Make a choice - 30 or 1?
 

So I'm hammering out a bodybuilder profile, and I see this lifter does almost 30 sets per day on major bodyparts. He uses a pretty standard high volume approach.

So this got me to thinkin'...if I had to choose between doing one high intensity set per bodypart (set to failure, and all the post-failure trimmings I could handle)...or grinding out 30 sets per bodypart, which would I choose?

So my question to you is...if you have to choose, which workout would you do for muscle building...

A) One ball-busting HIT set per bodypart, with whatever high intensity tricks you want to add to that set (rest-pause, slow negatives, drop sets, whatever)

B) 30 grind 'em out mindless volume sets of moderate intensity.

A without a doubt. I would start to loose form on my reps if I did 30 of them per workout. I also like to challenge myself and think that going high intensity to faliure is more effective.

I would go with A as well.

I could see doing one set to failure, maybe then drop sets, and maybe finish out with a lighter weight and slow negatives...or something insane like that.

If I had to muck out 30 sets per bodypart, I would have a hard time motivating myself to go to the gym.

I'm in the middle, if I can be. Today for chest, I will do 6 or 7 sets of Flat Press, and another 6 or 7 on the Pec Deck..along with some nice slow pushups before and after...

I suppose if I had to pick, I would do 1 big set and use drop sets to get maximum volume out of it..

hmmm. I perfer B I guess but, I like to think It's 30 high intensity reps.

Generally, A, B of course has its place and time but I'd prefer to be in and out and down. Whenever I do my rest-pause style training, I train to failure every set, I train until I'm absolutely sure that even if I rest for another minute I couldn't do a single rep. I couldn't imagine how long I'd spend in the gym if I had to do 30 sets but yet I still see results anyways.

Now in terms of other HIIT techniques, I really only prefer rest pause. I know if I do a drop set immediately I could get a pump, or I could literally kill the muscle with forced reps (via Demon Training). But this doesn't seem natural to me, I like to work out frequently on full body routines so I'd prefer to just stick to what my bodies capable of on it's own.

they both sound terrible.

did this bodybuilder really admit to using moderate intensity?

15-20 sets till good failure is how i roll

I'd go with one all out set., utililizing a fullbody program 4-5 days a week.

I'd use a 1x30 scheme and stick only about 5-8 moves during the week.

Deads/ varient
Squats/ varient
Presses/ varient
BB Rows/varient
Benching/ varient
Calf raises

I could make it work.

Here's his routine: (scroll down)

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It's heavy weight but not high intensity ala training to failure.

One snotty, fart producing set will be sufficient. If necessary, extend it with rest/pause, drops, assisted reps, negatives, or whatever. One set will work, if you do it right.