Switchin' up routines

[benchmonster]

If you are having trouble with the actual lift despite your assistance work going up, then you are having the same problem I was having. I solved this on the bench by doing shirted board presses. This allowed me to train heavier, still protect the shoulders, and learn to consistently hit the shirt groove.

I don't compete in full meets, nor will I, but I advocate doing free squats for a M.E. squat workout every once in a while. This allows you to be used to doing actual squats without the wear and tear of doing them every week. I actually think a M.E. setup like this would work very well.

Week One - Suspended or pin GM's
Week 2 - deadlift, from floor or pins
Week 3 - Box squat at various heights
Week 4 - Free Squat
Week 5 - Skip the bar movement, and just do the supplemental exercises.

This would allow you the benefits of box squatting (on speed day) while still giving you practice at actual squatting. I agree with you that I cannot be comfortable with just box squatting, never doing a free squat, and just showing up to the meet. I also cannot condone never shirting up except for the meet.

These things are different than what you do in the gym. You don't have to do them every week, but you do need to practice them to get good form down.

Also, check your PM, and e-mail me at [email protected]

B.

 

[lilmikey]

If you are having trouble with the actual lift despite your assistance work going up, then you are having the same problem I was having. I solved this on the bench by doing shirted board presses. This allowed me to train heavier, still protect the shoulders, and learn to consistently hit the shirt groove.

I don't compete in full meets, nor will I, but I advocate doing free squats for a M.E. squat workout every once in a while. This allows you to be used to doing actual squats without the wear and tear of doing them every week. I actually think a M.E. setup like this would work very well.

Week One - Suspended or pin GM's
Week 2 - deadlift, from floor or pins
Week 3 - Box squat at various heights
Week 4 - Free Squat
Week 5 - Skip the bar movement, and just do the supplemental exercises.

This would allow you the benefits of box squatting (on speed day) while still giving you practice at actual squatting. I agree with you that I cannot be comfortable with just box squatting, never doing a free squat, and just showing up to the meet. I also cannot condone never shirting up except for the meet.

These things are different than what you do in the gym. You don't have to do them every week, but you do need to practice them to get good form down.

Also, check your PM, and e-mail me at [email protected]

B.

Thanks Benchmonster. I checked it and replied in an email. Umm... perhaps i forgot to mention this, but, I train raw for now. I don't plan to for long though. By this winter I'll have enough cash to buy a shirt and squat suit, and after I break them in and learn to properly use them, I plan on competing.

That squat rotation looks like a good idea; I will beable to practice the actual movement once every couple of weeks. I don't have access to boxes of varying heights; I had to build an 11 inch box from scrap wood that is actually quite sterdy and holds up well. It is maybe an inch or two below parallel. But, I get the jist of the rotation.