Here's my Korte

[blut wump]

Semi-serious, I guess. I didn't prep for it by getting some fresh legs but I did want to see how hard it'd be. I deemed it hopeless.

I did get a fair chunk stronger on the Korte with my squat (20Kgs / 45lbs) but 4x9 at my new 70% was not going to happen and then adding 10Kg for the following week!?! Maybe a big part of it was the lack of squatting practice over 5 reps. I'm not yet ready for the Smolov.

 

[Jim Ouini]

Week 6 Day 1

Got a late start today, didn't get my regular food in and also coming down with a little bug. Been chugging my vitamin C, ginger, echinacea and green tea concoction.

Squat
Bar x 2 x 5
135 x 2 x 3
195 x 3 x 3

Nothing to report, pretty easy.

Bench
Bar x 3 x 5 (N-S-W)
135 x 3 x 3 (N-S-W)
185 x 5 x 4 (N-S-W-N-S)

Remembered to do my 5 x 4 this time. No problems.

Dead
Bar x 10 (RDL)
135 x 3
225 x 1
315 x 1
365 x 1
425 x 2 x 1 (85% of goal)

425 felt pretty good. Like last week, the first one went up pretty fast, I think. 2nd one not as fast even though I took a good bit of rest.

Decent start to week 6. Hopefully I can shake this bug, in the back of my mind I'm worried of getting toppled by this thing.

 

[Jim Ouini]

Week 6 Day 2

Still haven't shaken that bug. The good news is that it hasn't gotten much worse, so maybe I'm holding it at bay. Also had a dentists appt this morning so my mouth was numb (probably not worth mentioning... )

Squat
Bar x 2 x 5
135 x 2 x 3
195 x 3 x 3

Pretty easy, wondering if I should start thinking about bumping it up a bit, maybe to 205? Not sure what purpose that would serve, though.

Bench
Bar x 3 x 5 (N-S-W)
135 x 3 x 3 (N-S-W)
185 x 1
225 x 1
255 x 2 x 1 (85% target)

Supposed to be 251 so I rounded up again. Actually pretty easy, better than last week's 240. I had a couple buddies watch me and they said it looked lighter than 85% - I hope so.

Dead
Bar x 10 (RDL)
135 x 3
225 x 1
315 x 3 x 3

Felt heavy again, except for the last set. On these sets I just go through my checkpoints before every rep, sometimes pausing for like 2 seconds. I find the air in the stomach thing to be really helpful for me.

Pretty good workout, bug didn't seem to affect my strength at all.

 

[blut wump]

Well, you've outlasted me. W6D2 was the day I broke myself and had to stop. From the sound of things, you're feeling comfortable with some new-found strength.

Regarding bumping the 60% weights, I'd be inclined not to bother unless they are feeling too light. During my partial-Korte couple of weeks, the heavy lifts were very much the main focus and the 60% exercises really just to keep the muscles used to doing something. You pushed the deadlift fairly had throughout, I think, so maybe the squats could get bumped. See what Monday brings. You should be fully deloaded by then.

 

[Jim Ouini]

Yeah I was thinking to keep the deads at 315...maybe add a light band one day per week (probably not, just thinking out loud). I'll see how I feel Monday, I still have to get tomorrow's squat. Next week will be the big test for me, I think. Depending on how they feel I'll be able to see definitively if this Korte stuff works

 

[Jim Ouini]

Week 6 Day 3

Bug's gotten worse...now coughing but took some medicine and went to the gym anyway

Squat
Bar x 2 x 5
135 x 2 x 3
185 x 1
225 x 1
250 x 1
275 x 2 x 1

85% was 268, and I rounded up to 270 but that seems like such an odd number that I just slapped the quarter on. It felt pretty good, I actually did a pause at the bottom of my second attempt, remembering to keep everything tight.

Bench
Bar x 3 x 5 (N-S-W)
135 x 3 x 3 (N-S-W)
185 x 5 x 4 (N-S-W-N-S)

Nothing to report.

Dead
Bar x 10 (RDL)
135 x 3
225 x 1 (mini-band)
315 x 3 x 3 (mini-band)

Decided to add a light band just for fun. I really tried to go fast on these, it felt pretty light and surprisingly easy since these sets felt heavy on Wed.

Overall Week 6: All my 85% attempts felt great. Looking forward to next week, the real test. I hope to be close to 100%, gonna rest up this weekend and get well.

 

[anotherbutters]

Good job. You're making it look easy!

 

[Jim Ouini]

Thanks AB. Honestly, these first 2 week of comp phase aren't too bad. 1 rep at 85%1RM and 3 x 3 at 60% are pretty doable, it is very little volume especially after the hell of the first 4 weeks.

As I said, next week will be the real challenge, I'm kind of excited to see the results.

 

[blut wump]

From the looks of things, next week should be completely solid.

Bear in mind that bumping from 268 to 275 added more than 2% to the lift. I think you're probably in a position such that the Korte increase on squats, at least, is now a given. I know my last two or three weeks of broken-Korte might not be an accurate indicator but I felt I was still getting stronger as the singles phase played out.

 

[Jim Ouini]

Thanks for the encouragement BW, much appreciated. I have to admit to feeling some trepidation looking at this coming weeks' lifts: 450 (455?) dead, 266 (270?) bench, 284 (290-95?) squat - getting close to my maxes (duh 90% I guess so ).

I feel strong though (I think the cold is slowly improving, too), I didn't struggle on any of my 85%'s so I guess I can't be dissappointed if I get some hitches at my 90% attempts.