How many actual strength athletes are in your gym?

[Baby Hanma]

I won't lie, Astaroth was my favorite Soul Caliber character.

You are not a real meat head in real life if you are not a tank in an RPG. Let the weak ones rely on stealth and magic. Real men rely on brute strength and brute strength alone.

Hail Craig Marduk.

 

[maximus__]

I know. Man, I know and I hate it. But I wanna make money, so I just pretend I appreciate most of these people and force myself to see them as awesome for the simple reason that they have enough discipline to stay consistent with their pink dumbbell cardio bunny RPE 3/10 workouts. And to be fair, they do deserve that compliment. But the real athletes deserve much more.

lol... I train at an Anytime Fitness gym and that one is open 24/7. I'm not gonna get bothered by those twinks during my heavy sessions. lol. I train on the least busy hours. Midnights or late evenings.

When I do see those hardcore bodybuilders or powerlifters in my day job gym though, it's a real treat. lol

The big powerlifiting/bodybuilding gym near me got taken over by a franchise. Everybody moved to a different gym, but it's just another big franchise. They have pro bodybuilders, but it's not big enough for the numbers training there.

I would just rather stick in my garage. I recently signed up to a gym, but I already cancelled. I have as much weight, heavier kettlebells and don't have to wait for people. I have a few things I want to upgrade (bench, rack and 40kg bells) but I have been getting by.

Globo gyms have there place. You can easily powerlift in one. It just becomes an issue if you want to Oly lift or do strongman.
I wish CrossFit gyms would just open to the public. They have the best equipment.

 

[Oblivian]

The big powerlifiting/bodybuilding gym near me got taken over by a franchise. Everybody moved to a different gym, but it's just another big franchise. They have pro bodybuilders, but it's not big enough for the numbers training there.

I would just rather stick in my garage. I recently signed up to a gym, but I already cancelled. I have as much weight, heavier kettlebells and don't have to wait for people. I have a few things I want to upgrade (bench, rack and 40kg bells) but I have been getting by.

Globo gyms have there place. You can easily powerlift in one. It just becomes an issue if you want to Oly lift or do strongman.
I wish CrossFit gyms would just open to the public. They have the best equipment.

The weird thing about my YMCA is time on equipment. Most people are on a bench or squat rack for 15 minutes at most. My programming now has something like 8 sets of 3. With warmup, I'm looking at 45 minutes or more. If I'm lifting at the Y, it's basically all top sets on main lifts and a lot of assistance.

I do only lift there, but only complexes where I'm not dropping the bar. They have bumpers and a platform, but man, does it seem incredibly loud and out of place in there.

 

[maximus__]

The weird thing about my YMCA is time on equipment. Most people are on a bench or squat rack for 15 minutes at most. My programming now has something like 8 sets of 3. With warmup, I'm looking at 45 minutes or more. If I'm lifting at the Y, it's basically all top sets on main lifts and a lot of assistance.

I do only lift there, but only complexes where I'm not dropping the bar. They have bumpers and a platform, but man, does it seem incredibly loud and out of place in there.

I had the same problem on my recent outage when I sign up to a gym for some stupid reason. This time it was to do yoga classes and use a sauna, but the Yoga class wasn't quite what I was after. I was the only guy and it was more affirmations than actual yoga poses.

I lifted there a few times and was able to get my training in, but I got some really weird looks doing Zercher squats as you can imagine. People all train for different reasons I guess.

I recently was hitting some heavy deadlift singles. The session called for 6 heavy singles, with 30secs rest between reps. No way I could do that session in a commercial gym without being that guy. I would have been asked to leave in 99% of the gyms on the planet.

I usually just ended up doing 90% of my session in the power rack at commercial gyms. I have access to work gyms, where I just end up in the squat rack equivalent the whole time. More gyms would be better if they were just walls of racks with some rings and cable machines attached.

Someone should just make that type of gym haha.

 

[Baby Hanma]

I had the same problem on my recent outage when I sign up to a gym for some stupid reason. This time it was to do yoga classes and use a sauna, but the Yoga class wasn't quite what I was after. I was the only guy and it was more affirmations than actual yoga poses.

I lifted there a few times and was able to get my training in, but I got some really weird looks doing Zercher squats as you can imagine. People all train for different reasons I guess.

I recently was hitting some heavy deadlift singles. The session called for 6 heavy singles, with 30secs rest between reps. No way I could do that session in a commercial gym without being that guy. I would have been asked to leave in 99% of the gyms on the planet.

I usually just ended up doing 90% of my session in the power rack at commercial gyms. I have access to work gyms, where I just end up in the squat rack equivalent the whole time. More gyms would be better if they were just walls of racks with some rings and cable machines attached.

Someone should just make that type of gym haha.

What are your numbers right now by the way?

Things have changed. Now in 2020s, people are a lot less creeped out by hulks in gyms. That certainly wasn't the case in my teen years. Back in 2010s.

With that said though, I still catch glances when I'm lifting heavy in Crunch. Even the more athletic guys there are a bit weak.

 

[maximus__]

What are your numbers right now by the way?

Things have changed. Now in 2020s, people are a lot less creeped out by hulks in gyms. That certainly wasn't the case in my teen years. Back in 2010s.

With that said though, I still catch glances when I'm lifting heavy in Crunch. Even the more athletic guys there are a bit weak.

In what? I don't powerlift, so I haven't been pushing max 1RMs of the big 3. I am a whopping 80kg (175 lbs) these days haha.

My heavier exercises recently have been:

Deadlifts for double bodyweight singles with short rest periods( 30 secs or less)
Barbell Rear lunges- 85kg (187.5lb) for 3x6 each side

Zerchers squats-113kg (250lb) for 3

Weighted Towel pullups with 20kg (45lbs) for 5x4
Banded Bench press with 88kg (195lb)

Lots of sled work, pulling circuits, interval sprints and high rep (100 rep sets) within those sessions.
I am feeling pretty good and it has carried over well to my grappling and life. I can hold my own against much bigger people and strength is rarely the weak point on the mat.Conditioning never is these days.

I am stronger than when I used to deadlift closer to 3x my bodyweight and lift more like a powerlifter. I don't think chasing 1Rms will ever be a major goal in my life again. It's over rated for sports performance.

 

[Baby Hanma]

In what? I don't powerlift, so I haven't been pushing max 1RMs of the big 3. I am a whopping 80kg (175 lbs) these days haha.

My heavier exercises recently have been:

Deadlifts for double bodyweight singles with short rest periods( 30 secs or less)
Barbell Rear lunges- 85kg (187.5lb) for 3x6 each side

Zerchers squats-113kg (250lb) for 3

Weighted Towel pullups with 20kg (45lbs) for 5x4
Banded Bench press with 88kg (195lb)

Lots of sled work, pulling circuits, interval sprints and high rep (100 rep sets) within those sessions.
I am feeling pretty good and it has carried over well to my grappling and life. I can hold my own against much bigger people and strength is rarely the weak point on the mat.Conditioning never is these days.

I am stronger than when I used to deadlift closer to 3x my bodyweight and lift more like a powerlifter. I don't think chasing 1Rms will ever be a major goal in my life again. It's over rated for sports performance.

100 reps of goblet squats and kettlebell swings huh?

Yeah. They just work. Even you agree.

 

[maximus__]

100 reps of goblet squats and kettlebell swings huh?

Yeah. They just work. Even you agree.

Haha that would literally be 1/5th of my training session or the equivalent of the warmup.

I will have done core work, kettlebell swings/cleans and some higher volume weak point assistance work that exceeds that before I get to my work sets.

Goblet squats aren't a main exercise. Dan John used to do them as part of a warm up involving sled pushes, swings etc.
People that don't like squatting tried to turn it into a main exercise instead of the hip opener/squat patterning exercise it initially was.

They don't work because using them as a conditioning exercise is kinda dumb. If you do good reps, you can't go fast and get the heart rate to the correct level. If you do them fast they are just shitty junk reps.

Swings are too easy once you have the skill to do them. Anyone here with a decent kettlebell background wouldn't bat an eye at 100 reps of swings. It's not that hard unless you load it into being a strength exercise.

 

[Baby Hanma]

Haha that would literally be 1/5th of my training session or the equivalent of the warmup.

I will have done core work, kettlebell swings/cleans and some higher volume weak point assistance work that exceeds that before I get to my work sets.

Goblet squats aren't a main exercise. Dan John used to do them as part of a warm up involving sled pushes, swings etc.
People that don't like squatting tried to turn it into a main exercise instead of the hip opener/squat patterning exercise it initially was.

They don't work because using them as a conditioning exercise is kinda dumb. If you do good reps, you can't go fast and get the heart rate to the correct level. If you do them fast they are just shitty junk reps.

Swings are too easy once you have the skill to do them. Anyone here with a decent kettlebell background wouldn't bat an eye at 100 reps of swings. It's not that hard unless you load it into being a strength exercise.

I'm gonna try to match or exceed your barbell rear lunge. I've been doing lots of heavy front squats lately so my quads are doing great right now.

I have zero experience with any weighted unilateral leg movement though.

 

[wufabufa]

I have zero experience with any weighted unilateral leg movement though.

Even P Diddy wouldn't be able to make your ass as sore as some heavy lunges or Bulgarian split squats.

 

[maximus__]

I'm gonna try to match or exceed your barbell rear lunge. I've been doing lots of heavy front squats lately so my quads are doing great right now.

I have zero experience with any weighted unilateral leg movement though.

Give it a crack mate. It's an awesome exercise.

The idea is to rep out over bodyweight for 3x6 reps ea side with 1 min rest. I hit it after pre exhausting myself with double bodyweight deadlifts for 6x1 with short rests(30 secs).

Do it after some heavy high pulls or similar if you want to simulate it and not deadlift.

 

[maximus__]

Even P Diddy wouldn't be able to make your ass as sore as some heavy lunges or Bulgarian split squats.

I am off bulgarians. I worked my way to just over bodyweight with two dumbbells for a set of 5.
After that it just became a balancing act.

Zercher Rear lunges are where it's at. The bar position is perfect for me, it transfers really well to grappling and you can hit good depth with them.

 

[Volador]

I go to a chain gym, but it has a lot of racks and deadlift platforms. That’s the area I usually work in. I think a bunch of the regulars there are into powerlifting and some of them compete sometimes, including some lady in her 50’s that I I’ve seen competing at nationals.

 

[shadowmanifold]

I would say absolute zero in regards to the males but there are some super impressive females at my gym.

I just seen a girl this morning handle easy above smith machine body weight bench like it was nothing for 15 reps.

I haven't seen an impressive lift from a guy in years but the women constantly blow my mind.

 

[Baby Hanma]

I would say absolute zero in regards to the males but there are some super impressive females at my gym.

I just seen a girl this morning handle easy above smith machine body weight bench like it was nothing for 15 reps.

I haven't seen an impressive lift from a guy in years but the women constantly blow my mind.

I want sexy women to only train for aesthetics and just be weak...

 

[SKYNET]

There is a 19 year old in the gym whom I asked what his goal is. He simply said, "I just wanna get jacked, bro."

did you tell him about the shake weight

 

[Baby Hanma]

I go to a chain gym, but it has a lot of racks and deadlift platforms. That’s the area I usually work in. I think a bunch of the regulars there are into powerlifting and some of them compete sometimes, including some lady in her 50’s that I I’ve seen competing at nationals.

How strong are they?

Any 700 pound deadlifters? Any 600-pound squatters?

Someone squatting 500 pounds for reps in my gym is already considered very impressive. I just wonder about other places. I've heard of a special gym called "Mecca" where several guys there bench press 400+ pounds for reps.

 

[Volador]

How strong are they?

Any 700 pound deadlifters? Any 600-pound squatters?

Someone squatting 500 pounds for reps in my gym is already considered very impressive. I just wonder about other places. I've heard of a special gym called "Mecca" where several guys there bench press 400+ pounds for reps.

Bro, 500lbs squat for reps is impressive anywhere lol. What you describe are more hardcore, purely powerlifting/bodybuilding gyms. There’s one in Brooklyn called Elite Barbell. You can check their IG. I’ve seen some impressive lifters there. The guys that I see at my commercial gym I think may go to small meets recreationally, as a way to motivate training, but that’s all. They are a step above weekend warriors, but not professional athletes either.

Very unlikely I’ll ever see a 600lbs squat or 700 dead at my gym. I saw a Russian guy squat 700lbs at a gym I used to go to for a short while, but he was an ex-Olympian and was there to teach some Olympic Lifting classes. I remember looking him up and he had popped for juice in some Olympic games years ago. That was crazy to see and everyone stopped to watch and cheer. There was a guy who used to come to my current gym, who I saw squat 545 and deadlift 600 or so. He wasn’t a big. Very short guy, probably weighed 180lbs or something at most, so pretty strong. I think he lifts in a purely powerlifting focused gym now. I’ve seen 500lbs squats maybe 3 or 4 times in 10 years, 600 lb deads maybe 2 or 3 times in that period. 405 bench, maybe once or twice. This older lady I think deadlifts 365 at like 50 something, which I think is impressive for her age bracket and size.

 

[Baby Hanma]

Bro, 500lbs squat for reps is impressive anywhere lol. What you describe are more hardcore, purely powerlifting/bodybuilding gyms. There’s one in Brooklyn called Elite Barbell. You can check their IG. I’ve seen some impressive lifters there. The guys that I see at my commercial gym I think may go to small meets recreationally, as a way to motivate training, but that’s all. They are a step above weekend warriors, but not professional athletes either.

Very unlikely I’ll ever see a 600lbs squat or 700 dead at my gym. I saw a Russian guy squat 700lbs at a gym I used to go to for a short while, but he was an ex-Olympian and was there to teach some Olympic Lifting classes. I remember looking him up and he had popped for juice in some Olympic games years ago. That was crazy to see and everyone stopped to watch and cheer. There was a guy who used to come to my current gym, who I saw squat 545 and deadlift 600 or so. He wasn’t a big. Very short guy, probably weighed 180lbs or something at most, so pretty strong. I think he lifts in a purely powerlifting focused gym now. I’ve seen 500lbs squats maybe 3 or 4 times in 10 years, 600 lb deads maybe 2 or 3 times in that period. 405 bench, maybe once or twice. This older lady I think deadlifts 365 at like 50 something, which I think is impressive for her age bracket and size.

Yeah sorry. At this point I don't even know my expectations anymore. Some people are impressed by my 450 squat while others think I'm a newb for it. My mind just checked out and started paying attention to my progress and nothing else. Everyone seems so wildly different with their judgements.

 

[maximus__]

D

Yeah sorry. At this point I don't even know my expectations anymore. Some people are impressed by my 450 squat while others think I'm a newb for it. My mind just checked out and started paying attention to my progress and nothing else. Everyone seems so wildly different with their judgements.

Did you end up hitting the 450lbs or is it calculated off your rep max?
Closing in on that 500lbs if it's an actual 1RM.