The Oldman's Log

[Oldman]

Saturday, 5.4.13, Cycle 3: Leftside Claw TM Programming--Intensity Day

SSBSQ: 70x2x5, 160x5, 230x3, 265x2, 305x1, 320x5 (SSB PR), 330x1 (SSB PR), 335x1 (SSB PR)
SSBGM: 70x2x10, 115x5, 150x3x10
1-Arm DBP: 25x5, 30x5, 37.5x3x10
1-Arm DB Curlz: 30x5, 35x5, 40x3x10

Good day at the gym! I hit some good sets of five and singles in the SSB squat, which I am now sorta look at as my main lift until I can get back to the low bar. I am only 10 lbs away from where I ended my TM on the LBBS. This makes me believe my squat will come back quickly.

Here is my 320x5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1vsOVyP0Go

Here is my 335x1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxxMKMV7OqA

The GMs are moving up and really giving me a work out. It will be sort of cool when I am up at 200 or more. The bro lifts also seem like they're in a groove.

I keep on working the hand rehab. I can sort of hear and feel the creaking and groaning of what I presume to be the scar tissues in my hand and in my wrist. I will try to make steady and slow progress until I get my full ROM back.

[Bryan Dobson]

I know you aren't going to miss it but that claw adds a bit of a cool look. Mother squats are going good. I hate when a gym gets crowded and you gave to step over other people's work to get to pr lift though.

Good work, you are not losing an inch In this battle. Warrior on.

[strong_over_matter]

SSBSQ: 70x2x5, 160x5, 230x3, 265x2, 305x1, 320x5 (SSB PR), 330x1 (SSB PR), 335x1 (SSB PR)

Those are some really nice PR's! You have made amazing progress and I'm sure they are going to help you squat much more.

[Oldman]

I know you aren't going to miss it but that claw adds a bit of a cool look. Mother squats are going good. I hate when a gym gets crowded and you gave to step over other people's work to get to pr lift though.

Good work, you are not losing an inch In this battle. Warrior on.

Thanks, Bryan. You know, I am now almost completely out of the claw, but I use it at the gym, because it may offer a bit more protection for me. Our gym is a small one, so we tend to share platforms and racks when there are a lot of lifters. Today we had 8-10 lifters, evenly divided between Oly folks and powerlifters. The upside of the crowded day is that it is like a party, but with iron.

[Oldman]

Those are some really nice PR's! You have made amazing progress and I'm sure they are going to help you squat much more.

Thanks, strong! The other day I tried a low bar squat and it felt pretty easy (it was light, 205x5) and before that I tried 225x1 and it was also easy. The issue is that I can't yet close my hand into a fist fully or with any dependable strength. But it is not far off! It will be fun to see where I am when I do get back to the low bar...

[SquatQueen]

Your SSB squat are so freaking strong. Your LBBS will rock when you are claw-free.

[Walter Palmer]

Looking really great, Ed. I think you will probably PR first time you go back to the low bar.

[jenica]

Awesome work! I suspect there's a celebration in store for your first day back claw-free, but keep killing those lifts in the meantime.

[Oldman]

Your SSB squat are so freaking strong. Your LBBS will rock when you are claw-free.

Thanks, babe!

[Oldman]

Looking really great, Ed. I think you will probably PR first time you go back to the low bar.

Awesome work! I suspect there's a celebration in store for your first day back claw-free, but keep killing those lifts in the meantime.

Thanks, Walt and Jenica! It would be totally incredible (maybe literally so) to hit a PR on the first time back, but I have a plan to do it: with the TM approach, I am working on the 5 lbs jumps for a heavy set and follow up with 2 heavy singles. So next week my singles might be 340 and 345 (or I could repeat 335 and do 340)...something like that. I have never really done heavy singles in the squat, just in the DL and cleans. This will be fun. Maybe by the time I can try the low bar, my singles on the SSB will be fairly high in weight.

One cool thing is that last night, I was stretching in my sleep sort of, and when I stretched out my right hand, something gave way or tore free a bit in my wrist. When I got up, and tried to flex it, I found I had a little (or relatively speaking, a lot) more ROM in the wrist. In between a ton of business stuff I have to do today, I plan on working double time on the hand. Maybe this is a good sign!