Friday, August 22, 2014

Some thoughts on Programming

This is something I wrote up a while back and never got around to finishing / posting, part of the process of compiling my first comprehensive system of training. You can see the implementation of this system if you look at my 'training-log' posts from March and April of this year. Ended up being quite a great system for me, resulting in some solid PR lifts. Its somewhat of a 'loose' system, in which you make daily decisions on what lifts/sets/reps you want to do. Its intended to be high frequency, but I suppose it could work just as well with 3-4 training days per week.
 
Hopefully it benefits someone else. -Joe 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------






·         Top-Set Work – Going for Rep-PRs with a given weight, typically 5-8 or 10+ rep range. Choose to do a PR day based on energy level, physical/mental preparedness, bar-speed on warm-ups & elapsed time since the last PR.

o    Actions
§  1 – Perform 5/4/3/2/1 warm-up. The final single should be around ~90% of current Training Max (which is a 1RM estimate from Rep-PRs).
§  2 – Back-off to the desired weight or % for the PR attempt.
§  3 (Optional) – Perform 1 or 2 back-off sets after the PR attempt, always leaving 1 or 2 reps in the tank.
 
·         Volume Work – Sets across at a given weight or % (based off of the current training max), aiming to build strength, mass & work capacity.  These days should be of medium difficulty overall, putting the work in without psyche-up. Do not rush the workload, pick a weight that you can sufficiently handle in correct style, without forcing or grinding reps.

o    Actions
§  1 – Perform 5/4/3/2/1 warm-up. The final single should be around ~90% of current Training Max.
§  1A (optional) – Perform a traditional style warm-up, increasing weight up to the amount required for the working sets. For example; 135x10, 225x8, 275x6, 315 5x5.
§  2 – Aim for 15-50 reps total, via one the following;


       Sets of    5 @ 75%*   until RPE 9+ is reached
                    8 @ 70%*                
                                "        10 @ 60%*               
                                        15 @ 55%*               
                                        20 @ 50%*              
 
*Based on training max


·         Base Template – 6 Training days / Rest days as needed

o    Day 1 – Squat, Pressing, Abdominals
o    Day 2 –   Pulls,       , Back-work
o    Day 3 – Squat,        , Abdominals
o    Day 4 –   Pulls,       , Back-work
o    Day 5 – Squat,        , Abdominals
o    Day 6 –   Pulls,       , Back-work
o    Day 7 –   Rest
 

·         Daily Layout

o    Day 1
§  Warm up: Stretching, Jump-Rope, Band Good Mornings
§  Pressing: Bench, Dip or Press
§  Squat
§  Ab Wheel


o    Day 2
§  Warm up: Stretching, Jump-Rope, Band Good Mornings
§  Pressing: Bench, Dip or Press
§  SLDL
§  Back-work: Rows, Chins or Shrugs