Why the S.A.I.D Principle Should Govern Your Direction in Training - By Paul Marsland

The S.A.I.D principle, what is it, you may well ask? It stands for SPECIFIC ADAPTATION TO
IMPOSED DEMANDS. What that means is that your training should be geared towards a specific goal or outcome. While I'm all for keeping things as simple as possible when it comes to training , there is also a lot to be said for having a clear understanding of the objective and direction you want your training and results to go in. Its no good simply saying “ I want to be bigger” you need to understand the how and why. And this is where the S.A.I.D principle comes into play.

As it states its a response in our case larger muscles ( if that's your goal) to a specific demand, ie resistance training or more precisely anaerobic stress , but its not simply a matter of lifting weights and hoping for the best. Your training and workouts need to be specifically tailored towards the goal of larger muscles. So the focus ( once beyond the beginners phase) becomes more about HOW you lift the weight, with the goal of targeting the working muscles and trying not too involve the outlying muscles too much. The focus is on squeezing and contracting the muscle, not simply lifting it from point A to point B with no real thought. We also need to be training with sufficient volume in order to fatigue the muscles and obtain a good muscular pump.

Lets look at these points in a bit more detail.

Sufficient Volume, just how much is enough? Well there exists no steadfast rules but what I will do is pick two to three exercise which work the muscles from various angles and then perform 2-4 sets depending on the feel I get from each exercise. If I obtain a good pump and my muscles feel sufficiently fatigued I'll call it a day and move onto the next exercise. The idea is to perform just enough work to stimulate your muscles too grow but without over taxing your system. To this point you should train hard but not to the point of total fatigue or exhaustion. Why the need for a pump? You may ask. While there is no solid evidence that a muscular pump is an indication that muscular growth will occur, what it serves as is a psychological indication that we have done “something” positive, it gives us a visual indicator that we are training in a productive manner and
it makes us look temporary bigger, which is no bad thing.

Why not simply train for strength as surely a stronger muscle is a bigger muscle, right? Well yes and No. While an increase in the cross sectional contractile fibers in the muscle may well result in a stronger muscle, as its ability to produce more force is increased this does not mean it will also increase in size. If our training is geared specifically towards simply getting stronger and with minimal frequency and volume, you may well see an increase in workout poundage’s on a regular basis but without a corresponding increase in size. Understand that muscle is very expensive in terms of the metabolic (energy) costs your body has to use to maintain it and if you add muscle these costs increase in proportion. The body by its very evolutionary nature will resist this as much as possible, hence we need to literally force it into making these costly metabolic changes. By means of sufficient, volume, frequency and intensity.

If for example we simply train for strength whilst also using a low volume and frequency approach to training, the body will look for the least metabolically taxing way too adapt, and this is usually in the form of skill acquisition ( ie, you simply get more skilled at lifting heavier weights, think of pure strength athletes such as Power Lifters and Olympic Lifters as examples of this) or via the neurological system, so your body becomes more efficient at recruiting the available muscle fibers. Hence what happens is you continue to get stronger but not any bigger. This is very much a common complaint of those who train in a High Intensity manner. Again remember we are stressing the body anaerobically.

Your body does not know its lifting weights or it understands is that its being exposed to a specific type of stress to which it must adapt specifically. However if that stress is of such an infrequent nature, again it will see no need to adapt in the form of bigger muscles but choose the least metabolically demanding method. Muscle is simply a protective barrier against a specific type of stress, once that stress is ceased, ie you stop training, your muscles begin to atrophy due to the body no longer needing them.

Remember in this instance we are Bodybuilding, I'm not talking of the 300lb steroid using freaks we see today, but Bodybuilding in the sense we are training to look better. So make sure your training is geared towards this. Its OK to want to lift heavier weights and your training will and should involve progressive overload but not at the cost of everything else. You are in charge of your training and the direction it should go in, don't be like the captain of a ship without a sail, aimlessly floating on the sea with no land in sight.

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Open Your Mind and Expand Your Horizons - By Burt Gam

People can be funny sometimes. We are taught from childhood that there is a right way and a wrong way of doing things. That factual knowledge is undisputable. In weight training, like so many other endeavors, has its proponents, rebels and heretics. We have theories, principles and but a handful of facts to guide us. Look for example how body builders, power lifters and weight lifters have drifted apart. Much like the polarization of people for religious and political beliefs. 

As inflexible creatures as we are we adamantly live and die by these belief. We have become self focused and narrow minded. Instead of focusing on our similarities we focus on our differences. Learning can only take place with an open mind. While each area of focus has distinct goals, objectives and theories, it does not necessarily follow that our training methods are 100% exclusive nor should they be. The truth of the matter is that all three camps have useful things to offer each other. All three train with weights to achieve their goals. They even disagree amongst each other. Without getting into the strength or size issues, it might only be fair to point out that some of the strongest bodybuilders in history have been among the best bodybuilders of their eras. It is just as true that there are some pretty strong power lifters who carry an enormous amount of muscle density. And as for sheer power, and overall athleticism we have our Olympic lifters.

A case can be made for many different theories and training principles that each has its own merit. Why not take the best of all three and incorporate them in designing your program for a stronger, leaner and healthier you? Power cleans and push presses for power development. The "Big Three" Powerlifting Programs, and some attention to a few small muscle groups that need attention can all work together! By developing strength, power and flexibility and size you become a much more well rounded person. You have opened your mind to different ways of doing things.

Here is just one of many examples of a mixed program.

Monday                                        Wednesday                             Friday

1.Deadlifts                                    1. Power Cleans                     1. Push Press  

2 Presses                                      2. Bench Press                      2. Squat

3. Chins                                        3. Dumbbell Row                    3.Good Mornings

4. Narrow bench press                   4. Leg Press                          4. Dips or Incline Press

5. Leg extensions                           5. Pullovers                           5. EZ Curl                         

6. Lateral raises                             6. Leg Curls                          6. Calf Raise

Very basic and simple. The sets and reps can be tweaked for different emphasis of strength, power or size. Or perhaps the basic exercises (not assistance exercises) can be modulated on a linear periodization program with a cycles for each. The possible variations are nearly endless.

Remember above all, there are no one size fits all programs. Use your creativity, open your mind to new horizons.

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Stones and Anvils - Jim Duggan

     The New York area has been experiencing unusually warm weather for the last few days.  Because of this, and especially since cold weather is just around the corner, I decided to take advantage of the favorable temperatures and take my workout outside.  Now just to prove that I am not adverse to training outside under less than ideal conditions, some of my most memorable workouts have been in brutally cold  or extremely hot weather.  In years past, when I was training with Drew Israel, we'd train outside, regardless of the weather.  The first time I did a twenty-rep Deadlift workout was a week before Christmas one year.  The temperature was in the teens, with a nice gusty wind.  My biggest concern was not completing the reps, but having my hands freeze to the bar ( something that Drew said had happened to him once!).

     Enough cold talk.  For now, anyway.  This article is about an enjoyable workout under pleasant weather conditions.  The sun was out, the temperature was in the low seventies.  What better way to say good-bye to the nice weather than with an afternoon of lifting granite stones?  Throw in a little anvil work, and you've got the makings of an enjoyable day of training. My plan was to challenge myself with the stones to gauge my progress, and to see how whether the stones would come up easily or not.  I began by doing a couple of warm-ups with my smallest stone ( 145 Lbs.)  Then I did a single each with the 180, 220, and 260. Each time I would pick up the stone, then lift it to my shoulder.  I simply wanted to get an idea what my strength level was, then I began the actual training.

     The workout itself was a variation of a "pyramid rep scheme." 

     Stones

          145 x 5

          180 x 3

          220 x 2

     Anvil Curl 115 x 10

     Headstrap  115 x 20

     After I did the two reps with the 220 Lb. stone, I would do a set of curls with the anvil.  The anvil I used weighs 100 Lbs., in addition I wrapped a heavy chain around the anvil bringing the weight up to 115 Lbs..  I did ten reps, then I attached my Ironmind Headstrap to the anvil and did twenty reps.  I then rested five minutes before beginning the cycle again.  I repeated this four times.  By the time I wa finished I was feeling pretty beat up.   But I think most people reading this will attest to the fact that a hard workout- whether it be twenty-rep squats, high-rep deadlifts,- will leave you with a feeling of accomplishment.  This is a simple, yet brutally effective workout. Three movements.  It's not something that might be advertised in the muscle comics.  This type of training probably won't give you a pump.  It won't make you "jacked," whatever  "jacked" means.  But it will build real strength.  Strength that will carry over to other areas of your training. 

     A few interesting observations:  As much as I tried to arrange the stones close to each other in order to perform the reps with as little rest as possible, it is very important to take a few seconds to make sure that there is no chance of slipping or tripping.  I must confess that I am not exactly balletic under the most favorable conditions.  Now throw in some uneven terrain ( heavy stones will create small craters when they are dropped) and you can see why maintaining balance is very important.  Also, I never use tacky, gauntlets, or other "aids."  Yes, lifting large granite shperes will tear up your forearms.  But torn skin, and a little pain are small prices to pay for getting stronger.  To quote Friedrich Nietzche, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

     One final note, is that up until the other day, I hadn't done my stones in over six weeks.  However, they felt good and I had no problems getting them on my shoulder.  I felt fresh and strong.  I attribute this to the concentrated back work that I have been doing for the last four months.  When I say back work I do NOT mean endless sets of Lat Pulldowns or Seated Cable Rows.  I was doing Stiff-Leg Deadlifts, Good Mornings, and One-Arm Dumbbell Rows.  I worked the Good Mornings particularly hard.  I remember reading about Bruce Randall and the massive poundages he used in the movement, so I really tried to push the weights.  I eventually got to the point where I did 335 x 6 reps.  I didn't train the Good Mornings heavy every week.  In fact, I settled on a heavy/light program which saw me going heavy one week, then the other week I would perform one all-out set of thirty reps.  I was able to build up to 235 x 30 about a month ago.  I firmly believe that this concentrated work was a big factor in giving me the strength to lift the stones with authority.  If only most trainees would incorporate heavy pulling movements, as part of a total body program, they would build impressive strength, make themselves less susceptible to injury, and increase their muscle mass. 

     With the cold weather coming, I will still attempt to keep up with my stone lifting.  For those of us residing in the North, we really have no choice.  But I don't think I would swap my training conditions with the snow birds, even if I could.  At least, not yet.

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ROUND-UP - John McKean

Surprisingly, the fabled super human did not squash me like a bug, spit in my direction, or merely ignore an insignificant little nobody like me! At the time I was a wide-eyed college student witnessing the parade of Iron Game icons who were milling about at one of the famous York Barbell Club picnics at Hoffman's wooded Brookside Park. Brushing my right shoulder, John Grimek and his wife casually strolled by, causing an instant, massive lump to clog my throat! Best I could think to do was croak out a meek "Hi, John!" The mighty Grimek, huge arms in full display in a cut sleeve t-shirt, merely extended his hand in warm greeting and genuinely replied " Hey, great to see you! How's your training coming along?" Then he started gabbing as if we'd been long time buddies and avid training partners! Naturally a crowd quickly built around our discussion, amid other queries from the group, when it occurred to me to ask about a point made in a recent issue of John's MD magazine.

Questioning him about a very interesting, unique arm building article (written by Mr. Universe, Tom Sansone), where the major premise was always to keep training time short by constantly CHANGING bi/tri exercises every workout, I was wondering if John himself shared that author's conviction." OH, yes, ABSOLUTELY" emphasized John, "especially if you desire to greatly increase STRENGTH as well!" That statement shocked and puzzled me, as I'd assumed that one had to labor through a movement for quite a while in order to reach decent poundage. Only much later in life did I come to realize that this all-knowing lifting guru had provided the quintessential KEY to much of his own fabled super strength, and gave a glimpse to the brilliance he acquired from instinctual power work during his youth.

Of course, VARIETY is also the essence of ALL-ROUND competition, which I've been involved with exclusively for the past 3 decades. (In fact, John Grimek was our first inductee to the USAWA Hall of Fame!) However, for most of that time it's been a struggle to include a fairly good range of official lifts (we have nearly 200 events!) into workouts without spending entire days in the gym. So, to chase Grimek's lead , I read "between the lines" in accounts of his earliest training ; seems he followed a basic, constant pattern in standard, heavy exercises, but usually ended with a single massive effort on some odd strength feat. Never much in favor of "sets/reps", he'd just extend one big all-out push, pull, partial, or hold. And, of course, ALWAYS experimenting with something new, unusual, or different.

Now, it occurred to me, some 50 years since I first marveled over Grimek's sage advice, that I can save time in the gym, yet train a bigger variety of lifts more effectively if I only tweek John's essential power building KEY a bit. Simply, I needed to start with a moderately loaded barbell, build up weight in increments (such as 20 pounds each set), and perform a semi-challenging LIFT that will "FIT" each different poundage. For example, the other day I began with a fairly heavy curl, added 2 ten-pound plates, did a single bent arm pullover off the floor, then an increment up for a row. Twenty more pounds for an easy one- arm deadlift. And on up (lots of ten-pound plates laying there!) through subsequent singles for a hack lift, Ciavattone pull, heels together deadlift, Jefferson (or straddle), 12" base deadlift, 2 bars deadlift, and finish with our heavy Kennedy lift. Yep, an eleven "event" total, great variety, decent strength output (mostly along similar "off the floor" lines), and, most importantly, no multiple set drudgery or boredom at all! Heck, I thought I was competing in one of the USAWA's exciting "record day" events (in itself, a form of this training system)! At the rather fast termination to the workout, in fact, my mind & mood were as "pumped" as my legs and back were!

Next workout, if I don't decide to change the list completely, I'll merely add 5 pounds to the initial lift in that sequence, which, of course, puts an additional nickel on EVERY lift. Advancement will continue until some weak link in the chain becomes a "partial"; there's never such a thing as a "miss" - max effort is always a BUILDER! Besides, no lift stays stuck for long, as each in the series tends to boost and strengthen all others!

My training partner, 88-year-old (!!) USAWA patriarch Art Montini, has been following his own version (Art's well thought out plans feature 28 lifts, not done all at once, but 7 lifts per session, alternating each workout) of this "Round-Up" for years with considerable success. Art recently won (again!) the IAWA World Championships in Scotland, and is second all time on our national record list with over 400 current marks in various age and weight divisions. His brief, variety-enhanced workouts begin at 4 AM EVERY morning, finish quickly before 5, then has him bounding through the day with unbelievable vigor!

Want the strength of Grimek and the longevity of Montini? Forget all useless, time-robbing set/rep systems and "Round-Up" for an instant power surge, vastly increased energy, and all-round versatility!

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The Truth Will Set You Free - By Dick Conner

What most people need as far as help in weight training, is the constant reminder: do the hardest Exercises in the hardest way possible.

When I was young in the year of 1952 every coach I knew believed in calisthenics as the best way to exercise. Everyone I knew believed that you would get "muscle bound", which would make you slow not only in running but in thinking! None of the above bothered me, as I was already slow and dumb. I had no direction and even though I had a set of weights I desperately needed help, as what to do with them.

However if the truth had been put before me, I would not have understood – worse yet I would not have believed.

It has been said “the truth will set you free”. Give much thought to the above “the truth will set you free”, because the easiest thing to sell is a lie.

Lie #1 Train more – no – If you train more than 5 to 8 sets in a workout you are not training hard.

Lie #2 The strongest and best built in the gym know more – no – in almost every case they know less.

Lie #3 Train 4 to 6 days a week – no- Never train over twice a week. If that doesn’t work, go to 6 times a month, and yes, some can even train one time a week.

Lie #4 Jerk and yank on weights to get stronger – no- move very slow and controlled, which is harder. This will save your joints and make you stronger.

Lie #5 Last and easiest to sell lie – to get faster you must move the weight fast – no- to get faster move the weight until you can’t move it – doing no more than 8-12 reps.

Remember: “the truth will set you free" ... and, the truth is: ... a lie is easy to sell!

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Cyberpump's How to Transform Your Physique #242

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The Weak Link - By Burt Gam

Back in 1993 when I was working in a mail processing facility I landed my dream job in a small post office. No more working nights and weekends! When I got there, naturally I was pre-occupied with learning my new job. I was not expecting to be the victim of a work place bully. Being the new kid on the block I might have anticipated a bit of "friendly razzing", but not the kind of wise-a-- remarks being directed towards me by this jerk. Now to most people I do not appear a likely target at 5'11 and 215 solid pounds. This mail carrier went about a buck 65 and looked like a one punch knock-out. What was he thinking? After a week or two I expected it to blow over. It did not. Now being generally good natured, I decided one day that today will be the last time I would be dealing with this pain in the a--!

Outside, I confronted my nemesis and extended my hand in a friendly manner to say good morning. He looked at me strange and took my hand to shake it. Big Mistake. Tears of pain filled his eyes. After I decided he had enough and released his hand, all he could do was slither into the bathroom to run cold water on his hand and yell for a supervisor. Now assaulting an employee can certainly get you fired, but shaking someone's hand too hard? I honestly believe that management was secretly happy that this problematic individual finally got his just rewards! Not my proudest moment, but needless to say I didn't hear any more crap!

Someone once told me that the true measure of a man's strength is in his grip. Certainly a lot can be gleaned from a handshake, even strength of character. Having a strong grip certainly has its advantages beyond dispatching wise-guys. For a weight trainer, having a strong grip has a lot of carry over to training. Yet after shaking hands with a good many people through the years and some pretty big dudes to boot, I am hear to tell you that grip work is probably the most neglected aspect of training. To me, nothing is more disappointing than a big guy with huge body parts and a weak grip. Back in the day, lifters and strongmen had tremendous strength in their hands and forearms. They were every bit as strong as they looked. Manual laborers too.

As a lifter, a strong grip has many advantages. Exercises such as deadlifts, shrugs, chins, and various forearm exercises with fat bars certainly will work. But sometimes something more is needed.

What can a powerful grip do for you? For one thing, it will help many of your lifts increase. Try doing deadlifts with a weak grip. I have actually missed lifts because of grip failure, which is why I never use straps. Even presses and rowing exercises will benefit. There are very few lifts indeed that do not incorporate the hands. In every day life too. The carry over is obvious. I realized this when I lifted heavy mail all day, carried grocery bags up the stairs, stripped the heads off of nuts and bolts, and opened pickle jars for my wife. Your hands are your most important tool in the box!

But if you are desiring a truly powerful grip of epic proportions, you need to invest in a hand gripper. Not just any hand gripper mind you. I am talking about a variable resistance fully adjustable hand gripper with heavy duty springs. Not the kind you find in typical sporting goods store. I am talking about a real man toy.

While I am not here to endorse any products, I do have a favorite. There are a few on the market that fit the bill. At least one comes in a set with each gripper being progressively stiffer to promote strength gains. My choice is known as "Super Gripper" manufactured by Ivanko. It kind of resembles a closed horse shoe with two thick high tension springs. It is fully adjustable in what ever increments are comfortable for you. I have personally used it for years and believe me it works! My lifts are better, in particular my deadlifts. It can be ordered out of some muscle magazines or online. As stated, there are other products out there and I am not endorsing. As long as they meet the criteria of progressive resistance and fit your hand size you will not go wrong.

As for programming, I train on it 2-3 times per week pretty much like other body parts. I prefer a higher volume work-out using something like 15-12-10-8-6-4-and sometimes 2 with increasing tension, but straight sets work too if that is your preference. Just about any set and rep scheme will work. Just remember to warm up first. It is entirely possible to injure your hand, wrist and forearms just like any other muscles. The wrist and forearm flexors and extensors are worked thoroughly. You will notice a difference fairly quickly, just take it slow and steady in the beginning. In addition, you will notice a difference in your forearms as far as size and vascularity, especially if this is a problem area for you. Remember, the body is mechanically a kinetic chain.What ever type of lifting you do, bodybuilding, powerlifting, or just want to teach wise guys a lesson, don't let your grip be your weak link! 

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Three Workouts Per Week: Is It Enough? - By Burt Gam

First off, let's This is not an article for muscle heads, steroid users or genetic freaks. This is about good sensible training for the average person and life-long weight trainer. By average I mean genetically typical drug free everyday people who work, go, to school, raise families and otherwise have a life outside of lifting. In other words, 98% of the population. The question is; Is it possible to make progress or even maintain size and strength on a three day a week program to make it worthwhile? The answer is your damn right it is! Let me state my case for the skeptics out there who think split routines are the way to go.

The average bodybuilder on a split routine is probably over trained. For some reason, many trainees are brain washed into thinking what works for the champs will work for them. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Those impressive on paper high volume routines published in magazines generally work only for a select few gifted trainees who are juicing. What they also do is sell magazine subscriptions and supplements which are being endorsed.

Lets say for the sake of the argument that these routines do work. Questions and issues arise such as " Is training two hours a day six days a week worth it from a benefit versus effort perspective? How does my training affect my personal life as far as work and spending time with the family? Do I have the genetic capability to make it all the way to the top of my field to compete? How will my health be affected? Can my body take the strain?

For most people, extended split routines result in over training and staleness. Progress begins to wane. Gains come slow or not at all. Injuries become more likely. The central nervous system becomes frazzled. Workouts become an exercise in futility and simply going through the motions. Important aspects of life become neglected.

When I was young, I spent a lot of time in the gym. I did make progress, not as much from the training but because I was young. I was on my first tour of duty in the Air Force stationed in Anchorage Alaska. Our daughter was born. Time to maintain that training schedule became difficult. My wife needed help and pleaded with me to work-out less. On top of that, I spent and entire Alaskan summer (so short you could close your eyes and miss it) inside a gym instead of seeing some of the most spectacular scenery on earth.

The solution was to train three times a week. The advantages are tremendous. Most people today do not realize that many years ago this was the norm . The day or two of rest between work outs allowed for a more complete recovery. This is necessary especially for strength gains and probably for mass as well.

Beginners too seem to thrive on this type of training as well as athletes. Off days were devoted to other aspects of training such as cardio, flexibility, agility and skill development for sports. This type of program fits well into recreational training and sports performance improvement. Even NFL players train this way, at least during the season because they need the time and energy to be expended elsewhere. Try to find one who is not incredibly big and strong!

You might be thinking; "How can I fit all of the exercises I do in a split routine for all body parts into three days? How can I manage the training volume?

The answer is you can't nor should you. People generally do far to many exercises and sets. By sticking to the basic compound exercises and increasing intensity, the three day program becomes extremely effective. Instead of multiple exercises for, chest, back, shoulders, legs, arms, etc. we concentrate the program into the fewest basic exercises that give the most bang for the buck! At the same time we reduce or eliminate single joint exercises . These are fine for bringing up lagging body parts or correcting muscular strength imbalances, but even then they are used sparingly. Basic routines coupled with sufficient intensity is the key to success! Constructing the program itself is not rocket science. Instead of pulling featured programs out of my favorite magazine I learned how to design my own program tailor made!

Here is how to do it.

Your program will be centered around the best exercises for each major muscle group. Once you determine the best compound exercises you simply organize them into a workable three day a week training schedule. The way I start is with the "Big Three"; Deadlift, Bench Press and Squat. These three exercises alone are the cornerstone of a solid program. All that remains to do is pick the other best exercises. Here are my choices.

1. Chest-Bench press and Incline Bench Press.
2. Thighs- Squats and Front Squats.
3. Shoulders- Standing Barbell and Dumbbell Presses.
4. Back(upper)- Pull-ups for width, Barbell/Dumbbell Rows for thickness.
5. Back(lower)- All forms of Deadlifts(Also for total body).
6. Trapezius- Hang Cleans and Shrugs.
7. Hamstrings- Good mornings and Stiff Leg Deadlifts.
8. Biceps- Chins with a supinated grip.
9. Triceps- Narrow Bench Press and Dips (awesome chest builder too!)
10.Calf- Single Leg Calf Raise with dumbbell.

Here is a sample program. The sets and repetitions can be adjusted as needed for either strength or hypertrophy emphasis.

Monday                                    Wednesday                                          Friday

Deadlifts 5x5                            Bench Press 5x5, 1x10                    Squat 5x5 1x10

Barbell Press 5x5                     Leg Press 3x10                                Good Morning 3x8-10

Pronated Chins 3x6-10            Single Arm Dumbbell Row 3x6-8      Dips 3x8-12

Narrow Bench Press 3x6-8      Alternate Dumbbell Press 3x6-8       Supinated Chins 3x6-10

Leg Extension 3x10-15             Leg Curl 3x10-15                              Calf Raise 3x15

Ab Work                                    Ab Work                                            Ab Work

There it is. For those skeptics out there who feel that this type of work-out is too simple, I can only say TRY IT! Remember the emphasis is on intensity, not volume. Volume is the enemy of intensity. Just try to make progress in weight, especially on the "Big Three". For those people who need a bit more variety or need extra work in certain weak areas, single joint work can be used sparingly. These can be rotated in and out as needed. For those interested in power work (Power Cleans/Push Presses), these can be added as first exercises for each day. There is room for flexibility. Give the three day program your best effort for three months. Focus on intensity and steadily increasing weight while using good technique and form. You will be rewarded with increased strength and size.

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The Importance of Concentration - By Jim Duggan

One of the most prolific- and talented- writers ever to grace the pages of any muscle magazine was John McCallum. His "Keys to Progress" series appeared in "Strength and Health" magazine from 1965 to 1972. It was an extremely popular feature, and his articles had a positive influence on countless thousands of trainees. Although I was too young to be able to enjoy his writing during its original run- I was born in 1964- I have been able to benefit from John's words, thanks to the foresight of Ironmind Enterprises, Inc., which compiled his articles in a book. "The Complete Keys to Progress" is one of the finest books on training ever published. If you have not done so already, do yourself a tremendous favor and order a copy today.

Of course, when I refer to training, I mean sensible, productive, no-nonsense training. Certainly not the type of useless misinformation found in any of the "muscle comics" available at most newsstands. Common sense is timeless. It is also, I am sad to say, not very common at all. If you have the opportunity to take advantage of some of the best training articles ever written, you can't let it slip away.

There were about one hundred articles in the original Keys to Progress. The series covered everything from diet, to building bulk and power, to training for definition, and the all-time classic: Heavy breathing Squats. And while some articles may have become somewhat archaic (P.H.A. training, high protein-high set training), most of the information presented is as relevant today as it was nearly fifty years ago.

One of my favorite pieces was dedicated to the importance of concentration. Actually, he devoted three articles to the topic of concentration. One of his best quotes is as follows: " If you're not going to concentrate on your training, you may as well forget it." Which leads me to an amusing- or sad- incident that I had the pleasure of witnessing at the gym about a month ago. I was working out during the middle of the day. Now, the gym where I train has a Power Rack and two Squat Racks, all three are lined up side by side. On this particular day, all three pieces of equipment were being used at the same time. One trainee was doing standing Presses in the Power Rack, another was doing standing Presses in one of the Squat Racks, while the third guy was Squatting. The three trainees in question were all about twenty years-old or so. They were each about 5'10" - 6' tall, and they each looked to be around 200 Lbs..They were definitely not beginners. Which makes what I'm about to relate even more pathetic.

The guy who was doing standing presses in the Power Rack had the bar loaded to 95 Lbs.. The guy who was Squatting was using 135 Lbs..And last- and definitely least- the guy doing standing presses on the Squat Rack was using 75 Lbs.. Of course, they all used lifting belts to assist them in their massive poundages. But the other thing that they had in common, was that each one of them would pull out a cell phone and proceed to text after each and every set. Who or what they were texting is not important. How could they possibly be concentrating on their training? They were more concerned with playing with the phones than they were about lifting. And it showed. It's too bad that someone else couldn't take a picture of the distracted trio. The perfect caption would be: "This is why you are using baby weights!"

Now, in fairness, maybe all three of them are ER surgeons on call. But I doubt it. And the sad part is that they were not the only ones engaged in such nonsense. Go to any commercial gym and you will see the same sort of behavior. You'll be amazed. You will also become envious of every person who is lucky enough to lift in a garage or basement gym and thereby not have to be subjected to this sort of thing.

One of my favorite old quotes about lifting came from an old Soviet weightlifter from the 1970s. In response to a question about how he psyched himself up to lift heavy weights, he replied: "The weight must not be feared. It must fear you." Well, how is the weight ever going to fear you if you are not even paying attention to it?

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What Do You Stand For?, Mind Strength, Coaching Philosophy is Everything, Going from 'Ruth's Chris' to 'Waffle House' or My Move to Business Basic Training in Fort Pierce, Florida - The Fitness Professional Show - Interview with "Maximum" Bob Whelan - Aug 14

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The Lost Art of Dumbbell Pressing - By Jim Duggan

One of the most effective upper-body exercises is the Overhead Press.  Whether you utilize a barbell, dumbbells, any of the various machines, a log ( as popularized in the early World's Stronges Man contests during the 70s), tremendous strength can be developed by pushing a heavy weight overhead.  And, of course, your muscle mass will increase, but more importantly, a stronger shoulder girdle will make that area of your body less susceptible to injury.  We all known persons who have sustained shoulder injuries.  Some minor, others more serious, sometimes even requiring surgery.  Over the years, many authorities have expounded on the reasons for the increase in shoulder injuries to people who lift.  Too much emphasis on Bench Pressing, not enough direct shoulder work, muscle imbalances in the deltoid area, etc.. Fortunately, it is universally agreed that if trainees devote more time to doing overhead pressing, and strengthening their shoulders, there will be fewer injuries to that vulnerable area.

Even though I competed in powerlifting for many years, I have always enjoyed doing overhead presses. Perhaps it's because my earliest inspiration to lift was watching the Weightlifting championships on television as a kid.  I vividly recall watching the 1976 Olympics as a twelve year-old and being awe-struck as the weightlifters hoisted huge poundages overhead.  All these years later, I am still impressed watching somebody lift a weight off the ground and push it to arm's length over their head.     

For many years, I have used standing Military Presses as my principal overhead exercise.  I would usually use a power rack, set the bar at chest height ( or slightly above depending on the rack.)  I would usually do sets of five or six.  And, of course, with a power rack you also have the option of setting the pins a little higher and doing partial presses.  But I'll save those for another article.

Over the past few years, I've done more Dumbbell Presses than I have with a barbell.  Sometimes it was more convenient, since I don't have a power rack in my house.  I do have dumbbells.  Two of the best items I've purchased have been dumbbell handles from Ironmind Enterprises, Inc..Both the thick-handled and regular size handled bars are excellent tools for doing Dumbbell Presses. Last year, I concentrated on doing One-Arm Dumbbell Presses using the thick-handled DB bars.  I would load the bar, grasp it with one hand, clean/pull it to my shoulders and press it overhead.  I would try to stand as straight as possible, no leaning.  I would usually do several sets, beginning with a weight I could handle for six reps.  I would increase the weight on each succeeding set until I could do one or two reps.  Even though I am righ-handed, I would make every effort to keep the reps even with my (weaker) left arm.  This is an excellent exercise, provided that you use good form.  Come to think of it, you can probably say the same about any movement you perform.  Anyway, if you keep your body as straight as possible and lock out the weight and hold it overhead, you will develop significant strength in your shoulders.  This increased strength will easily translate to your barbell presses.  At least it does for me.

Since the beginning of this past Summer, I have been doing something different for my shoulder presses.  I'm still utilizing dumbbells, but I'm doing higher reps, and a different movement.  I've been doing dumbbell clean and presses, using two DBs at a time.  I'm also lowering the DBs to the hang position between each rep.  This makes the exercise a lot harder when you have to clean the DBs each time.  You can also lower the dumbbells to the floor, but I like the idea of doing a hang-clean for each rep.  And since I'm doing higher reps, this will also improve your conditioning to some extent.  There are two ways that I've used this exercise.  The first method was to perform a set of eight reps, rest a minute or so, then increase the weight and do six reps.  Another rest and weight increase, followed by a set of three or four. This method works quite well, except that you have to keep changing the weight on the DBs.

Another method that I've been using for the last few weeks is to use one pair of dumbbells.  I will begin with ten reps. I will rest exactly one minute, then perform a set of nine.  One minute of rest, then I do eight reps, and so on.  I would continue until I hit one rep.  The important part is to keep the rest at one minute.  No longer.  And even though the number of reps decreases with each set, you are still working quite hard.  When it gets to the point where you can complete the ten sets easily, then it's time to use heavier dumbbells. Or, for an extra challenge, after you complete the last rep, you can try to move up the ladder again.  In other words, add a rep with each succeeding set and see how far you can make it.  This method is especially good if you are pressed for time- no pun intended- since you can complete all ten sets in less than fifteen minutes.

Many of the greats of the Iron Game utilized dumbbells and made tremendous gains.  With some imagination and hard work you can make similar gains while at the same time honoring those who have set the standards of Physical Culture.

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