There aint shit new......

This might seem strange coming from someone who sells a book, or program, or whatever.  But I wanted to write this because I always see these "success" stories about training methodologies or programs or whatever, and it really all still comes back to a few tried and true principles.  Mainly, belief in the training program and being consistent with it.

If there is something being touted as "new" or some new method, you can bet every cent you have that it's not.  Why?  Because everything has already been done.  Generally, guys make good progress on a "new" system because...well, it's new.  Enthusiasm is high, belief in said program is at a maximum, and consistency is on point.  What generally happens over time is, just like with any and every training methodology, is that things so down and then what happens is human nature sets in.  Enthusiasm wanes, and then so does consistency and progress.  That really could be a chicken and egg type argument but I don't want to debate which one.

The point is, there is no training system out there that is the key ingredient to your sub-par progress.  That is more "magical" than another.  Not mine, not anyone's.  My training methodologies have been forged out of over two decades of tinkering and application.  I don't adhere to other peoples methods or "systems" because I know what works for me.  I can actually apply my theories to other peoples "systems" because my philosophies aren't flexible that way.  Now, does that make it their system at that point?  No.  Yes.  Probably not.  Who knows?

However, I have no desire to tinker around with other training methodologies anymore because it's been proven for about 6 decades now what works for the MAJORITY of people.

Strength is triples and fives for the most part.

Size is big eating and a metric ass load of reps.

Yes, you need to learn how to wave between the two now and then, but that about sums it up.  I know, it's boring, it's not sexy.  No one is going to read that and believe it.

"Where's all the dynamic effort work?"

"What about special exercises?"

"What about bands and chains and panda bears?"

Sorry.  None of that shit is needed, or really in my opinion, even worth a shit.

Every dude that lifted big shit out of the 70's and 80's had or did NONE of that.  Well, I'm not sure about panda bears.  However the rest of it, yeah.

No one put on a bench shirt, then wrapped bands around it....going either way......and chains....then did a two board press for a single.  That's a lot of bullshit for a god damn single.  What did Kaz do?  Some sets of 10.  Then some more of that.  After that, he did some more of that.  Then he ate a lot, and won some WSM and powerlifting stuff.

Bodybuilders and powerlifters trained really similarly during the 50's, 60's, and 70's.  The only difference is that powerlifters incorporated heavier training in phases.  Now known as "periodization".  I know, this shit is deeper than a conversation between Ayn Rand and Stephen Hawking.  But that's the only real difference in how they trained.  Powerlifters back then also didn't generally eat themselves into oblivion either.  Most of the guys at the top were in pretty awesome shape.  They ate good, trained hard, knew that bodybuilding type shit was good, and then did some very basic periodization work up to a meet.

That's all that's required.  By anyone.  You're not special.  You're not unique, nor do you need a training system with or a special trainer in order to get big and strong as hell.  You don't need to worry about CNS burnout, or if you have some special bars or bands, or if you need to change movements every three weeks.

You don't even need to ask permission 99% of the time.  Instead of asking if some shit works just try it the hell out.  You'll find out in a few months if it does or doesn't.  Just give it a fair time for evaluation.

An old powerlifter I know wrote a post a week or so ago and he basically said...."back in the day, some guys just trained the squat, bench, and deadlift.  Then for a three-four months out of the year they would do some really high inclines, front squats, and elevated stiff legs.  It worked well."

Jesus that sounds familiar.  Oh yeah, that's pretty much the staple lifts in all of my "routines".  Funny how the longer you do this shit, everyone seems to end up in really similar destinations.

On the flip side of that, I was helping a guy prep for a meet a few years ago, and he told me "but I like switching up movements because I just hate going into the gym week after week doing squat, bench, and dead."

"Then why are you powerlifting?"

I mean, this would be akin to a 100 meter sprinter telling his coach "man I hate that we run 100's every week.  Can't I run some easy 400's, or even a 5K?  You know, just to mix it up?"

The lesson here is there is no new program that is going to put you on the map, or that is the secret to unlocking your beast mode to turn you into an elite strong guy.  Hell, writing about it the way I just did isn't even new.  The problem is, every 6 months or so someone creates a whole "new training method"....and it's always something rehashed.  I think it was Dave Tate that said if you want to create a new buzz in training, just start talking about some shit everyone did back in the 80's.

What you should be asking yourself is if your gains are coming because of the effort put forth on it, or because it's really "just that special".....I think we both know the answer to that.  This is why it's important to build a training philosophy that you can and will adhere to when shit isn't going so great.  So that you don't end up hopping around from routine to routine, or from program to program trying to get motivated again.  As I've written before, motivation is bullshit.  It will eventually wane, and then there you are, trying to find something to get motivated about again.