18 Jul Byrd: 965 squat and some deadlifts!

Finally broke the 2,500 total mark at the Arnold, but like any lifter I feel there is more left in the tank. Currently training for the RPS South Florida Conquest on September 3rd. I will be lifting in the 275 class against several other solid lifters. I will need to have a solid meet, but I have high expectations of a good PR total!

The damn Florida heat is hell! I decided to have my deadlift separate from my squats for this week, but will now move them to the same day. I wanted a chance to clean up my form some before the heavier pulls coming, and to not be as fatigued from heavy squats. The plan wasnt to pull anything heavy, but to work about to where my last warm up would be on meet day. I let Adam Driggers crank the straps down on the suit so I could practice working down to the bar. Overall it was a good session and form feels really good. I had not pulled sumo from the floor since March at the Arnold. It helps having great training partners that can spot issues and help you make form corrections on the spot.

Training looked like this
McGill Big 3
Kb swings
goblet squats
light stiff leg deads (bar/135)
deads
2×5@135
2×3@225
1×2@315
1×1@405
1×1@495
2×1@585

Followed up with
3×10 lat pull down
3×10 dumbbell shrug
3×10 single leg deads

SQUAT DAY!

Thankfully we moved squats up to 830am to beat the heat! I do think it paid off some, but I was still pretty gassed at the end of the session. This was week #2 in the suit, and well it showed. I took a little nap on the set with 870 and was out of it when I got the bar in the rack. The 965rb set looked much better, and form was better. I didnt do a good job taking a small breath during the 870 set.

Squats
mcgill big 3
kb swings
goblets
3×5@bar
3×3@155
2×2@245
1×1@335
Briefs on
1×1@515
1×1@625
suit on
1×1@750
1×1@875
1×1@965rb

Things will improve this weekend, lets see how 1k plus feels on my back.

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

Jonathan Byrd

Jonathan Byrd is a competitive powerlifter, with over 16 years of training experience. Byrd has been ranked nationally for the past 6 years under multiple categories. His total has ranked as high as second nationally in the 275 class. He currently has a best total of 2500lbs. Best individual lifts include a 1040lb squat, a 750lb bench press, and 735lb deadlift. His 1040lb squat ranks him 26th all-time squats at the 308 class. Jonathan currently trains out of Team Samson Gym in Jacksonville, FL. Before powerlifting Jonathan was a college athlete at Methodist University as both an all-conference football player and track athlete. Following graduation he played four years of arena football in various leagues.

Latest posts by Jonathan Byrd (see all)

• Byrd: DAC and some lifting! - May 21, 2018
• Byrd: I Still Lift - May 7, 2018
• Client Spotlight: Jenna Rowe - April 27, 2018