#AskKenneth 70: 8 sets x 3 reps
Not many people understand the importance of strength training, and not many people know how to implement strength training with Progressive Loading. Since fitness magazines do not discuss how to get strong, they only talk about fat loss and how to get lean in 14 days.
Intensification period is important to everyone if you are serious to build muscle. Remember, you cannot build serious muscles without high intensity training. Without strength, you cannot lift heavy weight. If you cannot move heavy weight with high reps with long Time under Tension, you cannot increase msucle mass during Accumulation period.
In my own training, I always start from strength training before hypertrophy training. When I was preparing for Olympiclifting competition, I chased for my 1RM. I always tested my personal best. For general population, you don't need to look for 1RM. It's not necessary. 3RM and 5RM are benefit to your training, and you don't have to destroy your nervous system. Your goal is using strength training to recruit more muscle fibres and stimulate your growth in the future. I leaned this theory from coach Christian Thibaudeau.
Last time, I talked about Hepburn Progressive Loading system. Today, I would like to share 8 sets x 3 reps.
Example 1 - Back Squat
Target weight is 170kg = my double bodyweight
Warm-up set 1: 20kg x 5 - Always Always start from empty barbell
Warm-up set 2: 60kg x 3 with short rest period when you're warming up
Warm-up set 3: 100kg x 3
Warm-up set 4: 120kg x 3
Warm-up set: 5: 130kg x 3
Set 1: 140kg x 3, you can take 2 mins between sets
Set 2: 145kg x 3
Set 3: 150kg x 3
Set 4: 160kg x 3
Set 5: 165kg x 3, rest period can be 2mins or more
Set 6: 167.5kg x 3 (you may struggle at this set, you may think you cannot keep going. It happens. And you may need 4 mins rest between sets.)
Set 7: 170kg x 3 (You just can make it. You may need to take 4 mins rest before set 8.)
Set 8: 172.5kg x 3 on a good day!
When you are squatting, you can see that you need to do many sets before work sets.
"High Intensity with High Volume"
Example 2 - Bench Press
Target weight is 100kg
Warm-up set 1: 20kg x 5 - Always Always start from empty barbell
Warm-up set 2: 60kg x 3
Warm-up set 3: 75kg x 3
Set 1: 82.5kg
Set 2: 85kg
Set 3: 90kg
Set 4: 92.5kg
Set 5: 95kg
Set 6: 97.5kg
Set 7: 100kg (If you feel good, let's do set 8)
Set 8: 102.5kg
When you are pressing, you don't need too many warm-up sets.
