Lesson of the day

Just visited Jim’ Wendler’s site today, www.jimwendler.com (duh!?), and once again got inspired by another one of his short and ass-kicking write-ups. If you have seen videos or read any of Jim’s works, you know that the guy has a penchant for striking the heart and soul of people with his no-BS attitude in training and in life Here’s another poignant quote by Mr. Wendler:

“The problem with the increase in assistance work is that everyone wants to have their cake and eat it  too. It doesn’t work like that – you can’t be strong like a powerlifter, fast as sprinter, and as big as a linebacker. Well, you can, but these people are so rare that teams pay them millions of dollars and television stations have billion dollar contracts to broadcast them to you. They’re called  professional football players, and if you’re one of them, you aren’t reading this, as you’re too busy counting your  money and cracking skulls.

So if you want to increase the volume of your assistance work, follow the plans above and use your head. Also, less typing – more training and eating.”

This statement definitely hits the ball out of park. Just yesterday, I ended my deadlift day kind of disappointed. I felt fresh and strong at the start of the session and thought of adding another 5kgs to my Power Clean. I start every leg strength session with the Power Clean with the dual purpose of improving my power output and to warm up for the actual main lift for the day, which is either the squat or the deadlift. I have never maxed out on a Clean lift so I always take the side of caution only lifting sub 70kgs. This day though was different and I tried to up the ante with a pitiful weight of 72kgs (158.4 lbs) for 5 sets of 2 reps, which is actually my new PR.

I completed the sets then proceeded with the main lift of the day, the deadlift. Being only the 5’s week, I know I can easily complete the required sets and I did. After deadlifting though, came the swift carnage of lactic build up on every part of my lower body. I was spent. I tried to complete the remaining accessory work but my energy level was below super-saiyan level. I was disappointed with my performance. I left the gym feeling as if I’ve got butt raped with nothing to show for but the pitiful PR on the Power Clean.  

The statement above definitely put things in perspective. In hindsight, I probably actually made a huge progress without skewing off of my goal overall strength gain. With that experience, I came away with a different plan of attack. I now need to thinker my lifting programming to compensate for the added assault of training 2x a week of MT. I came to the realization that no matter how I view myself, I am at a stage where I am no longer capable achieving elite world class level abilities. And If I have to improve on one aspect of my life, I have to taper off on another. Something’s gotta give.

Thanks Jim for the training lesson and another life-check.

2014 New Year training resolution

For 2014, I plan to incorporate boxing and Muay Thai to my regimen to mainly improve on speed, balance and conditioning. Doing years and years of heavy lifting does take its toll. I feel like the extra poundage I have gained through the years made me sloppy, uncoordinated and unbalanced. I’ve been into martial arts since attending Wushu classes in my early teens. And through the years, I have sporadically picked up different forms of fight arts, albeit informally, from many people I came across. The last several years though, I had committed myself to the iron game and had set aside any form of fight training. Now, I have a renewed sense of improving all aspects of my physical well-being. My goal this year is to turn my body into a human wrecking ball. J