I’m always training for the next competition, no matter when it is. Nearly 3 months after my latest performance at the UPA Midwest Championship in Iowa, hitting an all-time high 1399 total (SQ-501 (PR)/B-314(PR)/D-584), I’ve gotten back the momentum to carry into the next meet. I had such a positive experience doing the UPA meet (my first in that federation) that I was going to go back in August. Until I found out Matt Houser ( a good friend of mine and one of the world’s best benchers) is going to host another meet at our gym here in Bloomington, IL. So I started my new training cycle this week using THE CUBE. I’ve used THE CUBE to get ready for the UPA meet and had amazing results. So, why not do it again?!?
Week 1- THE CUBE
Squat (Rep Day)
1×8 @ 70% of 1rm (500lbs)
warm-up
135 x 5
225 x 5
315 x 1
335 x 1
*Front Squat
135 x 5
165 x 5
170 x 5
GHR
3 x 15
*If you’ve seen me, which you will in my deadlift video, I”m very posterior dominant. So, my quads are going to be my weak point. So I’m using front squats as an accessory movement. Love these.
Bench (Explosion)
8 x 3 @ 60% of 1RM (314)
**B. Incline DB Bench
70 x 2 x 8
60 x 3 x 8
B2. Foot Elevated Pushups (decline)
5 x 10-20
B3.T-“Bar” Rows
5 x 10-12
**Okay, so I made an attempt to do this Diesel Crew chest workout that Smitty wrote up. It was originally for 8 sets, but time and conditioning wasn’t going to let that happened. Needless to say bench is my weakest lift. I was taking 3-5 minute rest periods in between each set. It was insane. But I liked it. I think I’ll use this every week and work up to 8 sets or keep it at 5 and increase the weight. Either way, gainz are coming.
Deads (Heavy)
***5 x 2 @80% of 1RM (600)
Warm-UP
165 X 10
225 X 3
345 X 1
405 X 1
425 X 1
***I chose to go off of my last (meet) PR @ 600, which I didn’t do the last time I did THE CUBE because the last meet I did before January was in October ’13. That was a long fucking time ago and I had no idea where I was numbers wise. Not to mention I decided to move up to the 198 class so I was training with a “bigger” body for 2 training cycles. However, my training is closer to my previous meet and my glutes and hams are feeling better and fuller. But fuck this was heavy.
B. Snatch grip RDL
225 x 2 x 12 (no straps)
C. Band Resisted Lat Pull Downs
2 x 20
C2. Abs
2 x 15
Accessory Day
A.Strict Press
4 x 6-8 @ 105#
A2. Underhand BB Row
4 x 10-12 @ 155#
B.Bench Supported Rear Fly (straight arm to hid the rear delts, traps, and all dat good shit)
4 x 15 @ 15-25#
B2. Preacher Curl
4 x 12 @ 30#