Week 1 of "The Freak System"

[FREAK19]

I know my program aint westside. And I know that most of the people here dont like the way Bodybuilders Train, but this is the way I like, I made a total of 1950 training this way. I dont always do high reps. The highest I normally go is 10 reps. I also know that someday my way is gonna stop working for me, and when that happens ill go to something else. Irishpower my uncle also told me that when im in my thirties my numbers will shoot up incredible. When he was between 34-37 im not sure, he did an incline with 620 for 3 reps and a forced rep on the 4th. He also did a 405 military from reps between 4-6. And yes he did get an injury, he had a minor torn pec but it wasnt from doing reps. It was just from training heavy. So I look at it as an injury can occur anytime. Doing anything. But it does mean alot to me that you would look out for a younger lifter. Cause trust me you dont find that too often from other people. So I thank you for looking out, and I mean that.

Jagermeister
On week 5-6 my very last set (6th set) the % is at about 90-95. Then week 7 is max out week so that is 100%. Are you trying to figure out something for your bench? If so let me know what your bench max is.

lilmikey
Then only thing I did different with my training when I started powerlifting was adding deadlifts. Of course for my BP, SQ, and DL my reps and sets changed, but everything else stayed the same. Then my buddy of mine who is a football coach that got me into powerlifting gave me this program to try and ive been doing it for 2 years already, of course not back to back just off and on for 2 years. So to answer your question, I dont know what I will do if this stops working for me. Hopefully it wont. But if it does ill think of something.

Freak19

 

[Imnotdutch]

How could you disagree?

Sure hypertrophy is beneficial but training with maximal weights usually results in better gains as illustrated anecdotally by 90% of powerlifters out there. Not to mention that they already include hypertrophy inducing work in the form of assistance exercise.

-Zulu

90% of powerlifters? And where did you pull that little number from?? How many powerlifters did you speak to in order to arrive at this number 'anecdotally'??

BTW why is it that even your 90% of powerlifters incorporate 'hypertrophy inducing work in the form of assistance exercise'? Doesn't that contradict your first point just a little?? Your 90% of lifters also do hypertrophy work.....so they aren't just sticking to training with maximal weights....therefore you cannot say that they make the gains through using maximal weights.

BTW heres a link to an article written by an experienced powerlifter who also uses his head (if you can truly relate the number of degrees somebody has to cognitive ability). Interesting how he incorporates a hypertrophy phase huh?

http://nbaf.com/nbaf/aug7pgl.html

Heres another....concerning none other than Ed Coan:

http://www.geocities.com/kory_wnuk/files/coan01.html
http://www.geocities.com/kory_wnuk/files/coan01.html

So although you cannot see how somebody might disagree with you on the point of incorporating hypertrophy, it appears to work (if you disagree, please head over to Goheavy.com and tell Mr. Coan....I'm sure he will change everything up to satisfy you).

 

[latinus_spicticus]

regarding coan's routine-- it has its own flaws. IMO it sucks, but that is open to debate.

EX-
"While not as trendy-sexy as newer models, this is the most effective system of strength building ever devised. Period."

There is no "most effective" system. Shame on the author.

"Ed Coan designs a cycle for you: We asked Coan to apply his cycle logic to a hypothetical 270 pound bencher who wanted to break the 300 pound barrier: "We can do it, but it'll take a thirteen week commitment from the lifter."

LOL! If coan (or anyone else) can increase their bench press by 10 percent every 13 weeks (which is exactly what this program CLAIMS to do) then he would be benching over 1000 pounds by now.

The author of that article was clearly not using his head.

This workout is no better than any standard bodybuilding + a core lift pyramid workout. May as well follow a FLEX magazine workout and cut the sets in half. Not saying it is a bad thing, if it works then do it.

 

[ZZuluZ]

ImNotDutch, most powerlifters incorporate maximal work followed by hypertrophy assistance. They do not subsistute maximal work for higher reps as Freak has done.

That's all I'm going to say.

-Zulu

 

[Imnotdutch]

ImNotDutch, most powerlifters incorporate maximal work followed by hypertrophy assistance. They do not subsistute maximal work for higher reps as Freak has done.

That's all I'm going to say.

-Zulu

Really? What do you base this assumption upon? Blanket statements are far from convincing especially when you failed to answer the questions that I asked in the last post. It looks remarkably like ducking the issue.

It took me about 5 minutes to find two lifters (one good, the other arguably the best) who don't agree with you.

Check out other boards and you will see that there are many systems out there.

 

[Imnotdutch]

Latinus_spicticus,

Your points are well made. I agree that there is no most effective system.

I see your point about repeated cycles of periodisation. I have used similar systems, but quickly found that you cant expect to get the 10% increase every time. It worked ok the first time.....but after that I had to switch things up (go figure!!!). I think that there is some selling of the routine going on here . Maybe people like Freak19 can make good progress through repeated cycles though......

The only thing I don't agree with is that the routine is as bad as something out of Flex mag. That was kinda harsh I think.....I would reserve that title for those that advocate doing 1000 sets per bodypart.

regarding coan's routine-- it has its own flaws. IMO it sucks, but that is open to debate.

EX-
"While not as trendy-sexy as newer models, this is the most effective system of strength building ever devised. Period."

There is no "most effective" system. Shame on the author.

"Ed Coan designs a cycle for you: We asked Coan to apply his cycle logic to a hypothetical 270 pound bencher who wanted to break the 300 pound barrier: "We can do it, but it'll take a thirteen week commitment from the lifter."

LOL! If coan (or anyone else) can increase their bench press by 10 percent every 13 weeks (which is exactly what this program CLAIMS to do) then he would be benching over 1000 pounds by now.

The author of that article was clearly not using his head.

This workout is no better than any standard bodybuilding + a core lift pyramid workout. May as well follow a FLEX magazine workout and cut the sets in half. Not saying it is a bad thing, if it works then do it.

 

[lilmikey]

Really? What do you base this assumption upon? Blanket statements are far from convincing especially when you failed to answer the questions that I asked in the last post. It looks remarkably like ducking the issue.

It took me about 5 minutes to find two lifters (one good, the other arguably the best) who don't agree with you.

Check out other boards and you will see that there are many systems out there.

People train the way that works best for them. You may have found examples of people that trained better one way over westside, while Zzulu found others. Either way... there isn't really a reason to be a dick about it.

 

[ZZuluZ]

"Either way... there isn't really a reason to be a dick about it.
"

Precisely.

Why would I pursue this issue? There's not really any point.

-Zulu

 

[Imnotdutch]

People train the way that works best for them. You may have found examples of people that trained better one way over westside, while Zzulu found others. Either way... there isn't really a reason to be a dick about it.

At risk of looking like a dick again.....in fact I am sure that will come across this way!

I would first like to apologise to Freak as this is his thread...ok here goes.

I should point out that I have nothing but respect for almost all of the people that frequent this board.....that is why I come here.....I know I will learn something from lifters who are very knowledgable, experienced and of extremely high ability.

However, I tend to treat people the way that they treat others. zzZuluzz's posts come across as aloof and he makes blanket statements and represents ideas as facts in a sport in which it is rarely possible to do this. If you do this, and misrepresent the way things are I will always ask you to justify the points you make.

In order to demonstrate why I don't feel too agrieved about acting like a dick when zzZuluzz is concerned, let me link to a couple of posts that he made recently:

Third post down: http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=1627502#post1627502

Twelfth post down: http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=1627523#post1627523

I have asked zzZuluzz to justify what he says.....and he will not. He just kicks out a grossly modified version of his original ideas (the ones that nobody could possibly disagree with apparently). That is ducking the issue.....you'll have to forgive me for calling it the way I see it.

I have in the past supported zzZuluzz. I have even sent him pm's stating this. He has alot of good information.....but as stated above, in this thread he is misrepresenting the way things are.

Finally, I agree with your point about there being different approaches......that was my point.

 

[Twitched]

someone needs to lay off the halo