Today marks the beginning of Phase 2 of the Relative Strength Cycle.
Once again, relative strength as I am defining it is the amount of strength you have compared to your weight, or how strong you are for your size. This reflects your ability to control or move your body through space, a vital trait for life and sport. Much of our training centers on this concept, but this program we are going to use your weight or fraction thereof to determine the load you’ll lift during part of the strength session. During this phase our primary lifts will be Back Squat, Bench Press, and Deadlift on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, respectively. And you can expect kettlebell flows, animal movements, and mace drills in the conditioning. As always, strive to be fully present when you are training–don’t let distractions like other people or outside issues interfere with your physical growth.
Our next Level 1/2 Test is on September 3rd. Check out the requirements for your skill level here. You can miss TWO and still level up. If you’re close to getting a skill, you have time to work on it before the next test. Just pick one skill, test yourself one or two times every time you come to the gym. You might surprise yourself!
Warmup
0:00 – 12:00
Animal Mobility
12:00 – 20:00
Squat Prep:
Hip Activation Drills
Technique review
Warmup sets
Strength
Levels 2-4
20:00 – 35:00
Back Squat
Spend 15 minutes working up to a heavy double. This should take 4-5 sets.
Be diligent! 15 minutes goes by quickly–you won’t get any extra time to finish. Get to your heaviest set within the time cap.
35:00 – 40:00
Then, within five minutes, perform the following number of Back Squats at bodyweight (or 80% of your heavy double–go with whichever is the lower weight) in AS FEW SETS AS POSSIBLE.
L4 – 20 reps
L3 – 15 reps
L2 – 12 reps
We are resetting this week, so regardless of what you worked up to in Phase 1 of this program, I want you going no heavier than bodyweight on these back-off sets this week. In the following weeks, whenever you hit your target reps in one unbroken set, then you can and should go 10-20# heavier (but you should also aim to increase your top double).
Obviously the goal is to complete the reps in one set. But you should NOT fail any reps. If you can’t get them all unbroken, just rack the bar and do another set after resting a minute, until you’ve hit your required number. Use spotters. Ask your training partners to check your depth and keep you honest–we only count clearly below-parallel squats. If you aren’t getting depth, ask your coach how to address the issue: mobility work, squat technique practice, or just sucking it up. No participation trophies here, this is training for grownups: if you do the work, you get the credit; if you don’t, you know what you need to do.
Level 1
20:00 – 35:00
5 sets
8 Double Kettlebell Front Squats (increase weight each set if possible)
35:00 – 40:00
2 sets
12 Goblet Squats (use half of your heaviest set)
Conditioning
35:00 – 45:00
Technique practice:
Kettlebell:
Row
Dead Clean to Squat
Swing Clean
High Pull
Snatch
Tactical Clean (pass the bell under the opposite leg and switch hands, then swing it around the front and catch the head of the bell in your palm)
Animal Flow:
Full Scorpion
Start in Crab
Right leg Underswitch and continue to swing right leg over into scorpion kick
Drop right foot to the floor (end up in kick through stance)
Next take left straight leg underswitch to left scorpion kick on the other side
45:00 – 60:00
“Insomnia”
All Levels
2x Single Kettlebell Complex (right side/left side/right side/left side)
Offset Single Arm Row
Rotating Dead Clean to Squat
Swing Clean
High Pull
Snatch (recover to shoulder then)
Tactical Clean
Repeat other side
10 Alternating Full Scorpions
Rest 60 Seconds between rounds, repeat until 15 minutes is up, increase weight each round as long as you can keep the flow smooth and controlled
L4 – start with 20/16
L3 – start with 18/14
L2 – start with 16/12
L1 – start light, make sure you have the movements down before adding weight