Dropped to the Elitefts this week. As you can see the weight felt light, moved fast and I had no issues with my knees during training today.
I have had a few questions lately as to why I am training this way and not doing a more typical raw type training rep/set scheme. Well I am not a raw lifter for one and I have trained the way I have trained for quite sometime now. Not the best answer? Here I will elaborate a little more on this....
I train, lift and compete multiply. Ok we got that. With that being said I train raw 50% of the time as well (meaning squat, bench, deadlift). Most multiply lifters train this way. Its just never an issue when I am training to do multiply. Now that I am training for my first and last full power raw meet in like 10 years, I am getting questions on why am I doing this and not doing that, why are you using rev bands and not straight weight and blah blah blah....
There is more than one way to skin a cat. With me training both raw and multiply through out the year and strictly raw in our off season allows me to keep some respectable raw power even as an old man. I am not what I used to be raw but my multiply numbers are the best they have ever been at age 43 than they were 5, 6, 7 years ago (excluding my multiply bench). I don't do a lot of volume raw because I cannot physically handle it anymore. My body does not recover like it used to. I train heavy when I can and I keep my sets and intensity attainable and smart. Its quality more so for me now. Quantity will end my career faster than I would like so I am strategic in what I do and don't do and when I do certain things and don't do certain things. For me my training is like playing chess with my body. I have to be smart and calculated to the best of my ability. No ego sets anymore. No big dick look at me stuff for this old man. I am on a mission to check off a couple of more bucket lists lifts before I am done.
Back to reverse band squats for me: I have always liked doing these for several reasons:
1. Handling my projection weight every other week with bands builds my confidence. For me picking up the weight is my biggest battle. The "pick up" is the most important part of the squat. You need to have confidence and practice with the heavy weights. Using our method and dropping a band every other week allows for those things to happen.
2. I look at like this. With rev bands on the squats it reminds me of having training wheels on a bike. Without the training wheels it will take longer to learn how to ride that bike. But with them you are "riding" the bike instead of continuing to crash and bang your ass up. I can handle that weight a lot quicker than I could without and build confidence by doing so at a faster pace for myself.
3. Using bands teaches me to learn how to stay in my groove. No matter how you set bands up they will pull you one way or another as you descend or rise in the squat. This forces me to learn my groove faster and keep me even more focused on remaining tight and in my groove during the squat.
I understand this mentality and what I do is not for everyone but it is what works for me. I don't have much time left and I am doing all I can to hang in there just a little longer to finalize what personal goals I still want to fulfill. There is not a magic wand, magic template, online wizard trainer or some secret training the top guys are all doing. Everyone has their own way of doing things and after decades of trying everything there is to try out there us old guys somewhat get a bead on what works for our body and our needs. This is mine. Its not rocket science or some new wave thing and its not meant to work for anyone else but for me and that's all that matters. Each of us have to evolve in how we do things for a multitude of reasons. Age, injuries, surgeries, time, capabilities and the list goes on and on. I am continuing to adapt and as long as my adaptations keep moving me forward and accomplishing my goals, then that is what I will continue to do....
Rev Band Raw Squats
1 x bar - 1
1 x 135 - 1
1 x 225 - 1
1 x 315 - 1
1 x 405 - 1
Added Bands
1 x 505 - 1
1 x 600 - 1
1 x 700 - 1
1 x 800 - 1
Leg Press
4 x 10
GHR
4 x 10
Leg Curls
4 x 10
Standing Calf Raises
5 x 20
Seated Cable Rows
4 x 10
DB Shrugs
5 x 40
Abs