Trying something else in regards to overhead training to try and bust this plateau. So working on my w/ leg drive variations for practice for my 2 contests and then using the Z -Press as my main source of volume for right now. I don’t feel like I have anything to lose by switching it up now, because as it stands I am probably zeroing any Overhead events I come across unless something changes.
Warm Up was Strict Press, Push Press, and then Split Jerk back to back. Worked up to 115lbs like that before switching to strictly Jerk work. Which due to sloppy technique was a mix of Split jerks and Squat Jerk.
I naturally try to Squat Jerk even when try to Push Press, so I have to slow down and think about what I am doing when I want to do actually Push Presses.
I dunno what a good press is meant to look like but maybe if you started up a formcheck thread some guys on the forum could help you milk out some technique gains
Lower back was pretty unhappy today, haven’t had issues at all since switching Deadlifts stances and even before that it was pretty rare for my lowerback to have issues. Went into the gym for 10 minutes after morning biology lecture and did some body weight back extensions, some light ab pushouts, and some foam rolling. Probably just sore or slightly strained.
Then gorged on a triple Zombie burger and a bunch of fries from Zombie burger.
Trying a new cue of packing my elbows into my lats. It cleaned up my form a little bit. Going to keep working on this cue for now and see where it takes me. Its makes punching my head through feel more natural and less forced.
Strict - Push Press - Jerk up to 115
Failed 135
Jerks
5 reps @ 140
Z Press (SS)
4 x 5 @ 70
1 x 8 @ 70
Pullups (SS)
6 x 3
These feel better than neutral grip, harder but better.
Lat Pulldown 2 x 8 @ 140 Cable OH Ext (UNI) 1 x 20 French Press (BI) 3 x 20 Hammer Curls 3 x 20 BTB Cable LAterals 3x 20
So I bought Kalle Beck’s Guide to Training Strongman in a Regular Gym. It has a program in the back using the things he talked about in the first portion of the book. I am choosing not to run it right now, but I am using some of the other information right away or right after this run of prep for Shriner Strength is over. I used that and one of the templates @alpha posted on his youtube channel to create the program I am going to be running after Shriner Strength.
Pushing myself to train in a different way. It makes me a little uncomfortable thinking about doing everything in giant sets, doing explosive work on a regular basis, shorter rest times, and doing more core work. I figure I can run through the 3 week cycles a few times and see if I like it. If I don’t it’s really nothing lost in the grand scheme.
I bounced the second rep so I “had to” do another rep. It’s not that I have a problem with touch and go, but that’s just not what I am doing right now.
Also, this time last year I could only do 365 as a 2 rep max.
Front Squat
3 x 6 @ 205 (93)
Goodmorning (SS) Zercher Carries
4 x 20 @ 85 (SS) 4 x 1 @ 120
I’ve found giant sets and short rest times miserable if your conditioning is not good. I still do them, but that’s mainly because I find it a useful way to get lots of stuff done in a short period of time + I hate the fact that my conditioning is so bad that I’m wheezing and halfway dying by the end.
Though I think the generally mentioned supersets, like squat/pull-up, deadlift/dip, bench/row, etc are great and should be included in pretty much everyone’s training.
My conditioning isn’t bad but it’s not good either, since I am pretty lazy about it now. Did a decent amount of cardio for a while when I first started training for real as an adult. I am doing it this way to get some built in conditioning.
Examining the video, it appears I can launch the weight high enough but getting under the bar and locking out my arms fast appears to be the issue. Which can be resolved by gathering more raw power from my dip and drive, so launching even further thus eliminating the need to ‘get under’ the bar; or can be resolved with honing in on getting underneath bar faster since I probably have the raw power from that position to fling a chunk more weight into a position that I can dive under.
Plus side is that when I do Push Presses and not Jerks I can put enough force into the dip and drive to get past my sticking point in a Strict Press. Push Pressing feels more natural for me than Jerks, but I feel like Jerks are probably what will allow me to do better in overhead events minus the Viking Press.
