Author Topic: Why do we do waves in our programs?  (Read 2169 times)

Offline Arturo Gómez

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Re: Why do we do waves in our programs?
« Reply #16 on: Jun 17, 2011, 10:03 AM »
In that sense, we experimented bulgarian waves :
  90 %:  3 x 2
100 %:  3 x 1
 90  %:  3 x 2
100 %:  3 x 1
 85  %:  3 x maximum reps.
Or similar

Having enough phisical and time resources, it produces great effects, not only for snatch and c + j, but for complements too.

Offline Andy Dick

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Re: Why do we do waves in our programs?
« Reply #17 on: Jun 17, 2011, 05:46 PM »
Arturo - I am interested in the science behind it.  Perhaps how it works or how it stresses the muscles in a way that produces superior gains or allows for better recovery between sets.  I am trying to shy away from doing somthing because that is what I was told to do.  Also, and no offense Vik, I want to stray way from the thinking that well this country or that lifter did it this way and had great success.  As we all know there are so many factors involved in why someone may have had superior results with a certain training method (for example if a country was doping or if a lifter was a genetic freak, etc.)  With regards to weightlifting (which I love this sport to death) but it seems I am constantly running into anecdotal evidence as the basis for training methods instead of actual science or explaination of why or how a method works.

ADDITION: Thinking on it, perhaps why I cannot find much is that there are many roads to the same solution.  Variability between lifters and lifters lives may be the limiting factor.  If there was 1 superior method wouldn't all be doing it and having a large amount of success?

Offline ViKtoricus

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Re: Why do we do waves in our programs?
« Reply #18 on: Jun 18, 2011, 12:58 AM »
Arturo - I am interested in the science behind it.  Perhaps how it works or how it stresses the muscles in a way that produces superior gains or allows for better recovery between sets.  I am trying to shy away from doing somthing because that is what I was told to do.  Also, and no offense Vik, I want to stray way from the thinking that well this country or that lifter did it this way and had great success.  As we all know there are so many factors involved in why someone may have had superior results with a certain training method (for example if a country was doping or if a lifter was a genetic freak, etc.)  With regards to weightlifting (which I love this sport to death) but it seems I am constantly running into anecdotal evidence as the basis for training methods instead of actual science or explaination of why or how a method works.

ADDITION: Thinking on it, perhaps why I cannot find much is that there are many roads to the same solution.  Variability between lifters and lifters lives may be the limiting factor.  If there was 1 superior method wouldn't all be doing it and having a large amount of success?

Wave loading sets is something that is espoused by Coach Angel Spassov. The theory behind it is that when you lift a heavy weight, your fast-twitch muscle fibers are "awakened" and will therefore be recruited more easily for the next work sets.

I am currently on a bulgarian training program that involves wave loading (in both the microcycles and mesocycles) right now but I really have little experience to tell people if it really works in the real world. I will post about it after several months of consistent training with the program.

And as far as having one superior method, I believe everyone at the top is basically doing the same thing. Heavy lifting, high frequency, and high volume. These weightlifters are generally stronger than most powerlifters because they simply train harder than powerlifters.
"Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit."   -Robert Greene

Offline Arturo Gómez

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Re: Why do we do waves in our programs?
« Reply #19 on: Jun 18, 2011, 01:38 PM »
I don´t know if behind this theory exist serious scientifical evidence. It have, as we saw, many factors of confusion.
So, the examples open conjectures and basis for correct experimental design.
I may say that we experimented this system after course by Spassov with success.
We all worked 8 hours in banks, police, hospital or commerce, and we were virgin of every doping.
The other group in Uruguay in those years, was all the contrary, and they have no better result than us with this system.

Offline Andy Dick

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Re: Why do we do waves in our programs?
« Reply #20 on: Jun 21, 2011, 01:34 PM »
Wave loading sets is something that is espoused by Coach Angel Spassov. The theory behind it is that when you lift a heavy weight, your fast-twitch muscle fibers are "awakened" and will therefore be recruited more easily for the next work sets.

I used to do waves a lot, I currently switched up my programs and I am enjoying them much more now than with the waves.  I also feel I get more total work out of each program now.

Here is how my workout yesterday would have looked if I did waves:

Cleans 90x2 95x2 100x2 90x2 95x2 100x2
Snatch Pulls (3x3) 80kg
Back Squat (2x2) 290#

Here is my new program:

Cleans 90x2 95x2 100x2 100x2 100x2 100x2
Snatch Pulls (3x3) 80kg
Back Squat (2x2) 290#

As you can see the amount of work is much more since I get to do more top sets.  Also, if by doing my first set of 100kg it "awakened" my fast-twitch fibers why would I want to drop down and do another 90 and 95kg sets?  When if my fibers are "awakened" and primed I can do more sets with 100kg.

Offline Don Weideman

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Re: Why do we do waves in our programs?
« Reply #21 on: Jun 26, 2011, 12:23 PM »
OL is more complex neurologically to master. Like training a batter in some ways, it's easy to fall out of the groove. Then it's back to basics
slow everything down and build back to PR. This I believe addresses the athletes psychological component better and is safer for them also.
To be is to do