A friend from Italy asks:
“Coach, It’s hard for one to get bigger when their strength is the limiting factor. Eric Cressey once used an analogy of a cup with water in it. The water inside is your size, speed, endurance etc. But eventually the cup gets full and the only thing you can do to really progress is to increase the size of the glass- maximal strength.
However, I don’t think it would be a good idea (would it?) for a bodybuilder to start doing a powerlifter’s routine which focuses on just moving a weight from point A to point B. So, my question is, how do you reccomend a bodybuilder get stronger? Thanx!”
First I agree with Eric Cressey’s assertion (I’ve been promoting the same idea for over a decade now). Maximum strength is quite often the achille’s heel of hypertrophy attainment. Guys, if you weigh 200 pounds or more, and if you’re not benching at least 300 pounds and squatting at least 400 pounds…
…focus mostly on maximal strength development until you can.
Second, you don’t have to do a powerlifter’s routine to get stronger (although you could: look at Dave Tate’s physique after he dropped the excess bodyfat recently!) What you do need to do is a program that focuses on parameters that prioritize the development of maximal strength on a handful of key compound lifts- presses, squats, pulls, etc.
Loading paremeters should promote high tensions. That means either very heavy weights, or moderately heavy weights moves as explosively as possible. In either case, reps per set must stay low (typically between 2-3) and rests between sets must be adequate to sustain performance over the duration of the training session.
Remember that your training need not be entirely devoted to maximal strength development should you decide to buy into my thesis here! Training sessions can consist of a “core” lift (squat, bench press, pull-ups, etc) trained according to maximal strength parameters, followed by 2-3 “assistance” lifts, trained with more conventional bodybuilding parameters (or even better, though Escalating Density Training parameters! – http://www.staleytrainingprograms.com). This approach has proven itself for many decades now, and many very big, very strong men have used it with great success.
Powerlifting For Bodybuilding?
Contact Me contact@brinkzone.com
-
Body Building Panama Style
Will Brink, , Bodybuilding, Contest Coverage, General Brinkzone Stuff, 1
I have been traveling to Panama and surrounding countries this past year or so. An interest in Fitness/Body Building...
-
Body Building Revealed
Will Brink, , General Brinkzone Stuff, Training Programs, Videos, 3
I’m often asked about my Body Building Revealed (BBR) Program, and I’ll send them to the sales related page...
-
T Grips Or FatGripz?
Will Brink, , General Brinkzone Stuff, Product Reviews, Strength Training, Videos, 9
In this vid, I discuss the importance of grip strength in various sports, such as MMA, Power lifting, Strong...
-
Reflections: People I Have Known In The Industry
Will Brink, , Bodybuilding, Brinkisms And Other Stuff, General Brinkzone Stuff, 19
Articles Referenced In Vid: Recently, I was reflecting on the number of well known figures in the industry I’ve...
-
Does Muscles = Knowledge?
Will Brink, , General Brinkzone Stuff, 7
Does Muscle equal knowledge? Does the amount of muscle a person has reflect what they actually know about training,...
-
We Are What We Absorb!
Will Brink, , General Brinkzone Stuff, Nutritional Science, Supplement Science, 19
“You are what you eat” is an old expression your grandmother’s grandmother probably used, but it’s not actually correct...
-
Genetics And Your Success: Part 2!
Will Brink, , Bodybuilding, General Brinkzone Stuff, Videos, 12
In a prior video, I discussed the importance of genetics in people’s success. In this vid, I continue that...
-
The Anabolic Vs. Catabolic Metabolism
Will Brink, , General Brinkzone Stuff, General fitness info, Nutritional Science, Videos, 39
I see this as a continuum going from Anabolic <—> Catabolic with people tending to fall on either side...
BrinkZone Authors
Categories
Recent Posts
- Oreo Cookies Better Than Statins For lowering LDL?! March 12, 2024
- Oreo Cookies Vs Statins?! March 7, 2024
- Lactoferrin: A Broad Spectrum Anti-Viral January 25, 2024
- Pragmatic Real World *Permanent* Weight Loss! November 10, 2023
- Psychology 101 Of Weight Loss November 2, 2023
- Creatine in Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome/Long Covid October 4, 2023
- Iron, The Key To Glucose Metabolism And Disease Prevention? September 27, 2023
- NAC Vs Gly-NAC Vs Glyteine Vs Whey! August 24, 2023
Recent Comments
- Stephen Cartwright on Process Training Vs. End Point Training
- Dan on Process Training Vs. End Point Training
- Jim on AlphaJoe Is HERE!
- Will Brink on Whey Isolates vs. Concentrates
- David Plyler on Iron, The Key To Glucose Metabolism And Disease Prevention?
I don’t always get to read great pieces but I have to say your work just got my attention. Your words and ideas flowed brilliantly together. Looking forward to seeing more from you.