I work with a group of students from Akron Barbell Club at The University of Akron (where I used to work and went to grad school). They are on the 4th week of their semester-long programming, and I was able to come into town to meet with a handful of them. I send them programming in 3-week blocks, so it gives me a chance to adjust things based on how they're doing as the weeks go on. Last block their main squat movement was Safety Squat (Yoke) Bar Squats, and this block it is Pause Squats. They're all doing a great job, and have made some really good improvements on their setups, deadlift lockouts, etc. When we test in a few weeks I foresee some big PRs..

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEKA6-aZDC4]

Their training on this day was Pause Squats up to a 5 Rep Max, followed by Deadlift doubles (and singles to an opener for the 2 lifters competing at Deadlift for Hope next weekend). We worked on setting their air better on squat and loading up the hamstrings when they setup for deadlift. As they continue to make improvements we'll really be building steam moving into April when many of the club (which has around 40 students right now) are planning on competing at USAPL Battle of the Great Lakes.

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