Topic: To those who don't like the "Bulgarian" approach, why?

[ViKtoricus]

By "Bulgarian," I am pretty much referring to the vast majority of countries with very successful results, including the Average Broz gymnasium in Nevada.

Why question something that obviously works?

Athletes are prone to injury. It's as simple as that. I don't care if you're squatting ten times a week or three times a week. You are PRONE to injury as a weightlifter.

Why discriminate a certain method? Are you afraid or something?

[Shaun Le Conte]

By "Bulgarian," I am pretty much referring to the vast majority of countries with very successful results, including the Average Broz gymnasium in Nevada.

Why question something that obviously works?

Athletes are prone to injury. It's as simple as that. I don't care if you're squatting ten times a week or three times a week. You are PRONE to injury as a weightlifter.

Why discriminate a certain method? Are you afraid or something?

There is more than one path to success.  Some have tried Bulgarian style and more varied styles, and made more progress with the latter.

Good luck with your Bulgarian style training. Post videos and share your progress. Don't troll.

[Andy Dick]

Vik,

This link may interest you.  It is a discussion on this topic from a few years ago.  It is a very good read and there are good contributions by many good coaches.

http://weightliftingexchange.com/smf/index.php?topic=370.0

I think the problem is a few things, I will try to be brief about them.

First, in trying this training session myself and speaking to others who have done so also you run into a few problems as lifting progresses.  One thing that a person runs into, especially without a trained coach in the system, is burn out.  The body can only take so much of going heavy all the time without proper rest.  Those on this style program need to basically spend all thier time in eating, sleeping, lifting, and restorative measures.  Most in the US need to hold down a job in order to support themselves so this becomes increasingly difficult.  The other difficult thing is to know when to back off.  I think when one says the bulgairans when to a "max for the day" it was not always thier true 1RM.  I think as fatigue sets in the number will drop due to muscle breakdown as it tries to build back up.

The other problem tied to this is the possible "restoratives" the bulgarians were using.  Do a search on here for Bulgarian and you will see quite a few posts about Bulgarians and being busted for doping.  A person who is not an steroids cannot train like a person who is, simple fact.

Another problem is the lifter needs a coach to get perfect technique as fast as possible.  This high degree of training requires a very efficient techinque otherwise a great deal of high intensity with bad technique can almost certainly lead to injury.

Lastly, a lifter needs to basically build up to this high degree of intensity and volume.  Figuring out how to properly do this also requires some work with a coach or an incredible knowledge of how the individual's body adapts best.  It also requires time to do so, I to not believe the bulgarians just jumped into the level of training of thier elite lifters (as in this) cold turkey.  Remember many bulgarians had been building up to this and focusing toward this at a very early age.

[Matt Erdman]

By "Bulgarian," I am pretty much referring to the vast majority of countries with very successful results, including the Average Broz gymnasium in Nevada.

The vast majority of countries do not use the Bulgarian system, and Bulgaria isn't having much success itself.

Why question something that obviously works?

It does not obviously work in a drug tested environment. It may work for a few rare individuals, but if you find yourself at a lengthy plateau then you will know.

Athletes are prone to injury. It's as simple as that. I don't care if you're squatting ten times a week or three times a week. You are PRONE to injury as a weightlifter.

There is always the chance of injury. But the facts don't agree with your assumption. Broz has one of his best lifters seriously injured and may not even return to the sport. Mendes has had numerous injuries that frequently leave him out of a competition or perform far below his best. Time will tell how his new recruits do. Max Aita and Donny Shankle were injured training with Abadjiev in a short period of time.

Why discriminate a certain method? Are you afraid or something?

I'm sure the majority of weightlifters have tried it at some point. The main reasons for abandoning it are typically injury or failure to progress.

[ViKtoricus]

Vik,

This link may interest you.  It is a discussion on this topic from a few years ago.  It is a very good read and there are good contributions by many good coaches.

http://weightliftingexchange.com/smf/index.php?topic=370.0

I think the problem is a few things, I will try to be brief about them.

First, in trying this training session myself and speaking to others who have done so also you run into a few problems as lifting progresses.  One thing that a person runs into, especially without a trained coach in the system, is burn out.  The body can only take so much of going heavy all the time without proper rest.  Those on this style program need to basically spend all thier time in eating, sleeping, lifting, and restorative measures.  Most in the US need to hold down a job in order to support themselves so this becomes increasingly difficult.  The other difficult thing is to know when to back off.  I think when one says the bulgairans when to a "max for the day" it was not always thier true 1RM.  I think as fatigue sets in the number will drop due to muscle breakdown as it tries to build back up.

The other problem tied to this is the possible "restoratives" the bulgarians were using.  Do a search on here for Bulgarian and you will see quite a few posts about Bulgarians and being busted for doping.  A person who is not an steroids cannot train like a person who is, simple fact.

Another problem is the lifter needs a coach to get perfect technique as fast as possible.  This high degree of training requires a very efficient techinque otherwise a great deal of high intensity with bad technique can almost certainly lead to injury.

Lastly, a lifter needs to basically build up to this high degree of intensity and volume.  Figuring out how to properly do this also requires some work with a coach or an incredible knowledge of how the individual's body adapts best.  It also requires time to do so, I to not believe the bulgarians just jumped into the level of training of thier elite lifters (as in this) cold turkey.  Remember many bulgarians had been building up to this and focusing toward this at a very early age.

Very informative. Thanks.

[MasterChief]

It appears to me bulgarian training is a catch phrase with little understanding of the
specific details. What is discussed is usually the training of the elite athletes of
the bulgarian team. The russians for instance differ very much the training of beginning,
low class or word record holders. Most of the people searching in the internet for
training advice are beginners or advanced beginners. Their training does not require
to max out every day or even every week.
I assume also the bulgarians trained their beginners differently than a world record holder,
who has to max out frequently in order to progress. Whereas Zatsiorsky writes also about the
fact that the bulgarians were referring to the training max and not to the competition max.
This is a fine but yet important difference as well.
In conclusion train as your level it requires and listen to an experienced coach rather than
some internet ****.

PS: In fairness to Broz: He always stressed the fact that he traines everyt athlete individually
based on his needs and weaknesses. So it was not simple one size fits all recommendation
from his site.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I think calling such training "the Bulgarian" style is a bit off. Training as heavy as one can on an almost daily basis is from my experience the default training style of mankind, is pretty much how people train when they aren't "educated" to follow some more "planned" approach. I might even say its the "natural style" of training.

[MasterChief]

Well, depends what you define as natural. Hunter and gatherer societies take many off days after a hard day.
And in my humble opinion it takes experience and knowledge to train hard on a daily basis with great success.