"Gurus" that you rate/don't rate?

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Combo

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2017
658
563
I rate Cressey. His stuff is solid. Always has been.

I think Poliquin has fallen off the map (although he did just have a winner at the last Olympics). The stuff he puts out is a bit hippy'ish.

Lee Boyce is a new guy that I like to look out for, as is John Rusin. There stuff is consistently good.

You?
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
I'm a well known Joel Jamieson supporter. Guy changed my approach to S&C.

Lyle Macdonald knows his stuff but is quite a dick.

Sort of a different subject but I have found Prilepin's Table to be really useful.
 

Combo

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2017
658
563
I'm a well known Joel Jamieson supporter. Guy changed my approach to S&C.

Lyle Macdonald knows his stuff but is quite a dick.

Sort of a different subject but I have found Prilepin's Table to be really useful.
How did Joel change your approach?
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
How did Joel change your approach?
He looks at things in a much more structured, logical and scientific way. I know we all try to do that but he was using scientific studies with references and explaining the biology in much better detail.

I always had poor conditioning, no matter how many hill sprints I did. Then I read Joel's forum and bought his book and my training became easier and my conditioning improved.

vermonter @vermonter has also given me some great info over the years, the biggest being to moderate my weight cuts and that strength is a factor of muscle size and neural input. Extrapolating this information, I reduced my strength workouts to simply hypertrophy and playing my sport a lot, in conjuction with Prilepin's table. So I don't lift very heavy, do jiujitsu and I'm still very strong.
 

Combo

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2017
658
563
He looks at things in a much more structured, logical and scientific way. I know we all try to do that but he was using scientific studies with references and explaining the biology in much better detail.

I always had poor conditioning, no matter how many hill sprints I did. Then I read Joel's forum and bought his book and my training became easier and my conditioning improved.

vermonter @vermonter has also given me some great info over the years, the biggest being to moderate my weight cuts and that strength is a factor of muscle size and neural input. Extrapolating this information, I reduced my strength workouts to simply hypertrophy and playing my sport a lot, in conjuction with Prilepin's table. So I don't lift very heavy, do jiujitsu and I'm still very strong.
What was it you did that improved your conditioning then? How highly do you rate the book?
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
What was it you did that improved your conditioning then? How highly do you rate the book?
I learned that people are individual and need to find their individual strengths, weaknesses and goals before following a training program. A cookie cutter regime is not good enough. I also learned about periodisation and not working every quality at once.

I dropped the high intensity work and switched to steady state cardio at a HR range of 130-150 bpm to stretch the left ventricle. Joel is also big on Heart Rate Variability, which is useful if you find yourself over training a lot.

The book is very good. I don't refer to it any more and I don't do everything in it but it is a great resource for building a conditioning program.
 

Combo

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2017
658
563
I learned that people are individual and need to find their individual strengths, weaknesses and goals before following a training program. A cookie cutter regime is not good enough. I also learned about periodisation and not working every quality at once.

I dropped the high intensity work and switched to steady state cardio at a HR range of 130-150 bpm to stretch the left ventricle. Joel is also big on Heart Rate Variability, which is useful if you find yourself over training a lot.

The book is very good. I don't refer to it any more and I don't do everything in it but it is a great resource for building a conditioning program.
Great reply.

Can you expand on this please?

"I dropped the high intensity work and switched to steady state cardio at a HR range of 130-150 bpm to stretch the left ventricle. Joel is also big on Heart Rate Variability, which is useful if you find yourself over training a lot."
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
Great reply.

Can you expand on this please?

"I dropped the high intensity work and switched to steady state cardio at a HR range of 130-150 bpm to stretch the left ventricle. Joel is also big on Heart Rate Variability, which is useful if you find yourself over training a lot."
I'm happy to answer any questions but I'm not sure which part you want me to expand on.
 

Combo

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2017
658
563
I'm happy to answer any questions but I'm not sure which part you want me to expand on.
Cool.

Like why heart rate variability is useful to know about when you're overtraining. What's the connection?
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
Cool.

Like why heart rate variability is useful to know about when you're overtraining. What's the connection?
HRV can predict over training. There are apps and watches etc that use HRV to tell you when to have a rest day. When you over train, your parasympathetic system is taxed and it reduces your HRV (the variation in time between your heart beats). Eg at 60 bpm, your heart won't beat exactly once every second, there will be some variation. Variation in time is good.

When the variation reduces, it's time for a day off.
 

Combo

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2017
658
563
HRV can predict over training. There are apps and watches etc that use HRV to tell you when to have a rest day. When you over train, your parasympathetic system is taxed and it reduces your HRV (the variation in time between your heart beats). Eg at 60 bpm, your heart won't beat exactly once every second, there will be some variation. Variation in time is good.

When the variation reduces, it's time for a day off.
Wow. Without an app/gadget etc, what symptoms have come over you on the day before or the day off which would have made you think "right, better take a day off"?

And because of this, how many rest days are you now taking per week?
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
Wow. Without an app/gadget etc, what symptoms have come over you on the day before or the day off which would have made you think "right, better take a day off"?

And because of this, how many rest days are you now taking per week?
Devices capable of measuring HRV can predict over training when no symptoms are present. You may even feel great but need a day off.

I keep my intensity low in almost everything now, so over training isn't really an issue for me. Every week is like a deload week for me.
 

Combo

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2017
658
563
Devices capable of measuring HRV can predict over training when no symptoms are present. You may even feel great but need a day off.

I keep my intensity low in almost everything now, so over training isn't really an issue for me. Every week is like a deload week for me.
So it isn't as black & white as feeling fatigued? Interesting. Any devices you'd recommend, mate?

Do you never get the itch to go heavy/hard/balls to the wall etc due to just change it up from going steady all the time?
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
So it isn't as black & white as feeling fatigued? Interesting. Any devices you'd recommend, mate?

Do you never get the itch to go heavy/hard/balls to the wall etc due to just change it up from going steady all the time?
No, feeling fatigued isn't necessarily a good indicator of over training. Grip strength can be though. If you wake up and test your grip each day, a decline could mean you need time off. Also a rise in RHR.

The expensive devices will give a better HRV reading but a cheap bluetooth chest strap and Joel's Bioforce App will do the trick. Some apps claim to be able to measure HRV using the camera on your phone but the sample rate is simply too low to be accurate.

No, I have zero interest in pushing myself. Less than zero; the idea of sprinting my guts out or pulling over 200kg from the floor (pb of 230) horrifies me. I head out on my bike for cardio and that keeps me healthy and fit for BJJ comps and I do an easy bodyweight workout plus some yoga that keeps me supple and strong and I feel great for it.
 

otaku1

TMMAC Addict
Jul 16, 2015
4,649
5,893
No, feeling fatigued isn't necessarily a good indicator of over training. Grip strength can be though. If you wake up and test your grip each day, a decline could mean you need time off. Also a rise in RHR.

The expensive devices will give a better HRV reading but a cheap bluetooth chest strap and Joel's Bioforce App will do the trick. Some apps claim to be able to measure HRV using the camera on your phone but the sample rate is simply too low to be accurate.

No, I have zero interest in pushing myself. Less than zero; the idea of sprinting my guts out or pulling over 200kg from the floor (pb of 230) horrifies me. I head out on my bike for cardio and that keeps me healthy and fit for BJJ comps and I do an easy bodyweight workout plus some yoga that keeps me supple and strong and I feel great for it.

I agree with Leigh wholeheartedly. I bought Joel's book afterwards and started running at low intensity and never looked back. I can run.

Leigh @Leigh I'm guessing you're just maintaining your strength because you are already quite strong iirc so probably don't need to exert yourself.
In my case ever since I got the cardio covered I've been trying to get stronger. Not easy. I feel ill have to go through the grinder so to speak. Train intelligently but hard.
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
I agree with Leigh wholeheartedly. I bought Joel's book afterwards and started running at low intensity and never looked back. I can run.

Leigh @Leigh I'm guessing you're just maintaining your strength because you are already quite strong iirc so probably don't need to exert yourself.
In my case ever since I got the cardio covered I've been trying to get stronger. Not easy. I feel ill have to go through the grinder so to speak. Train intelligently but hard.
Well, it depends on the individual but I would guess you need more volume than intensity. Full body workout 2-3 times per week, 5x5 at 65-70% from Prilepin's Table using CAT.
 

Combo

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2017
658
563
No, feeling fatigued isn't necessarily a good indicator of over training. Grip strength can be though. If you wake up and test your grip each day, a decline could mean you need time off. Also a rise in RHR.

The expensive devices will give a better HRV reading but a cheap bluetooth chest strap and Joel's Bioforce App will do the trick. Some apps claim to be able to measure HRV using the camera on your phone but the sample rate is simply too low to be accurate.

No, I have zero interest in pushing myself. Less than zero; the idea of sprinting my guts out or pulling over 200kg from the floor (pb of 230) horrifies me. I head out on my bike for cardio and that keeps me healthy and fit for BJJ comps and I do an easy bodyweight workout plus some yoga that keeps me supple and strong and I feel great for it.
Thanks for the reply, awesome stuff.

About the whole grip indication... How do YOU test it? What could I do to test it? Sounds interesting.
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
Thanks for the reply, awesome stuff.

About the whole grip indication... How do YOU test it? What could I do to test it? Sounds interesting.
I don't test it. You could get a grip dynometer and check each morning, if you wished.



Probably cheaper and more accurate to get a bluetooth chest strap and app.
 

Combo

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2017
658
563
I don't test it. You could get a grip dynometer and check each morning, if you wished.



Probably cheaper and more accurate to get a bluetooth chest strap and app.
Cheers mate.

Any links to where I can get a chest strap from? I'm new to all of this so...
 

vermonter

Active Member
May 15, 2015
186
220
He looks at things in a much more structured, logical and scientific way. I know we all try to do that but he was using scientific studies with references and explaining the biology in much better detail.

I always had poor conditioning, no matter how many hill sprints I did. Then I read Joel's forum and bought his book and my training became easier and my conditioning improved.

vermonter @vermonter has also given me some great info over the years, the biggest being to moderate my weight cuts and that strength is a factor of muscle size and neural input. Extrapolating this information, I reduced my strength workouts to simply hypertrophy and playing my sport a lot, in conjuction with Prilepin's table. So I don't lift very heavy, do jiujitsu and I'm still very strong.
Thank you for the mention.