Trial VLOG

[Andy Baker (KSC)]

Feedback, questions, comments, and even insults are welcome.

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1izw...OplVhIFsLBHHDc=

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BlFE...i-uRuWFdKWNOjg=

[Tom Narvaez]

Awesome post, Andy! Thanks for doing this. I am HUGE proponent of what you're talking about.

Personally, I've gotten myself, and two other lifters, squatting well over 400 using methods similar to what you're talking about. We start out with 3x5, three days a week just like the standard novice program calls for. When a reset becomes necessary, we'll add a light day. Once 3x5, twice a week, with a light day stops working, I've moved to a 5x5 set-up with a single top set. It'll usually look like this: 205x5,255x5,305x5,355x5,405x5 (my last workout, for example). I went from 365x5x3 to 405x5x1 with this method. One of my buddies stalled at 405x4 so we simply switched him over to triples and he got all the way up to 425x3 using a similar ramping method. I'm sure there's a good way to involve singles that I haven't thought of yet, as well.

As soon as I figure out how to incorporate this principle with my royally effed up deadlift, I'll be a very happy man.

[mlentzner]

Started out a little rough with a lot of "umms" that were distracting. It seemed like once you got into the swing of things then it was fine.

The content was golden. Makes me want to try TM again with a little more sophistication. I tried three times and none went well, but there were many variations you mention that I didn't try.

I would really like to have a larger discussion on resetting, programming, intensity, volume, etc - especially comparing US style low frequency programs to Pavel's Soviet/Russian high frequency methods. I think Pavel would say that the typical SS/TM resets are too small. The lifter doesn't recover enough before the weights become challenging again. Anyway, that's a big topic, but would be cool if you have the time to hash it out.

I'm currently trying out "Easy Strength" which is something Pavel and Dan John developed. It consists mostly of light (60% 1RM) 2x5's, but I am also lifting five days a week. Sounds crazy, but both those guys are super smart so I have to try it.

[mwhities]

Great information. I'm near the end of my novice and I'm considering moving to the TM. You had great points on the reset to singles instead. Made perfect sense to me.

Thanks!

[Rob Israel]

Awesome first post.

Audio/video went out of synch for some reason, but no big deal. Thanks for sharing.

[Dillman]

Andy I enjoyed your vlog. I had been thinking about this topic for some time. Justin Lascek of 70sbig has been talking about his "breakthroughs" with the Texas Method and from the insights he has shared it sounds like the stuff you shared in your vlog (not resetting repeatedly, changing the intensity day, and even changing the volume day). I reread PP recently and found that the first time all I remembered about the Texas Method was 5x5. The second time through I noticed suggestions similar to what you have discussed. So the information is out there it just seems that everyone gets hung up on resetting and sticking to 5x5 on the Texas Method. So thanks for illustrating those points. It will help me and many others continue to progress I am sure.

On the other hand the Texas Method as written in PP seems a bit vague on the assistance work. Perhaps another vlog post could be some general guidelines to incorporating assistance exercises in the TM.

Thanks for you input in the forum.

[CFB]

KSC, that's very useful information. However, it is a distracting that your voice and the picture are not really "synchronized". Probably you can change the camera settings or you might have to use another camera, but I'm not an expert with these things. Basically I find it a good idea to do a video post from time to time like once or twice per month. I would probably bring a little bit more "action" to the scene, for example using a flip chart or a chalk board just to highlight the key points of your message.

[gtl]

Thanks for the video blog

I had read the 5x1 suggestion before and thought that it was more of a temporary (1 or 2 workout) solution to break through a plateau. My thought behind that is 5 sets of 1 would take some time to complete, with already having a Volume day that can take 90 minutes to complete (not including warmup). Granted 5x1 should not take as long as 5x5 (in duration of sets,... or even rest).

I'm curious as to why this is suggested as a long term solution prior to moving to 3's on ID, or to dropping volume on VD?

Thanks!

[sking1001]

Great stuff as always, Andy! Don't call me an old guy though, ha! I'm 40, and TM has suited me quite well. Just remember that age is all relative :-)

[Fizban]

Enjoyed the videos. They were very helpful; keep making them if you have time.