Topic: What would happen to me if I do the German Volume Training?

[ViKtoricus]

I'm thinking of running a 6-week phase of it every year or so, but alot of people say that high-rep squats are bad for you.

So what if I gain 10 pounds of muscle after the 6-week phase? Will it still have a negative impact on my lifts? Or would the increased muscle mass compensate for the general lack of enough "normal" training?

Thanks in advance.

[ViKtoricus]

Upon researching further on hypertrophy-inducing workouts, I stumbled upon an "alternative" German Volume Training...

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance/the_problem_with_hypertrophy_programs

It's written by Dan John.

[Andy Dick]

There was a forum post discussing the german volume training (speaking on the program not the modified program) on here not to long ago.  With a little looking you can find it or read up on it.

Without reiterating the whole discussion.  I would say two thoughts...

1.  It is a far cry difference from the Bulgarian approach
2.  It will be difficult to Olympic lift while on it due to it being a very specific program and thus less specific to weightlifting. 
(Also keep in mind the approach actually has 3 parts to it to do all the parts it will take more than 6 weeks I believe)

[ViKtoricus]

There was a forum post discussing the german volume training (speaking on the program not the modified program) on here not to long ago.  With a little looking you can find it or read up on it.

Without reiterating the whole discussion.  I would say two thoughts...

1.  It is a far cry difference from the Bulgarian approach
2.  It will be difficult to Olympic lift while on it due to it being a very specific program and thus less specific to weightlifting. 
(Also keep in mind the approach actually has 3 parts to it to do all the parts it will take more than 6 weeks I believe)

Indeed you are correct. The six-week phase is the beginner phase, and I simply want to "exploit" whatever gains I can muster with that first 6 weeks. And after that, it's gonna be bulgarian all the way again...

Hmmm, I wanna know what that six weeks will do to me though. Some people have good testimonials about it as far as strength-endurance and hypertrophy, while some people claim their strength actually DECREASED after the program...

[Shaun Le Conte]

Not many in weightlifting have done it. I haven't. You might get more of a response on this from bodybuilding.com or testosterone.net about this particular program

[www.liftbig.co.uk]

Hi mate,
theoretically you should add a decent amount of muscle mass, however obviously the high volume of work dedicated to GVT will take away from your ability to also do your olympic lifts or variations concurrently, or on alternating days etc Due to DOMS.

Also I would advise following your GVT phase with some serious max strength work to convert your hypertrophic gains into actual functional strength for your lifts. Beware the misleading quotes about decreases in strength as it may simply be after a huge stimulus of GVT these guys simply hadnt recovered enough yet - the supercompensation may not have kicked in!

I do know a few guys who have done it, who have seen good gains, however they werent lifters.

Why are you doing it - to add mass ? Or in the hope off increasing strength?

Good luck and let us know how it goes!