APF Nationals - Michigan June 12
Training
Mentally preparing for this day the only thought I has was, "whatever I do today straight weight, I feel should be equivalent to my opener".
Perspective
After 8 years of training and having some type of accommodative resistance, as well as, coaching and programming people for eight years I have developed an ok gauge for how long-standing clients and myself handle chains. For obvious reason, I knew my opener was not going to be drastically higher than last meets, what was odd to me was my logic that I should be able to take my opener with 6 chains and it would be a successful day. Six chains is what was loaded to the 600 lb bar and we went to work.
Coaching
So many people are worried about how much the chains actually weigh. Ok, yes the weight has some value, but it does not set the tone of the lift, there are some things to consider.
1- when lifting if you have 120 in chains on the bar YOU ARE NOT LIFTING THAT MUCH, that is just what it is at the top, IT QUICKLY GOES AWAY!!!! so stop saying you squatted 800 lbs when really it was 680 + 120 in chains
2- the chains come back on you just as fast as it leaves you from the above statement, just know the hardest part of the lift is being down with NO added weight
3- Projecting what you are going to lift on a third attempt based on what you did with chains is a VERY difficult thing to do and most people are not good at it, so just stop running that calculation
4- When you have chains loaded up your sole job is to push as hard and as violently to move them! Explosively, on speed day, and with as much force as possible THROUGH the chain on ME day
5- 500+ lbs squatter use 6 chains on ME and DE
300+lb bench use 4 chains on ME and DE
500+ lbs deadlifter Same as squat
Workout
Day 1
ME Squats (wrapped) + 6 chains Max Single: 600
Narrow Stance SSB Pause Squats 2x5: 335,355
Leg Press 2x15: 225
Reverse Hyper recovery: SKIP
6 month Prone Position