prepare especially strong individuals physically and mentally to lift maximum poundages.
Further, at the higher levels of strength, more volume (total reps) of maximum weights is
often required to make optimal progress.
A modern twist of Park’s program for an advanced trainee on major exercises would be to
perform 4-5 warm-up sets of 5 reps, followed by 5 sets of 5 reps with a primary weight.
Let’s see how this program can be used for the bench press.
Let’s assume your best result in this lift is 200 pounds for 5 reps. Warm-up with four sets
using these weights: 45, 95, 135, and 185. Now put 200 pounds on the bar and try to
complete five sets, resting 3-5 minutes between sets. If, during your first workout, you
could only perform an average of 2 reps per set with the primary weight, the weight is too
heavy as you should be able to complete at least a total of 14 reps. To get you back on
track, for your next workout back off to 190 pounds and start the cycle again.
Now let’s say you completed the following reps for each set with 200 pounds: 5,4,3,3,3.
That’s 18 reps, so stay with that weight for your next workout but try to add at least
another rep to each set. If you fall short, use 200 pounds again for your next workout. If
you get all 25 reps, then increase the primary weight to 205 pounds.
Park recommended performing a 5x5 workout 3 times a week. If you were to increase the
volume of training with the variation described here, you would probably be better off only
using it twice a week (with at least two days rest between workouts), depending on the
exercise.
Reg Park’s contributions to the Iron Game were considerable and his achievements as an
athlete were remarkable. For these reasons you should consider trying some variation of
the 5x5 method if you want to pack on slabs of quality muscle. For a bodybuilder it’s great
to be big, but it’s better to be big and strong!
REFERENCES:
http://superstrengthtraining.com/strength-and-bulk-training-reg-park
http://startingstrength.com/articles/olympic_press_starr.pdf
Starr, Bill. The Strongest Shall Survive: Strength Training for Football, Aasgaard Company (8th printing, Revised First
Edition, 2011)
Chapter 11
Mario Martinez (left) and Ken Clark are two US Olympians trained by Jim Schmitz. Martinez competed in three Olympics, earning a
silver medal in 1984.
12. The Sports Palace System
SUMMARY: The champion weightlifters of today are known to train multiple times per day, often six days a week. Here is a
program designed to improve performance in the sport of weightlifting but only requires a commitment of three days a week
to training. It is a program created by three-time US Olympic Team Coach Jim Schmitz and has been called the Sports
Palace System, named after his gym.
The Sports Palace System
The champion weightlifters today are known to train multiple times per day, often six days a
week. Here is a program designed to improve performance in the sport of weightlifting but
only requires a commitment of three days a week to training. It is a program created by
three-time US Olympic Team Coach Jim Schmitz and has been called the Sports Palace
System, named after his gym.
Schmitz is one of the most successful weightlifting coaches in the US. He is a three-time US
Olympic Team coach and has coached athletes in seven Olympic Games. He coached three
athletes who clean and jerked 500 pounds, and two who have snatched 400 pounds. His
lifters, many that he coached from Day 1, enabled him to win the team title at the national
championships multiple times. He has also personally coached three women lifters who
competed in the World Championships.
What makes these accomplishments even more remarkable is that all his athletes only
trained three days a week, once a day, and no more than two hours in a single training
session. Rather than sponsored athletes who lived, slept and breathed weightlifting,
Schmitz’s lifters held full-time jobs, had families, or were full-time students – they also had
their weekends free! And with four rest days per week – regardless if you were a beginner
or an Olympian – his athletes tended to be injury-free and thus able to make gradual
improvement, year after year.
Schmitz is a 1968 graduate of San Francisco State College who received his degree in
physical education. He played on the defensive line, but after graduation decided to focus
on weightlifting because he didn’t believe he had the size to play football in the pros -- he
was 5’10” and 200 pounds. Schmitz eventually reached a level where he could Olympic
press 281 pounds, snatch 275, and clean and jerk 347 at a bodyweight of 200 pounds. In
1972 Schmitz opened a gym on Valencia Street in San Francisco he called the Sports
Palace. Ten years later his team won the national championships, defeating the York Barbell
Club, which had won the championships for 29 years in a row and had sponsored athletes
who didn’t train in York.
Getting into Schmitz’s workout system, it is based on one-month cycles. These cycles
repeated, fulfilling the basic definition of periodization. The workouts focused on the snatch,
clean and jerk, power variations of these classical lifts such as the power snatch, front and
back squats, and pulls. The pulls were essential because with so limited training time, they
kept the volume of lifting higher and strengthened the first pull of the lifts. Schmitz also
included some unique variations of the lifts, such as power snatching or power cleaning a
weight on the first two reps, and then doing the full lift on a third. About 5-6 exercises were
performed in a single training session. Here is an example of the exercises used in a single
week:
Monday
Back squat, power snatch, power clean, push jerk, bench press
Wednesday:
Push jerk and jerk, jerk support, overhead squat, hang power and squat snatch, hang
power and squat clean, bench press.
Friday:
Power and squat snatch, power and squat clean, snatch high pull, clean high pull, front
squat and jerk, front squat, bench press
The system used percentages based upon one-rep maximums. As a general guideline, the
percentages would look like this: Week 1, 75%; Week 2, 85%, Week 3, 95%, Week 4,
100%. This follows the trend of many popular strength programs in that it builds up to
higher intensity in three weeks, followed by an unloading week. Friday was the hardest day
of the week and focuses more on full lifts; Wednesday is the easiest; and Monday focuses
on power movements and often heavier squats.
Except for squats when higher reps were occasionally performed, most of the reps
performed were usually between 1-3. The higher the percentage, the lower the repetitions.
For example, 70% weights might be performed for 3x3, 80% for 3x2, 90% for 3x1, and 95100%, 1 rep. Schmitz says with the classical lifts, it’s best to focus on doubles and singles
because form breaks down with fatigue and you increase the risk of injury. Pulls can be
performed for 110% and deadlifts up to 120%. Here are samples set/rep percentage
prescriptions for several lifts performed during a 100% week:
Monday
Push Jerk, 50x3x3, 60x2, 70x2, 75x3x2
Back Squat, 50x10, 50x7, 70x5, 80x3, 90x2, 95 x 1, 100x1
Friday
Snatch: 50x3x3, 60x2, 70x2, 80x1, 87.5x1, 92.5x1, 97.5x1, 100x1
Clean Pull: 80x2, 95x2, 105x3x2
Clean Deadlift: 110x1, 115 x1, 120x 1
Consider that only a few exercises are performed at the highest intensities in this system.
For example, on week three (95%), during one Monday workout the only exercise
performed for 95% is the front squat; four other exercises are performed using weights
between 75-80%. The week before a competition the training consists of weights that
range between 60-80 percent, with the 60 percent lifts coming two days before a
competition. The week after a competition, the weights range from 60-80 percent to allow
the athlete to completely recover.
Although it seems that not much strength development is taking place in the first two weeks,
consider that maximal strength training methods are not the optimal way for a weightlifter to
improve their speed and power (as the bar is moving slower with the heavier weights).
Certainly, a weightlifter needs to lift heavy weights to get strong, but there are other
aspects of training that must be addressed. In fact, if you examine translated weightlifting
textbooks and coaching articles from Russia, you’ll find that the primary weight used in most
workouts is about 75-80% of maximum.
Such a conservative approach to training keeps the joints healthy and provides plenty of
time for recovery. What has often been seen in international competition with US lifters is
they hit a peak quickly and then struggle to maintain it, often getting injured. In many cases,
the US sent lifters to the World Championships who had not made any significant progress
in their lifting totals in five years. Although these athletes earned their positions on the team
because they were the best in the country, it raises the question that perhaps some of
these athletes were pushed too hard?
The best international lifters of today are following programs that often have them training
5-6 days a week, and often performing multiple training sessions per day. With today’s
competitive environment, that may be the only way to reach the highest levels of the sport.
But if you are looking for a practical, proven workout system that enables you to lift
extremely heavy weights while still having a life, consider Jim Schmitz’s Sports Palace
System.
REFERENCES:
http://www.ironmind-store.com/Olympic-style-Weightlifting-Beg-Int-Manual-DVD-Set/productinfo/1203/
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Powerlifters squat in such a manner as to use the most weight possible, and weightlifters perform the squat to carryover to the
classical lifts. Shown are (bottom) Jo-Jo White, a US powerlifter who attempted a 1,000 squat in 1978; and (top) Yurik Vardanyan, a
Russian weightlifter who won the 1980 Olympics and broke 41 world records.
13. Squat Every Day
SUMMARY: “Squat Every Day” is a workout system that challenges conventional thinking about optimal training intensity and
frequency. It is designed not just to improve your squat max, but your overall strength, muscle mass, and athletic ability.
Squat Every Day
“Squat Every Day” is a workout system that challenges conventional thinking about optimal
training intensity and frequency. It is designed not just to improve your squat max, but your
overall strength, muscle mass, and athletic ability.
Those promoting the system include John Broz, Cory Gregory, Matt Perryman, and other
respected strength experts. Perryman wrote a book about the program called,
appropriately, “Squat Every Day: Thoughts on Overtraining and Recovery in Strength
Training.”
All of these programs recommend that you squat every training day and begin each workout
with squats. Because the squat is unquestionably the single most effective exercise for
increasing overall strength and size, proponents of this program believe that specializing on
this exercise will produce significantly faster results than other strength and mass-building
programs.
One of the appeals of the program is that it represents a training philosophy that challenges
current thinking about how much hard work the body is capable of lifting on a consistent
basis. Proponents of the program believe that how you feel going into a workout can be
deceptive, such that you might not feel strong when starting a workout but could still end up
breaking personal records that day. As such, the program doesn’t involve getting locked into
predetermined percentages of an individual’s one-repetition maximum (1RM), but rather to
adjust the weights you use on a given day based upon how the workout progresses.
Many readers of the Perryman’s book may be disappointed with the lack of detailed
workout programs, but in a way this makes sense because the author believes that every
training session should be flexible to adjust to the physical capabilities of the individual. That
being said, reading his book cover-to-cover will give you a good understanding of how to
design a workout that is best for you.
Gregory’s version of the program goes into much more specifics about how the workouts
should be designed. He provides recommendations for 11 different squat variations that can
be performed, suggests auxiliary exercises, and provides precise prescriptions for sets and
reps.
Sample, here is a general outline of a seven-day split:
Monday: Squat and Chest
Tuesday: Squat and Pull
Wednesday: Squat and Shoulders
Thursday: Squat and Arms
Friday: Squat and Chest/Back
Saturday: Squat
Sunday: Squat
On a squat and chest day, here is the order of exercises for one of Gregory’s workouts:
Bike and Walking Lunge (warm-up); Close-Stance Deep Squat with Belt; Glute-Ham Raise
supersetted with Walking Lunge; Bench Press; and a tri-set consisting of the Incline
Dumbbell Press, Push-up, and Dumbbell Fly.
Before going further, consider that the concept of squatting every day is not new.
Weightlifters are known to squat daily, and elite weightlifters have been known to squat
multiple times a day. Two countries that have national weightlifting teams using highfrequency squatting are Bulgaria and Kazakhstan. During a 6-day training week, Bulgarian
coaches might have their athletes squat 12 times in a week, as follows:
Mon/Wed/Fri
Front Squat: 2 sessions, morning and evening
Tue/Thur/Sat
Back Squat: 1 morning session
Front Squat: 1 evening session
Consider that these squats are performed with as many as 24 additional sessions of
classical lifts and pulls. The Kazakhstan program for elite lifters is similar to the Bulgarians,
but focuses on the front squat. In one workout shared by one of their national coaches, their
athletes front squatted twice a day, six days a week, with three of those workouts working
up to 100 percent, with the fourth begin at 95 percent. It should be noted, however, that
many weightlifters from Bulgaria and Kazakhstan were banned from international
competitions in recent years for violating doping policies.
Regarding intensity, with Perryman’s program you set a minimum weight to be lifted each
day and slowly warm-up to it. When you reach that weight you have several options,
depending upon how difficult that set was. For example, if that set was not a limit weight for
the day you can continue going heavier to try for a new personal best. If it was especially
heavy, you can do back-off sets with lighter weights.
One of the expectations of the program is that those using it will be more comfortable with
handling heavy weights more frequently, and proponents of the system often support their
beliefs with by referencing the coaching methods of Bulgarian lifters. For example, former
Bulgarian National Weightlifting Coach Ivan Abadjiev made this comment about training
intensity: “When observing animals, for instance, they don’t have micro and macro cycles.
They don’t have leisure periods. They are all the time active. They don’t have performance
of 80% or 70%. They only have performance achievements of 100% all of the time. The
way that animals prey, whatever they do, they do it their best and they do it at 100%. This
is the way they survive.”
If nothing else, the squat every day programs can increase technical proficiency in the lift.
This feature by itself may rapidly increase squatting results because the technique for lifting
a max weight is different that lifting a sub-max weight. As an analogy, consider that
weightlifting coaches often don’t count lifts below 70 percent of their 1RM in their workout
logbooks as they believe the technique with these relatively lighter weights is considerably
different than with heavier weights. Likewise, Abadjiev thought that the best way to improve
technique with heavy weights is to lift heavy weights, and as such his athletes performed
more maximal lifts in training compared to conventional training programs.
Advanced training protocols such as German Volume Training and Cluster Training are
taught in PICP courses. These methods are not meant to be used more than a few times a
year. Perhaps the squat every day program might be included in this category as a way to
shock your system into rapid increases in strength and muscle mass? In any case, if you’re
serious about getting bigger and stronger, and especially in improving your squat max, the
squat every day system may be just the training system for you.
REFERENCES
http://www.sportivnypress.com/2014/scientific-methodological-aspects-of-training-the-kazakhstan-select-team/
http://weightlifting.informe.com/ivan-abajiev-training-lecture-dt186.html
Zatsiorsky, V.M. (1992). Intensity of strength training facts and theory: Russian and Eastern European approach. National
Strength and Conditioning Association Journal, 14
Shane Hamman broke the world record in the squat in the super heavyweight class with a best of 1008 pounds, which he did in 1996;
he also placed second in the 1995 IPF World Championships. Hamman made the switch from powerlifting to weightlifting, winning
nine Senior National Championships and competing in two Olympic Games.
14. Strongest Shall Survive Program
SUMMARY: One of the most popular workouts for building total body strength is Bill Starr’s 5x5 program. There are many
variations of 5x5 workouts, but Starr’s program is one of the first and is primarily designed for athletes.
Strongest Shall Survive Program
One of the most popular workouts for building total body strength is Bill Starr’s 5x5
program. There are many variations of 5x5 workouts, but Starr’s program is one of the first
and is primarily designed for athletes.
The program was introduced in Starr’s book, The Strongest Shall Survive: Strength
Training for Football, first published in the 70s and now in its eighth printing. Starr was an
international-caliber weightlifter and one of the industry’s first strength coaches. He was
also one of the Iron Game’s most prolific writers, having been an editor at Strength and
Health magazine and a contributor to numerous popular bodybuilding magazines.
One of the primary appeals of Starr’s program is its simplicity: it focuses on three lifts and
one set/rep protocol. Let’s take a closer look.
Regarding sets and reps, Starr decided on a protocol of 5x5 because he said that the
available research at the time determined that the optimal range of both sets and reps to
develop strength was between 4-6. Starr said that he used the 5x5 formula because it “…
was the exact median and it was easy to remember.”
In his book published in 1960, Strength and Bulk Training for Weight Lifters and
Bodybuilders, British bodybuilder Reg Park outlined a 5x5 training program to build muscle
mass. For the primary exercises in this workout, the trainee would do 2 warm-up sets of 5
reps of the primary exercises followed by 3 sets of 5 reps at maximum effort; for smaller
muscle groups, such as the calves and forearms, more reps would be performed but only
for 2 sets. One of the major differences between Park’s workout and Starr’s was the use of
percentages.
Starr would have athletes perform each lift three times a week using a heavy/medium/light
percentage system. More specifically, the heavy weight would be a 100 percent effort, the
medium 90 percent, and the light 80 percent. All heavy lifts could be performed on the same
day, with medium weights the second day and light weights the third. However, to ensure
quality work for every exercise, many strength coaches would have their athletes perform
only one heavy lift per workout, such as with the following example:
Monday
Exercise 1: Heavy (100%)
Exercise 2: Medium (90%)
Exercise 3: Light (80%)
Wednesday
Exercise 1: Light (80%)
Exercise 2: Heavy (100%)
Exercise 3: Medium (90%)
Friday
Exercise 1: Medium (90%)
Exercise 2: Light (80%)
Exercise 3: Heavy (100%)
For the 100% series, not every set is taken to failure, but rather each set should be
progressively heavier until a 5-repetition maximum (5RM) is used on the last set. If an
athlete could bench press 200x5, a heavy workout might look something like this: 5 reps x
135, 155, 175, 190, 200. In turn, a medium workout would finish at 180x5, and a light
workout at 160x5.
As a general guideline, a 5-repetition max could be converted by determining 85 percent of
a 1RM. There are also several spreadsheets available for free on the Internet that will
perform these calculations for you (see reference section). These spreadsheets
progressively increase the top end weights each week, which in turn increases the weight
during the medium and light workouts. This is key: to ensure progress, the trainee should
attempt to progressively use heavier poundages for nearly every sets, every week. As for
rest intervals, Starr said the rest time should be brief, but 3-5 minutes rest can be taken
before the heaviest set of the day to ensure maximum effort.
For his core lifts, Starr decided on the power clean, bench press, and back squat. He had
wanted to use the overhead press rather than the bench press as one of his “Big 3,” but
decided not to for several reasons. The lift was controversial because the overhead press
performed in weightlifting competition at the time was known to cause lower back
problems. He thought the incline press would be a good compromise, but when he wrote
the book incline benches were rare. Since most high schools and colleges had flat benches,
this is the pressing exercise he settled on. However, in this book Starr says substitutions
can be made, such as using the deadlift rather than the power clean, and additional
exercises can be added for several sets but using higher reps (such as dips for 3x5-8 reps
and hyperextensions for 2x8-12 reps).
Using our outline above, here is what a weekly workout could look like for the core
exercises:
Monday
Power Clean: 115 x 5, 135 x 5, 145 x 5, 155 x 5, 165 x 5 (heavy)
Bench Press: 135 x 5, 150 x 5, 160 x 5, 170 x 5, 180 x 5 (medium)
Squat: 135 x 5, 150 x 5, 160 x 5, 170 x 5, 180 x 5 (light)
Wednesday
Power Clean: 115 x 5, 115 x 5, 115 x 5, 125 x 5, 135 x 5 (light)
Bench Press: 135 x 5, 155 x 5, 175 x 5, 190 x 5, 200 x 5 (heavy)
Squat: 135 x 5, 155 x 5, 175 x 5, 190 x 5, 205 x 5 (medium)
Friday
Power Clean: 115 x 5, 125 x 5, 135 x 5, 145 x 5, 150 x 5 (medium)
Bench Press: 135 x 5, 145 x 5, 155 x 5, 160 x 5 (light)
Squat: 135 x 5, 165 x 5, 185 x 5, 205 x 5, 225 x 5 (heavy)
For more advanced athletes, Starr offered variations in the number of repetitions and sets
performed. Rather than 5x5, he might prescribe a total of 7 sets, as follows: 5-5-5-3-3-3,
with a back-off set of 6-10 reps. Here is an example of this system provided by Starr:
135x5, 175x5, 225x5, 275x3, 305x3, 315x3, 255x6-10.
The simplicity of Starr’s 5x5 program make it an effective system to use with a large
number of athletes, and it was the go-to program for numerous high school football
programs in the 70s and 80s. You are probably not trying to prepare for the gridiron, but Bill
Starr’s 5x5 workout may be a good basic program to try if you want to get stronger fast.
REFERENCES:
https://www.lift.net/workout-routines/bill-starr-5x5/
http://williamge.github.io/Intermediate5x5/
http://startingstrength.com/articles/olympic_press_starr.pdf
Starr, Bill. The Strongest Shall Survive: Strength Training for Football, Aasgaard Company (8th printing, Revised First
Edition, 2011)
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Jon Cole was a champion powerlifter, weightlifter, track and field athlete, and strongman from the United States. He was the first to
squat 900 pounds (raw, but with knee wraps) and total 2200 and 2300 in the three competition lifts. He threw the discus 231’7”
(winning the 1969 National AAU Championships) and the javelin 241”, put the shot 71’4”, and ran the 100-yard dash in 9.9 seconds at
a bodyweight of 258 pounds.
15. Westside Barbell Program
SUMMARY: The Westside Barbell program in its current form was developed by Louie Simmons, a veteran powerlifter who
achieved elite status in five bodyweight classes.
Simmons calls his method of training the conjugate sequence system, such that it is not a single workout program but a
combination of three workout systems that rotate. The core of Westside program is three workout systems: the maximal
effort method, the repeated effort method, and the dynamic method.
Westside Barbell Program
In the Iron Game, the popularity of a workout program is often influenced by the charisma
of its creator. Workouts such as Heavy Duty, The Nautilus System, and Sweating to the
Oldies became popular not necessarily because they produced superior results quickly, but
because their creators Mike Mentzer, Arthur Jones, and Richard Simmons marketed them
effectively. Likewise, the popularity of the Westside Barbell program should be credited to
the efforts its creator.
The Westside Barbell program in its current form was developed by Louie Simmons, a
veteran powerlifter who achieved elite status in five bodyweight classes. Simmon’s best lifts
include a 920-pound squat, 600 bench press, and a 722 deadlift. Simmons has worked with
collegiate and professional athletes and has written extensively about his training system.
Further, Simmons’s invitation-only Westside Barbell Gym in Columbus, Ohio, is home to
many of the world’s strongest powerlifters.
The original Westside Barbell Gym was located in Culver City, California. Their training
methods, especially with exercises such as the box squat, influenced Simmons’s training
such that he named his gym the Westside Barbell Club. Other methods that influenced
Simmons were those promoted by Russian and Bulgarian coaches and sport scientists. For
example, Simmons beliefs on the optimal sets and reps to perform are based upon a table
developed by Russian sports scientist A.S. Prilepin.
Simmons has always been active in giving seminars and interviews about his training
system. His ability to recite sports science literature in rapid-fire fashion, along with the
successes of Iron Game and other athletes who used his system, can be quite imitating.
The bottom line is that if you dare to get into an argument with Simmons, you’d better be
prepared as Simmons has been doing this for a long time and has a good answer for every
hard question.
Simmons calls his method of training the conjugate sequence system, such that it is not a
single workout program but a combination of three workout systems that rotate. For this
reason it could be considered a periodization model, which is defined by sports scientist Dr.
Mike Stone as a form of fatigue-management that contains periods that repeat.
The core of Westside program is three workout systems: the maximal effort method, the
repeated effort method, and the dynamic method.
The maximal effort method is used to create high levels of muscle tension. It accomplishes
this by using a large number of sets for low reps. A typical set-rep sequence might be to
perform 8 sets of 1-3 reps, with the last 3 sets using up to 95 percent of an individual’s 1repetition maximum for the exercise. Typically, two maximal effort workouts are performed
each week, one for the upper body and one for the lower body.
The dynamic effort method uses sub-maximal weights taken to failure to create a high level
of fatigue. As with the maximal effort method, a high number of sets and a low number of
reps are performed. The resistance is usually around 40-60% of the single repetition
maximum for a lift. Bands and chains are often used to increase the resistance at the end of
the movement, where the athlete is strongest in lifts such as the bench press, squat, and
deadlift. An emphasis on moving the weight as quickly as possible is the focus of this
workout. A sample workout might consist of 8 sets of 1-3 reps with 60 percent of the 1RM
and an additional 20 percent resistance with bands. As with the maximal effort method, two
dynamic effort method workouts are performed each week, one for the upper body and one
for the lower body.
The repetition method uses considerably less than maximal resistance with sets taken to
failure. This method is used after the core lifts performed on the dynamic effort and
maximum effort days. Less sets and more reps are performed. As such, 3-4 sets of 10
reps to failure could be used. All four workouts use repetition training after the primary
exercise is performed with one of the other two training methods.
Although the intensity level is high during these workouts, Simmons believes that using a
variety of training methods and exercises helps avoid overtraining. However, as a method of
unloading for recovery, on the fourth week of a cycle the maximum effort work can be
substituted with repetition work as it is less stressful on the nervous system.
Putting it all together, here is what a Westside-inspired workout performed four days per
week could look like in outline form:
Day 1: Dynamic Effort Bench
Bench Press
Auxiliary lifts for shoulders, triceps, lats, upper back
Day 2: Max Effort Squat or Deadlift
Squat or Deadlift
Auxiliary lifts for hamstrings, lower back, abs
Day 3: Rest
Day 4: Max Effort Bench Press
Bench Press
Auxiliary lifts for shoulders, triceps, lats, upper back
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Dynamic Squat or Deadlift
Squat or Deadlift
Auxiliary lifts for shoulders, triceps, lats, upper back
Day 7: Rest
Breaking it down even further, here is how a Westside-inspired program could look for a
single week:
Monday
Box Squat: 8 x 1-3 (Max Effort)
Reverse Hyper: 4 x 10
Standing Crunch with Cables: 4 x 15
Wednesday
Bench Press, 8 x 1-3 (Max Effort)
Dips: 4 x 10
Barbell Triceps Extension: 4 x10
Dumbbell Row: 4 x 10
Dumbbell Shoulder Shrug: 4 x 10
Friday
Deadlift with Bands: 10 x 2-3 (Dynamic Effort)
Leg Curl: 4 x 10
Weighed Incline Sit-ups: 4 x 10
Saturday
Bench Press with Bands: 8 x 1-3 (Dynamic Effort)
Incline Dumbbell Bench Press: 4 x 10
Seated Cable Row: 4 x 10
Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press: 4 x 10
Reverse Curl: 4 x 10
The Westside Barbell program should be looked at more as a set of training principles than
a single workout program, a perspective that allows for considerable flexibility in program
design. Simmons is a prolific writer and has written numerous articles, available free online,
about the details of his system. Before trying this program, you should spend a
considerable amount of time studying his ideas to ensure you are performing his training
system correctly.
The Westside Barbell program is a proven workout system that is considered a “go-to”
program for powerlifting. Other Iron Game athletes, and athletes in other sports, have also
enjoyed success with it. For these reasons, the Westside Barbell program is here to stay!
REFERENCES:
https://www.scribd.com/document/317159386/Special-Strength-Development-for-All-Sports-Louie-Simmons
Glossary
Abadjiev, Ivan: weightlifting coach who introduced a high volume training approach that enabled the Bulgarians to become a
world power in the sport
Agonists and Antagonists: the agonist is the muscle that causes the primary movement; the opposing muscle, the
antagonist, is relaxed during this movement
Anello, Vince: the first man under 200 pounds bodyweight to deadlift 800 pounds
Blagoev, Blagov: a Bulgarian weightlifter who broke 18 world records and is considered the greatest snatcher of all time
Borzov, Valeriy: a Russian track and field athlete who won gold medals in the 100m and 200m sprints at the 1972 Olympics
Clark, Ken: an Olympian in weightlifting who broke numerous American records. He was coached by Jim Schmitz. See Jim
Schmitz
Cole, Jon: a champion powerlifter, weightlifter, track and field athlete, and strongman from the United States. He was the first
powerlifter to squat 900 pounds (raw, but with knee wraps) and total 2200 and 2300 in the three competition lifts.
Concentric Contraction: the type of contraction in which a muscle shortens, such as when an individual curls a barbell to the
shoulders; if X is used in the formula, it implies explosive action with full acceleration
Circuit Training: a training system introduced in 1953 by physiologists at the University of Leeds in England to describe a
system of integrating several components of fitness into a single workout
Cluster Training: a method of developing strength popularized by US weightlifting coach Carl Miller
Conjugate Sequence System: a combination of three workout systems that rotate. Popularized by powerlifting coach Louie
Simmons, the systems are the maximal effort method, the repeated effort method, and the dynamic method.
Descending Sets: a training method in which virtually no rest time is taken between weight changes
Eccentric Contraction: the type of contraction in which a muscle lengthens
Feuerbach, Al: a former world record holder in the shot put who won the Senior National Weightlifting Championships
Gastrocnemius: an upper calf muscle that is approximately 60 percent fast-twitch fibers
German Body Comp Program: a workout system characterized by short rest intervals and multijoint movements to generate
maximum growth-hormone production
German Volume Training: a workout that produces results from prolonged muscle tension instead of high levels of muscle
tension. See German Volume Training, Advanced
German Volume Training, Advanced: a variation of the German Volume Training program that uses 6 reps per set rather than
10 reps to account for the neurological efficiency of advanced trainees
Giant Set: three exercises for the same muscle group performed in sequence
Hepburn, Doug Ivan: a weightlifter, powerlifter, and strongman who was the first man to bench press 500 pounds and won
the 1953 World Weightlifting Championships. His nickname was the “Grandfather of Modern Powerlifting.”
Hamman, Shane: a two-time Olympian in weightlifting from the US who broke the world record in the squat with 1008
pounds
Hoffman, Bob: a prolific writer in the field of weightlifting and physical fitness training who was nicknamed, “The Father of
American Weightlifting”
Isometric Pause: the isometric pause that usually occurs between the eccentric (lowering) phase and the concentric (lifting)
phase of a repetition, such as when a barbell makes contact with the chest during the bench press
Kuc, John: a three-time world powerlifting champion who was the first to deadlift 850 pounds in competition
MacDonald, Mike: the only powerlifter to hold the world record in the bench press in four bodyweight classes at the same
time. His best lifts are 522 at 181 pounds, 562 at 198 pounds, 603 at 220 pounds, and 635 weighing 232 pounds. He created
a cambered bar for bench pressing that enables the trainee to perform the exercise through a greater range of motion
Martinez, Mario: a three-time Olympian in weightlifting who earned a silver medal in 1984. He was coached by Jim Schmitz.
See Jim Schmitz
Matveyev, Leonid: a Russian sports scientist known for his work in periodization for weightlifting
Nikolov, Andon: an Olympic champion in weightlifting from Bulgaria who broke several world records
Okunyev, M.S.: , a former head coach of the USSR National Junior Weightlifting Team
Olympic-Style Weightlifting: competition that consists of the snatch and clean and the jerk; also known simply as
weightlifting
Overload Principle: the concept that a muscle will get bigger or stronger only if overload is applied to it
Park, Reg: a Mr. Universe who played Hercules in five movies. He was the first bodybuilder to bench press 500 pounds, and
the second man to accomplish this feat
Phillips, Marv: a powerlifting champion who broke several world records, eventually squatting 848 pounds at 240 pounds
bodyweight. When he was 7 years old his right arm was nearly detached from his body, but doctors were able to reattach it
Post-Tetanic Facilitation: the process by which a more powerful muscular contraction is achieved if that contraction is
preceded by a strong muscular contraction
Reding, Serge: a three-time Olympian who also won a silver medal. Known for his massively-muscled physique
Rep: a complete movement of an exercise, from start to finish
Relative Strength: ratio of strength to muscle mass
Repetition Maximum: the weight that can be lifted in an exercise for a single repetition; also known as 1RM
Rippetoe, Mark: a popular strength coach best known for his book, Starting Strength
Rigert, David: an Olympic Champion in weightlifting who set 68 world records in his career, establishing records in three
different weight classes
Schmidtbleicher, Dietmar: a German sports scientist who did pioneering research in plyometric training
Schmitz, Jim: a three-time US Olympic Weightlifting Team coach who has coached athletes in seven Olympic Games
Set: a single series of reps
Simmons, Louie: an accomplished powerlifter and powerlifting coach who runs the Westside Barbell Gym in Columbus,
Ohio
Soleus: a lower calf muscle that is approximately 60 percent fast-twitch fibers
Speed of Contraction: rate of movement of the implement or limb involved in any given strength exercise; it is described or
measured scientifically in terms of degrees per second. See tempo.
Stabilizers and Fixators: terms that describe the function of muscles when they are used to anchor a body part so that the
prime movers have a stable base to pull or push from
Starr, Bill: a former elite weightlifter from the US who was known for his training system and book, The Strongest Shall
Survive: Strength Training for Football
Strength Curve: the natural strength curve is the amount of force a muscle can exert at specific angles
Suleymanoglu, Naim: a three-time Olympic champion who is considered, pound-for-pound, the greatest weightlifter in history
Supercompensation Effect: the body’s response to stress in which a decrease in an individual’s fitness preparedness is
followed by a resistance phase that results in the body adapting to a higher fitness state
Superset: a pairing of two different exercises for different muscle groups performed in sequence; pairing agonist and
antagonist muscle groups is the most common form of supersets
Tempo: total amount of time it takes to complete an entire repetition.
Tempo Prescription: a four-digit abbreviation that describes the four types of muscular contractions during a repetition, such
as 4210
Time Under Tension (TUT): the time it takes for a contracted muscle or muscle group to complete a set
Training Frequency: the number of training sessions performed per week
Training Volume: the total number of repetitions completed in a given time frame
Wave Loading: a training method in which an individual works up to a maximum weight for a specific number of reps, backs
down in weight for one or more sets, and then works up to even heavier weights
White, Jo-Jo: a US powerlifter who attempted a 1,000 squat in 1978
Vardanyan, Yurik: a Russian weightlifter who won the 1980 Olympics and broke 41 world records
Yorton, Chet: one of the few bodybuilders to defeat Arnold Schwarzenegger in competition, which he did in winning the 1966
Mr. Universe title. Yorton was known for his symmetry and exceptional calf development
Yotov, Yoto: a two-time Olympic silver medalist from Bulgaria
Young, Doug: a massively-muscled powerlifter who won three IPF World Championships and bench pressed 612 pounds
without any supportive gear