Topic: Let's not get so fat and let's get faster log for the recreational axemen

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

The deadlifts looked so easy - like you could do 495 for 10 or more. Impressive! Interesting to see some of West Virginia too.

Thanks Shaun.  Under that context, I might be able to pull 495 for 10.  But it would really push me.  Cutting that 13" log only took me about 18 or 19 seconds, but it still taxes me a bit.  At least the CNS.

My PR with 585 is 11.  But it was sumo. The most i've ever pulled for 10 with Conventional is 505.  I always drop the reps down when I do conventional.  Try to keep them at 5s once I get over 555.

Here's the video of me with the 585.  Saw Buddha big time on this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phv8dXqZEUo

This is my home gym.  Which I prefer to most places.  But my wife doesn't like to train there as all she wants to do is clean instead of workout.  WTH?  :-D

All the best,
  Arden

[Shaun Le Conte]

That video is so awesome. I can hardly imagine having that kind of pulling power. My only deadlifting experience is with conventional technique which I prefer even it is less efficient, because if I do deadlifts at all my intention is to use it as a strength building exercise rather than an event in itself.

Do you regularly do high repetition deadlifts, I mean sets of 10 or so?

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

That video is so awesome. I can hardly imagine having that kind of pulling power. My only deadlifting experience is with conventional technique which I prefer even it is less efficient, because if I do deadlifts at all my intention is to use it as a strength building exercise rather than an event in itself.

Do you regularly do high repetition deadlifts, I mean sets of 10 or so?

Shaun,
 Thank you very much for your kind words. 

  I prefer to do high repetition pulls.  About five or six years ago, I felt beat up from heavy deadlift sessions with weights that were 650+ and I decided that I would only go over 600 once or, maybe, twice a year, henceforth.  It was a decision I made to hopefully avoid injury and strengthen my tendons and ligaments as well as my muscles.

  I pull three times a week these days and I don't think I could approach what I did in that video above (plus i'm nearly 15 pounds lighter now).  Day 1 is snatch pulls, Day 2 is clean pulls, and Day three is deadlift after doing snatches, c&J, and back squats.  I alternate sumo and conventional pulling every other week.  And I cycle the weights and reps up and down with no less than 5 reps and no more than 10 unless I lose count.  It's working well for me. 

  Since I started doing the OLY training last Fall, my pulls are much faster.  I love this stuff.

  I'm hoping to do some snatch drill work today.  But I'll have to wait and see if my daughter is in the mood to train with me.

All the best,
 Arden

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

November 2 and 3rd, took it easy.  Just rolled and did some yoga sessions.

November 4, had my snatch session.

Started with yoga and roller.

Then went to snatch drills.  Went Bar for lots of drops and talls. Then went 75x2x3, 95x2x3, 115x2x3, 135x11x3.  Yes, that's right, 11 sets.  Little OCD.  I was waiting for my wife to get off the stepper, so I kept on doing sets while she was on the stepper.  I only recorded a few of the sets.  I started with Talls and hangs and when I started getting tired, I switched to full pulls.

I completely forget to turn my elbows out.  I don't know what I was thinking.

Here's some highlights. I hope I'm getting better?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3KPNVJmHOs

After that did some overhead squats.  95x5, 135x4, 165x3, 185x5, 205x2.

Then did some snatch grip push press behind the neck.  135x5, 185x4, 205x3, 255x2, 285x1.

Then did some snatch pulls: 205x3, 255x3, 275x3.  I recorded these to hopefully get some commentary.  I was thinking high elbows, but again forgot to turn my elbows out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG_wby_3phk

After that did some incline bench andother machine work with the misses.

Then did some yoga and took my wife to dinner. It was our anniversary.

all the best,
 Arden

[Matt Erdman]

Your back position looks better at the beginning of the pull. Do you feel like you are catching the bar in a better spot?

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

Your back position looks better at the beginning of the pull. Do you feel like you are catching the bar in a better spot?

Thanks Matt,
 I'm definately not pulling the bar as high as before.  That's for sure. 

  The catch for me is about comfort.  so it's going to take a lot of reps to get to that stage.  And slowly increasing the weight over time.  Sloooooowwwwwlllllllllllly.  :-D

  Thanks so much for your thought and effort.

All the best,
 Arden

[Jack]

Hi Arden,

I'm enjoying your posts and reports and admiring your pure strength. I noticed the last two videos give "no longer available". Any clues?
Keep up the good work!

In Sports,

Sjaak Smorenburg

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

Hi Arden,

I'm enjoying your posts and reports and admiring your pure strength. I noticed the last two videos give "no longer available". Any clues?
Keep up the good work!

In Sports,

Sjaak Smorenburg

Sjaak,
 Thanks for your kind words.  Lots of lifting under my belt.  Not the right kind though. I have no idea on the videos.  My youtube account is still good - it's WVAxeman - and the videos are still up.  I think it may have something to do with the imbedding the site automatically performs, but I'm not sure.

Here's what I did yesterday.  Went a little OCD again.

Yoga and roller to begin.

Did squat cleans and drills.  Did tons of Tall cleans until the weights got a big heavy.  The first few weights were on my toes and shrugged and just jumping under the weight.  So counter intuitive, but I gave it my all.  Did the Bar for 3 sets of 5, then 75 for 3x3, then 95x3x3, then 115x2x3, then 135x3, then 165x3, then 185x2, 205x2, 225x2.  Then did two singles with 235 and 255 for regular squat cleans.  Hoping for some commentary on those.  They felt good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzaukb8b1EQ

After all those reps, I had no go in the front squats, but I did manage 155x5, and 245x4.  I had visions of going up to 365, but that was quickly dashed when the 4th rep with 245 was a b*stard.

Then did strict presses - 95x5, 135x4, 165x3, 185x2, 225x1.

Then did clean pulls - 255x3, 315x3, 335x3, 365x3

Then did some abs as I was feeling pretty beat up from the previous days workout combined with this onslaught of drill work.

Last night, I did a bunch of kettlebell stuff with my wife and youngest daughter.