Becoming the World's Strongest Violinist?

[gotlander]

Inspired by someone's recent claim to be (or quest to be?) the world's strongest pianist, I hope to log here my quest for the usual 2.5xBW/2xBW/1.5xBW/1xBW maxes for DL/SQ/BP/Press. If someone else beats me, maybe I'll get him on Wilkes points---I turn 58 in a couple months.

Current Stats:
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 215#

Maxes:
DL: 390x5, 420x2
SQ: 365x3
BP: 228x1
OHP: 171x1

I am currently rebuilding from a neck injury a few years ago that reduced my pushing strength by 30%, and a back tweak a few months ago (on the last rep of the 390x5 that was supposed to be a set of 6).

I generally lift One Lift A Day, in a push/pull/squat scheme, for 5x5 (except only 3 sets for DL).

Today: Back Squat

Warmups:
135x5x1
185x3x1
215x2x1
250x1x1
280x1x1

Work Sets:
310x5x5

Felt pretty good despite not squatting for two weeks. I generally lose my nerve to squat heavy after a layoff.

[Simon Rest]

I hear itzach perlman can squat 550 though....

Ha-ha, good luck

[Sean Herbison]

Inspired by someone's recent claim to be (or quest to be?) the world's strongest pianist

That'd be organist, and Nick's not as ambitious as you. He just wants to be America's Strongest Organist.

[gotlander]

I suppose in a field where one of the leading performers has a name like E. Power Biggs, being the strongest really means something, whereas violinists are typically the pencil necks of the musical world. So I have to shoot for world dominance.

[ColoWayno]

Welcome to the forum. I have no ambition to become the worlds best/strongest anything, but I play piano and post in these parts.

Also, I played the organ as a kid and had a contest judge once that was a student of E. P. Biggs.

Good luck on your quest.

[Nick Klemetson]

I suppose in a field where one of the leading performers has a name like E. Power Biggs, being the strongest really means something, whereas violinists are typically the pencil necks of the musical world. So I have to shoot for world dominance.

I actually just heard this morning that E. Power Biggs has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

And Herbison has pointed out who I am. Best of luck with your training. At 58, your numbers are impressive.

[ColoWayno]

I actually just heard this morning that E. Power Biggs has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

And Herbison has pointed out who I am. Best of luck with your training. At 58, your numbers are impressive.

Nick, I just remembered the name of the contest judge, Porter Heaps. Mover of mountains.

This is starting to look like a thing... Gonna look up Nick Klemetson.

Porter W. Heaps, 92, Musician Who Made an Organ Sound Big - NYTimes.com

[gotlander]

Bench Press Day

Warmups:
120x5
140x2
160x1
180x1

Work sets:
200x5
198.75x4
198.75x3
195x4
192.5x4

Following ideas from Andy Baker, I progress each of these sets independently. My plan is to run the 5's as long as I can on the first set, eventually dropping down to 4's, 3'a, 2'a, and 1's when I can't get more. That way I can plan for PRs well in advance. I should be doing doubles or triples in the 220's by summer. And hopefully the backoff sets will continue to drive progress, since they don't move up until I get 5 reps.

First set felt OK. I could have gotten a couple more pounds. The rest were obviously tough.

[gotlander]

Dead Lift Day

Warmups:
135x5 double overhand grip
225x1
275x1
330x1 alternate grip

Work Sets:
365x5x3 wrist straps

A little rushed for time so the second and third sets were hard but not too bad. In the summer I got 385x6,5,5 so this is still rebuilding.

[gotlander]

I have noticed that the last few inches at the top of the dead lift seem to be mostly me straightening out my thoracic spine. Any ideas for keeping the upper back more rigid?