Speed and Strength Training Basics: Part II

Hey! Hope you’re well. I have a couple videos for you today; The first video below is the second part of the training session I posted on Monday Speed and Strength Training Basics: Part I. Be sure to check that one out if you haven’t yet! The video below shows a few clips of the strength portion of the training session, including a few minutes of my training partners and I performing some power cleans, then my last work set of back squats where I hit 275 lbs for 15 repetitions. Not bad for me, I’ll take it! In the same workout we also performed bench presses, some assistance work for the upper back and hamstrings, and finished with some abdominal/low back/upper arm exercises. Fancy? Not very… Effective? Most definitely!

Nothing fancy, but again– the BASICS never fail. Every training program, regardless of how fancy it may look or how many gadgets are used should have some form of basic barbell training principles in it. I am favoring higher repetition training right now, using submaximal weights to build strength. A couple reasons why I am using this method currently in my training:

• Mental Toughness Training: Do you think you can build up some attitude and mental toughness after getting under a heavy barbell and repping a weight for 15-20 repetitions you once thought was too heavy? Damn straight!
  
• Starting Lighter and Progressing Slower: This is where many fail to understand that a training program should be focused on LONG TERM progressions, not quick fixes. Think 6-12 months down the road how much progress you can truly make if you are just patient and quit stressing out because you didn’t add 50 pounds to your max bench in 8 weeks. (I give credit to Jim Wendler for shedding light on this subject from his e-book 5/3/1, which I highly recommend. No, it’s not an affiliate link, I just think the book and philosophy behind the program kicks major ass.)
  

The second video is the latest commercial from Under Armour featuring GSP (Georges St. Pierre for those of you not into the MMA scene). This got me FIRED UP to go train and be the best at what I do. Are you ready to kick ass and take names today? Quit living your life with excuses and GO AFTER whatever goals you have. Not tomorrow, not in 3 months, NOW. The time will never, ever be perfect. Just do it!

Keep on keepin’ on,

John Cortese