So I've got to thinking....

[Trevor Ross]

Since I've been studying methods of Olympic Weightlifters and Oldtime Strongmen, I noticed the high frequency and high volume those animals use/used. Then I see modern Powerlifting routines, and the weekly volume for the Powerlifters would be something the Strongmen and O Lifters do in a day or two. So why would one out of the three strength sports train differently than the other two? Money.

Top Strongmen made a fortune in the early 20th century, and nearly all of the countries with successful Weightlifting teams, take financial care of their athletes, and have performance bonuses. Whereas most top Powerlifters have to work, and manage their lives.

After seeing work and assorted information from the likes of Hepburn, Ditillo, Saxon, Park, Pearl, Sipes, Broz, Jamie Lewis, The golden age American Weightlifters, Bulgarians, Russians and Chinese. It leaves me asking one question. Are we doing enough in the gym often enough? Is over-training the big bad bogeyman it's made out to be? They trained/train frequently and with heavy assed weights. Lo and behold they're as strong as shit. Discuss.

[big valsalva]

Originally Posted by Trevor Ross

Top Strongmen made a fortune in the early 20th century, and nearly all of the countries with successful Weightlifting teams, take financial care of their athletes, and have performance bonuses. Whereas most top Powerlifters have to work, and manage their lives.

Bingo! I gotta think this would be easier to do (and more productive) if it were my day job.

[Trevor Ross]

I did a bit of an experiment on myself, and I worked until I was feeling like shit/tired/irritable. Instead of taking a break or deloading, I pushed through the darkness (that's what I call the broken down feeling you get) and I got stronger. So during that time when I was in the darkness would it be a case of your body going through an "upgrade" process? Is what we perceive as over-training a load of BS. Is it a case of over-training or is it being under-trained? I've some experiences that have completely changed my view on training. I have no joint pain or tendinitis to speak of either my flipping shoulders feel better actually.

[Trevor Ross]

You have to keep in mind I'm running a barebones push/pull split.

Press/Squat/Bench Press
Deadlift/Chin/Row

8-10 sets of 3 (I wave load)
5-6 days a week

[Trevor Ross]

I'm going to throw in a few single joint exercises for prehab purposes.

[Trevor Ross]

One thing I don't understand is, people want this monsterous bench press, and they're doing rows with pissy little weights.

[statirasman]

When I first started training I got so excited about it I would train 7 days a week and expected to be sore. People would tell me to slow down, I needed to let my body recover. I told them I would rest when I was dead. A little while later those same "fitness experts" who told me to slow down were asking me what steroids I was on and where they could get some. I told them you can get it in the gym by busting their ass with heavy weight every time they step in the place. Your body is and amazing adaptive organism you yust gotta give it something to adapt to.

[IronManlet]

Originally Posted by Trevor Ross

It leaves me asking one question. Are we doing enough in the gym often enough? Is over-training the big bad bogeyman it's made out to be? They trained/train frequently and with heavy assed weights. Lo and behold they're as strong as shit.

You have got it.

I'm a big believer in high frequency and heavy weights.

[Trevor Ross]

I just found it interesting that out of the big three strength sports, two train similarly and one trains differently, and money being the main determining factor on how training styles were developed over the years.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Trevor Ross

One thing I don't understand is, people want this monsterous bench press, and they're doing rows with pissy little weights.

That's mostly bros.

You won't see many Elite competitive powerlifters with pissy row weight. My dumbbells rows are 215x10. Probably more if I worked them harder.