Hey keo. I see you do reverse band squats. But how do you feel about reverse band deadlifts? Just tried these out and felt pretty good about them but was wondering what you thought.
I think they're fine if you've got a weakness off the floor. Legio used them for a while, and I feel like he had pretty good success with them. They don't do much for me for max-effort training because I already hit a wall once I near lockout, and the bands only enlarge that weakness. If I were to use them, I'd probably do sub-max work for higher-repetition sets with them and set the tension so that I was pulling maybe 60-70% off the bottom and 70-80% at the top.
Wow - great job on 10x3x270!!
Thanks, man. I didn't think I was going to get through it after the first week, but it went smoothly. This felt a million times better than when I first paused 270 for a triple.
I've really been enjoying watching the videos, man. I've got a couple questions
In adjusting your training into high volume, what's your strategy after Smolov? Run another cycle after you max or go to another routine?
And then, I guess a more abstract question. Why is it important and what motivates you to stay at a low weight class? Is it where you plan to stay forever or only in the mean time? In a sport like powerlifting, weight class seems to be more a personal choice then something you have to do to when, since going up in weight will generally bring strength increases as well. Just wondering why 148 is the class for you.
My strategy will be to re-run Smolov for as long as I can, which could end up being indefinitely, provided I'm deloading when necessary (so, maybe running the three-week base cycle, then deloading for a week, then rinsing and repeating). I think if I just reorganize the days so that I'm getting a day's rest between my highest-intensity training sessions, I should handle it fine, because the high volume days are admittedly very easy for me, and the RPEs are not close to 10.
If I make a decision to switch, I'll probably look at Sheiko CMS.
I'm motivated to stay at 148 lbs. because I continue to get stronger as I get smarter with my training. I clearly have more room to improve at this weight class, and because of this, I don't want to move up. For me, adding weight is a last resort; I've worked very hard to be a top 148, and I don't want to give that up to move up a weight class. Yes, I'll get stronger, but I'm on the cusp of some very big numbers at this weight class. I want to reach more milestones, and I absolutely want to make a run at the squat world record in this weight class; this will take years, but I at least have a chance, and I've never had a chance at anything like that before.
My plan is to be at 148 lbs. until I physically cannot or until I feel gaining weight is the only way for me to get stronger. Going up in weight will bring an increase in strength, but 17 lbs. is a huge gap, and the top 165s are all putting up 1500+ lb. totals. It would take me some time to get there.
Finally, I think I just am naturally better suited for this weight. I'm 5'4", and the top 165s mainly seem to be 5'5"-5'8". It would be hard for me to get to where I'm 5'4" and 180 lbs. with low body-fat, which is the body composition I'd need to maximize my ability at that weight class.
Sounds like Smolov Jr was a success! Excellent.
So far, anyway. Even if the max test goes awful (and it very likely won't), I feel as if I've gotten stronger here.
ok here is todays squats at 340. I took a side view and it seems i'm hitting parallel on the reps. I sunk too low and GMed a few reps however these were on the last reps of the set. I am not sure if it is just fatigue or just a technical error?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn1tebydSWI&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Y_R4ApGuA&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KNQik53qxw&feature=youtu.be
It's a technical error brought about by fatigue. You're still hitting pretty good reps early in your sets. You might just want to lower the RPEs a bit so that you don't break down quite this much.
Im enjoying you suffer through smolov on video!
Oh, and I completely agree with your perspective on strenght. Many people fall in that trap, They set their perceptions on strenght very low, and because of that they set themself up for failure.
Thanks man. My guess is that I'd be CONSIDERABLY weaker if I had spent my life training in my garage with no idea of how strong people my size are capable of being.
