06 Apr Ashman – taking it to another “gear” lulz

I will have my Relentless write-up coming soon. It has been a hectic week since getting back from MN and I need time to organize my thoughts about it for you.

For now, I will just say one word about it:

Incredible.

I have since decided to tackle geared lifting instead of continuing raw.

There are a few reasons for this:

1. I can’t squat raw without back issues and hip pain, going with gear will help both
2. I am old, joints need help staying together
3. I want the challenge
4. I like squatting 2″ high in a suit of armor….. kidding

Sunday’s lower body day was a light one because I am doing this for the first time. My technique has to be ironed out, perfected and worked with before I start slamming weights all over the bar.

I was told, by Brian, to do singles at about RPE 6 in both squat and deadlift. I took it a step further and added a box and blocks to help me adjust even more to the gear. I have a while to go before I use this in a meet so I would prefer to do it right over screwing it up and getting hurt.

** Barbell Squat **
– 135.0 lbs x 5 reps
– 185.0 lbs x 2 reps
– 225.0 lbs x 1 rep
– 275.0 lbs x 1 rep

Started with some singles to get warmed up; yes this was after a full warmup using the McGill protocols.

** Squat Add Briefs **
– 315.0 lbs x 1 rep
– 365.0 lbs x 1 rep
– 385.0 lbs x 1 rep
– 425.0 lbs x 1 rep
– 425.0 lbs x 1 rep

Worked up to some easy singles. 425 was light as hell and you may look at this and think “425 in briefs? What the hell?”… consider that I haven’t squatted with anything over 400 in months because of my back issues for one, consider that I am learning an entirely new style of squatting and consider that I am being smart about this and swallowing my pride to do it right.

The biggest issue for me is sitting back. Raw squatting is definitely more quad dominant, with gear on you have to allow the gear to do the work. That is a mental and physical shift. The two sets of 425 were both different. The first one I sat down more and didn’t feel the briefs do much work at all. The 2nd set I sat back and spread my hips correctly and the difference was night and day.

Granted both were light but when your form is solid in briefs, the feel of it is different.

** Sumo From 2″ Blocks **
– 225.0 lbs x 1 rep
– 315.0 lbs x 1 rep
– 405.0 lbs x 1 rep
– 455.0 lbs x 1 rep
– 505.0 lbs x 1 rep

Some light pulling work.

** Leg Press **
– 500.0 lbs x 15 reps
– 500.0 lbs x 15 reps
– 500.0 lbs x 15 reps

Piston style.

** DB Lunges **
– 25.0 lbs x 10 reps
– 25.0 lbs x 10 reps
– 25.0 lbs x 10 reps

** Glute-Ham Raise **
– 5 reps
– 5 reps
– 5 reps

Yep…. need stronger hamstrings

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