Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Yesterday I sent out an email about irregular
training -- and got a ton of feedback. That means
it looks like the topic interests you -- so let's
continue talking about it.
In the world-famous York barbell Training Courses,
Bob Hoffman described the basis for Irregular Training:
Something has to be done to jolt the muscles out of their
regular routine. After progressive training, that is where
irregular training serves. All my life I had observed that
the only really strong workmen were usually foremen or
bosses of one sort or another who seldom used their muscles,
but occasionally would lend a hand at lifting or moving
heavy objects, or unloading heavy material. They would have
a considerable rest period, usually of day's duration, which
would then build up their muscles and be ready for severe
demands made upon them at some time in the future.
I noticed that the old time strongmen were often butchers,
perhaps sailors, or employed on beer delivery wagons. Old
time butchers would work very hard on their butchering days,
using the crudest methods. They would literally wrestle a
steer or large hog, string it up, and later carry it in
pieces or halves to the refrigerator. After this very hard
work they would have several days of little or no work which
had to be done. They would spend their time in their shops
or with their delivery wagons. Most of the great strongmen
of Vienna were butchers, from Turk, who first established
and held the world's record in lifting weights overhead, 365
pounds, to Swaboda, who jerked 448 pounds to arm's length
after several men had lifted it to his chest.
Old time sailing men would work desperately hard for days
at a time in rough weather. Then they would have days of
almost nothing to do. John Y. Smith, who won the title,
"Strongest Man in New England" at the age of sixty, was
one of these old time sailors. Workmen who worked very
hard at times, made tremendous demands on their muscles,
then had considerable rest periods, were the world's
strongest workmen.
So it is evident that great demands must at times be made
upon the body. This is done on the York heavy or "limit"
day. Moderate training must follow. This is why we advocate
training every other day, with a rest day in between, and
why the other training days are not as heavy as the "limit"
day.
Irregular Training is the way to your physical desires. You
must remember that your muscles quickly become accustomed
to a steady routine with the same weights. You must jolt
them out of their familiar rut; which is done with IRREGULAR
TRAINING."
So that's where it all started , and that's the pattern:
1. Train 3x per week.
2. Use the Light, Medium, and Heavy schedule.
3. Go to your limit on your Heavy day.
4. Train moderately hard on one of the other days (this
will be your Medium day.
5. Train lighter and easier on your Light day.
For more details, and for actual programs that take advantage
of the Irregular Training Principle, grab any or all of the
following:
1. CHALK AND SWEAT
http://www.brookskubik.com/chalk_and_sweat.html
2. GRAY HAIR AND BLACK IRON
http://www.brookskubik.com/grayhair_blackiron.html
3. STRENGTH, MUSCLE AND POWER
http://www.brookskubik.com/strength_muscle_power.html
As always, thanks for reading, and have a great day -- and
a great weekend. If you train today, make it a good one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. I usually recommend Gray Hair and Black Iron for
lifters age 35 and up -- but it covers Irregular Training,
simple cycling programs and Light, Medium and Heavy training
in detail, so it's probably a good choice for anyone, at any
age:
http://www.brookskubik.com/grayhair_blackiron.html
P.S. 2 If you'd like to read the COMPLETE set of the legendary
York Training courses -- including the almost impossible to find
courses 5 and 6, then you're in luck. Bill Hinbern has put them
together into a TERRIFIC modern reprint edition. You can grab it
right here:
http://www.superstrengthtraining.com/bob_hoffman.html
P.S. 2 We're still baking in the big heat wave of 2011. Be sure to
keep drinking your water. Stay super-hydrated for those heavy
workouts!
