Originally Posted by
marcf
Some of the quarter squatters featured in the Quartersquatgang Instagram account are APF "record holders." But at any rate, I don't think this is specific enough. What do you mean when you refer to the "standard weight training" exercises promoted here? Squats, deadlifts, presses, etc.? Most of the intermediate and advanced lifters here see the value in accessory exercises, and there's a section on ancillary movements in the book, too. Rip has videos on RDLs, rack pulls, power cleans, lying tricep extensions, etc.
Keeping the body "guessing" is definitely bro science, since your muscles only do one thing and wouldn't know whether one exercise or the other is causing it to work.
Adjusting volume, intensity and frequency, like BenM mentioned, are the keys to getting stronger. And when you have weak or sticking points in the main barbell movements, you choose accessory exercises to work those weak areas, but even those exercises have to account for volume, intensity and frequency. Sometimes, people seem to have trouble doing the necessary strength work because they become gassed and tired, and so some conditioning has to be done.
In terms of ancillary exercises, I've noticed that some people respond better to certain movements than others for a variety of reasons.
I guess you can say that there's a huge guessing game to what is or isn't going to work, but I'd like to think that intelligent programming means intelligent guesses (i.e. I wouldn't quadruple my bench volume from one week to the next or spend an entire month only squatting singles).
As far as my thoughts on Westside programming, one guy in my gym has paid for guided programming for a Westside "coach" and hasn't seen any meaningful gains in four months, and I'm under the impression that most of the Westside lifters were on PEDs, anyway.