Powerlifters, how are they able to ....

Gaius · 06-06-2005, 06:04 PM

I've always wondered, is it the quick explosive eccentric movement of their rep cadence that helps build alongside the weight progression? I'd always thought that powerlifters would overtrain but for some reason they are always thicker, using heavier weights, and much bigger than bodybuilders. Why is powerlifting so effective when it seems they're always doing so many sets/reps?

TheElder · 06-06-2005, 06:46 PM

Did you mean explosive concentric phase? Eccentric phase is the lowering.

Sometimes people forget that if you're doing a 3-rep max, you can "explode" against the weight all you want, and it still isn't going to move all that fast - it certainly won't fly up. One theory is that you recruit more motor units trying to lift explosively, and also train yourself, over time, to be able to recruit more more units.

As to your question, most of the powerlifting I was associated with had about 1/3 or less of the total sets than any bodybuilding routine commonly in use. And, as the meets would get closer, sets of assistance exercises, assistance exercises themselves, and reps overall would be progressively dropped from each week's training schedule.

This was awhile back, and I believe Westside does have some higher volume work, but I don't have any experience with this, so can't comment on that.

Gaius · 06-06-2005, 10:59 PM

Yeah westside has done some impressive things in the last several years. Some say its the gear, others the training style.

**Trulyhuge** · 06-07-2005, 12:17 AM

big weights= big men!
I am a power bodybuilder, as DC states and I couldn't put it any better!

TH

craig57 · 06-07-2005, 06:45 AM

maybe future could touch up on this, if im not mistaken he was a former powerlifter and a hella good one too IMO

**Liftin'heavy** · 06-07-2005, 10:39 AM

I think it depends on the individual. When I was a young and dumb guy, I did everything I read in the Muscle&Fitness magazines. Switched to a 3 day routine where I hit everything once a week heavy and I grew like a weed. Now, Chuck Vogelpohl(from WS) trains like a mad man. He's in the gym about 6 times aweek, trains heavy as all hell, takes very little rest between exercises and sets and is one of the strongest guys in the world. But thats him. I haven't met too many people that would be able to keep up with him.

Now, I wouldn't say all powerlifters are thicker than bb'ers. I went to the NPC Jr. Nationals in Chicago last year(my wife competed, otherwise I would never have gone) and was blown away by some of the big bastards walking around there. I was about 340 then and I felt small. I think a powerlifters muscles are more dense looking which comes from years of low rep, heavy weight training.

Overtraining comes from someone who doesn't know how to listen to their bodies. Some people don't know how to read the signs and know when to back off. Believe me, I've been training for 24 years and they're times when my big dumb ass can't see or refuses to listen to my body. It takes time and heart ache to find what and how much training an iron athlete should do.

Future · 06-07-2005, 11:51 AM

You got the best pl'er to answer.

Mike, wasnt the meet this weekend?

**Liftin'heavy** · 06-07-2005, 01:21 PM

Yep. It was packed with a lot of great lifters. I think my last pull was at 12:30am. A long day.

Paul Bunyan · 06-07-2005, 01:53 PM

I was there on Sunday and there were some huge bastards there. I felt small as hell at 315lbs . How did you total, Liftin' Heavy? Had to leave after the benches.

PB

**Liftin'heavy** · 06-08-2005, 03:26 AM

I didn't have the greatest day. 1032 squat, 633 bench, 821 pull for a 2486 total. Sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to ya Paul.

RollinsClone · 06-08-2005, 03:16 PM

really i thought it said on the results that you pulled 378 or in lbs 831.6?

**Liftin'heavy** · 06-09-2005, 03:34 AM

That would've been great but I took 832 on my third and got it out of groove. I'm more than happy with the 821.

06-06-2005, 06:04 PM	#1
Gaius New Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 87	Powerlifters, how are they able to .... I've always wondered, is it the quick explosive eccentric movement of their rep cadence that helps build alongside the weight progression? I'd always thought that powerlifters would overtrain but for some reason they are always thicker, using heavier weights, and much bigger than bodybuilders. Why is powerlifting so effective when it seems they're always doing so many sets/reps?

06-07-2005, 12:17 AM	#4
Trulyhuge Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,518	big weights= big men! I am a power bodybuilder, as DC states and I couldn't put it any better! TH __________________ "We should not have to push you to work hard, you should work hard because you want to be a great player." - Bobby Knight

06-07-2005, 06:45 AM	#5
craig57 Light-heavyweight Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii Posts: 863	maybe future could touch up on this, if im not mistaken he was a former powerlifter and a hella good one too IMO __________________ Trueprotein discount: CRS706 Comin' atcha like Cleopatra !!! Last edited by craig57 : 06-07-2005 at 06:48 AM.

06-07-2005, 10:39 AM	#6
Liftin'heavy IM Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 766	I think it depends on the individual. When I was a young and dumb guy, I did everything I read in the Muscle&Fitness magazines. Switched to a 3 day routine where I hit everything once a week heavy and I grew like a weed. Now, Chuck Vogelpohl(from WS) trains like a mad man. He's in the gym about 6 times aweek, trains heavy as all hell, takes very little rest between exercises and sets and is one of the strongest guys in the world. But thats him. I haven't met too many people that would be able to keep up with him. Now, I wouldn't say all powerlifters are thicker than bb'ers. I went to the NPC Jr. Nationals in Chicago last year(my wife competed, otherwise I would never have gone) and was blown away by some of the big bastards walking around there. I was about 340 then and I felt small. I think a powerlifters muscles are more dense looking which comes from years of low rep, heavy weight training. Overtraining comes from someone who doesn't know how to listen to their bodies. Some people don't know how to read the signs and know when to back off. Believe me, I've been training for 24 years and they're times when my big dumb ass can't see or refuses to listen to my body. It takes time and heart ache to find what and how much training an iron athlete should do. __________________ Elitefitnesssystems.com bigmike@elitefts.com METAL SportsGear Xtremeformulations.com Hercules Gym, Syracuse New York houseofstrong.com

06-07-2005, 11:51 AM	#7
Future Super-heavyweight Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 5,478	You got the best pl'er to answer. Mike, wasnt the meet this weekend? __________________ Team Skip Client

06-06-2005, 06:46 PM	#2
TheElder New Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 39	Did you mean explosive concentric phase? Eccentric phase is the lowering. Sometimes people forget that if you're doing a 3-rep max, you can "explode" against the weight all you want, and it still isn't going to move all that fast - it certainly won't fly up. One theory is that you recruit more motor units trying to lift explosively, and also train yourself, over time, to be able to recruit more more units. As to your question, most of the powerlifting I was associated with had about 1/3 or less of the total sets than any bodybuilding routine commonly in use. And, as the meets would get closer, sets of assistance exercises, assistance exercises themselves, and reps overall would be progressively dropped from each week's training schedule. This was awhile back, and I believe Westside does have some higher volume work, but I don't have any experience with this, so can't comment on that.

06-06-2005, 10:59 PM	#3
Gaius New Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 87	Yeah westside has done some impressive things in the last several years. Some say its the gear, others the training style.

06-07-2005, 01:21 PM	#8
Liftin'heavy IM Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 766	Yep. It was packed with a lot of great lifters. I think my last pull was at 12:30am. A long day. __________________ Elitefitnesssystems.com bigmike@elitefts.com METAL SportsGear Xtremeformulations.com Hercules Gym, Syracuse New York houseofstrong.com

06-07-2005, 01:53 PM	#9
Paul Bunyan New Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 11	I was there on Sunday and there were some huge bastards there. I felt small as hell at 315lbs . How did you total, Liftin' Heavy? Had to leave after the benches. PB

06-08-2005, 03:26 AM	#10
Liftin'heavy IM Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 766	I didn't have the greatest day. 1032 squat, 633 bench, 821 pull for a 2486 total. Sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to ya Paul. __________________ Elitefitnesssystems.com bigmike@elitefts.com METAL SportsGear Xtremeformulations.com Hercules Gym, Syracuse New York houseofstrong.com

06-08-2005, 03:16 PM	#11
RollinsClone Bantamweight Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 122	really i thought it said on the results that you pulled 378 or in lbs 831.6? __________________ 5% discount from TPC use GRM223

06-09-2005, 03:34 AM	#12
Liftin'heavy IM Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 766	That would've been great but I took 832 on my third and got it out of groove. I'm more than happy with the 821. __________________ Elitefitnesssystems.com bigmike@elitefts.com METAL SportsGear Xtremeformulations.com Hercules Gym, Syracuse New York houseofstrong.com

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