NLP_Proponent

As a middle-aged man, starting the NLP, I gained strength rapidly. When it came time to incorporate a light pull day, I opted for the row instead of the power clean. I figured I could learn the power clean later. That was a mistake, and here is why……

You can mix in any light pull, and your deadlift will still go up. As my deadlift and squat numbers kept going up, I kept getting stronger. That’s a good thing, but it created an unforeseen issue with learning the power clean.

I’ve always been on the low end of average as far as explosiveness and athleticism go. Now, I’m middle-aged, and that athleticism is even less than it was before. By substituting the row for the power clean, I created a scenario where my strength gains have disproportionately outpaced my ability to maintain explosiveness.

Why is that such a problem? The power clean is very technique dependent. The pull and shrug parts of the movement have been pretty easy for me to learn without an empty bar. Racking it without rowing it has been far more difficult. If you clean a weight that is too heavy to row, then, you start learning to rack it without rowing it, simply because you can’t physically row it.

When press and deadlift without mixing in power cleans, you end up being able to row more weight, and it makes learning to rack the clean safely take longer.

Moral of the story…..learn to clean as soon as your deadlift is around your body weight. Don’t put it off. It will just make learning the movement more difficult.

Mark Rippetoe

Amen.

Pater

I’m 40yo and have been lifting for years. The last 15years I’ve just exercised and have really just started training since August. I did the LP for about a month or so and had to stop once school started because of time constraints (not enough time for rest between sets). Since then, I’ve primarily done an LP version of a four day split. The past month or so I’ve gone back to the A/B schedule and done the five lifts training every 72 hr, but instead of doing 3x5 I’ve just work up to a 5RM on all lifts (other than PC) for time-saving purposes. I’ve gotten quite a bit stronger (+130 lbs 5RM) since August.

However, the last four times I’ve squatted I’ve experienced a sensation that I’ve never experienced before. When I get to the 3rd or 4th rep of the 5RM I get a huge rush of tension and pressure to my head, neck, traps and upper back. I’m able to finish the set, usually, but I feel like crap afterwards and it affects the rest of my training session. The only way I know how to explain it is that it’s like a tension headache with lots of pressure, but it’s also in those other areas as well, all at the same time. The only other times I’ve ever felt anything close to this was in really high pressure/stress situations (fight or flight type situations), and it usually takes the better part of an hour for the pressure to subside. Additionally, it really zaps me and I feel tired afterwards.

I thought this would just go away, but it has gotten worse as the weight goes up. The only thing that’s different/that I’ve changed is about 2 weeks ago I consulted with Ryan O’Connell-Peller, SSC, and corrected my squat depth about an inch. Is this enough added stress to cause such an “episode”? Is this something I should be concerned about? I’ve used the Valsalva since August but am wondering if I’m doing something wrong during the strain. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Mark Rippetoe

Are you breathing between reps and taking a new breath and valsalva each rep?

Pater

Yes sir, I am. I take a quick ‘refill’ breathe between each rep.

JakeWasHere

Had a similar issue. Pay attention to your jaw, if you’re clenching too hard it can weird out your TMJ. I had a bunch of weird symptoms that were like yours and making sure I relaxed my jaw after holding the Valsalva each rep fixed them.

Mark Rippetoe

Take longer between reps. Breathe more. And remember that the valsalva is not held in your mouth.