Jamie Lewis, one-time Powerlifting World Record holder, after preparing for a competition with his chaotic brand of training, including no deadlifts at all, wrote: “What I learned, training-wise...take everything everyone says with a grain of salt. There's very little training advice I've gotten over the years that's worth a shit.” My experience over the last …
Finding the Eight
I'm making a real effort to discipline myself and use the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) properly. Due mostly to being mentally lazy, I tend to take every set to a 9 or maybe even a 9.5 RPE. I don't think I'm being too hard on myself when I say it's laziness because when you're …
Primarily Supplementing Assistance
I have learned many concepts since embarking upon the strength training path a decade ago, and one on which I devoted entirely too much energy is something commonly called assistance work or accessory work. The idea being to use a wide range of exercises designed to build strength in the muscles that do the lifting …
Pro Mo
Today is the day. My flexor muscles haven't made their presence known in a few days, my training has been easy as my body has recovered and I feel ready to rumble. I will head to the gym shortly to do a mock Powerlifting Meet and hit a max in all three power lifts. I've …
Overcoming Adversity
Tweaks, sprains, strains and injuries are part of life, especially if one's life involves lifting heavy weights up and down repeatedly. I've had my share, with fortunately only once having to go under the knife to repair a fully ruptured bicep tendon from a 415-lb deadlift. Learn to Hook Grip kids if you love your …
Winding Up
I'm starting to feel the recovery that just a few days ago, I thought would evade me. I took some extra days completely off, I am still in the deload phase I discussed recently, but I can tell both by my subjective assessments of my body's aches and pains, and my desire to lift starting …
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