[quote]basementD wrote:
It’s interesting that Prof X gets results by doing some things that seem to be no-nos according to the latest information on weight training.
Supposedly a person adapts to an exercise after 3-4 weeks, but Prof X seems to do the same routine indefinitely or perhaps he does introduce variety.
Also the Prof’s training split seems like it would lead to overtraining, but it works for him.
I think this is a reminder that a lot of the info on training is only a guideline, ultimately, we must all find out what works for us.[/quote]
As for Proff X, I think most people would get results from that kind of training for 2-3 years if they worked hard, maybe longer. I think at that stage, tendons and muscles are both adapting by basically the same stimulus, (or close enough if you do some range of reps and it sounds like we’re talking about maybe one hard set at 6-10 reps and 1 at 4-6 sets for 3-4 exercises per bodypart). Unless the lighter set is just for warmup and nerve tune-up, that suggests that there is some variation needed, if not, just warm up and go for 4-6 right away.
Ed Coan used this form of training for a long time, and it’s almost identical to what Dorian Yates did between 1991-1995…ALMOST IDENTICAL.
The difference is that both Coan and Yates eventually had to vary certain parameters to differentially train tendons and muscles when they reached the ultimate level. Coan added specific exercises to prepare the nervous system (rack holds, walkouts, arch back GMs) at the end of his cycle primarily for the short term effects on reflexes and tendons. Yates started varying his rep ranges (4-6, 6-10, 10-15) and even did two weeks of lighter training every 8-9 weeks to help reset his system.
Most of us will get to the point where our muscles and nerve/tendon complex need to be trained differentially to achieve continued gains in both. Bodybuilders who use a lot of anabolic steroids build muscle, but the tendon is not trained properly to keep up.
The tendons must undergo fast loading (not fast lifting or heavy weights but rather a fast application of force or else they will shut down contraction submaximally) Muscles require some time under tension. Eventually these two training factors diverge too much to be built simultaneously, or at least by the same exact stimuli. Proff X is apparently gifted in having a high reflex set point for his tendons which means he can still build tendon and muscle at the same time.
This is all only a scientifically based opinion, and when I say scientifically, I mean with an understanding of anatomy and physiology and an understanding of many test case examples. I is not my intent to prove it.