MALVERN STRENGTH

High Volume Rotations

On Thursday's we perform a rotation of three exercises, every minute on the minute, for 10 min.  The current selections include: L-sit, 10 sec / Back Squat, 70%x2 / Box Jump, 4 reps.  This allows us to get in a high volume of work in a short amount of time and a variety of stimulus.  A static hold, strength practice, and an explosive finish.  It also allows for recipricol muscle actions; hip flexion to hip extension, then explosive hip extension on the jump and dynamic hip flexion on the landing. It gets the heart beating and the sweat pouring fast.  We are only a few weeks into doing this rotation and the results seem promising.  We will have to continue with it for a few more weeks and see how our strength levels pan out before we can decide if this set up is a keeper.  Next week we will highlight the upper body rotation. 


Connor Burns, Mp '13, can do all 10 sets of 10 sec. L-sits with the legs extended!

 

Monday & Tuesday Max Effort

Today we will cover the Max Effort (ME) portion of the program.  Please  be aware that "Max Effort" is a relative term.  After we cover proper movement during the first couple of weeks of class we set baseline numbers in our ME lifts.  These initial lifts are conservative and it is not necessary to go to absolute levels when starting a strength program.  Starting at an absolute max will set you up for disaster in only a couple of weeks of training.  Our goal is to continue to improve strength levels for the whole first semester (Sept. - Dec.). 
Our ME lifts are Squat, Front Squat, and Box Squat for the lower body.  Bench, Incline Bench, and Press for the upper body.  We rotate these lifts over 3 week and ONLY go up 5 pounds per lift, per session.  Following this plan, the one rep squat and bench goes up 5 pounds every three weeks (we do 3's and 5's for the other lifts, only the SQ and BP get the 1 rep treatment).
After using a progressive warm up we attempt the 1RM.  After we get it, the load is dropped to 90% and 3-5 more sets are done using the same reps number as the ME attempt.  For example, if you do 200lbs x 3 for the Max Effort set, you would do 180 x 3 for 3-5 sets to complete the ME work for that day. 
We do some accessory work as well.  Before lower body ME days we start with Reverse Hypers and GHD Sit-Ups and after upper body ME work we finish with Pull-ups and Dips.  We record these number and attempt to gradually improve them during the weeks.  For pull-ups, once you can do 3 sets with double digit reps you add weight, ~20 lbs.  Once you can do 3 x double digits with 20 lbs you go up to 25lbs, and so on, and so on.  For dips, once you can do 3 x double digits you go to ring dips.  Nobody is past 3 x double digits on the rings yet! 
Later in the week we will go over the high volume work we perform on Thursday and Friday and talk about our Daily Deadlift.

John Bradford, Mp '12, puts up his heavy single for the day.

Easy Strength Gains

This year the Advanced Fitness class is experiencing tremendous results in strength without working too hard.  The key is consistancy and sticking to the plan.  We train 4 days per week for no more than 40 minutes and the improvements keep coming.  Over the next few weeks we will cover the program and all of its complicated simplicity.


Gus Carlin, Mp 12, front squats in a recent training session