CB ATHLETIC CONSULTING TRAINING REPORT -
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ISSUE #90

INSIDE THIS ISSUE…


1 – HOW TO BENCH 300

If you have been stuck benching 250 lbs and really want to get to 300 lbs in 2003 then reading this newsletter will be the biggest step you take this year. Get ready to bench 250, 300, 400, or more!

How did a CB ATHLETICS client recently bench press 300 lbs at a bodyweight of 182 lbs? Some of the secrets are inside this newsletter, but the entire program he used to reach his success has been packaged into a complete 1 year manual called BENCH PRESS STRENGTH! available from CB ATHLETICS. The program provides 19 three-week workout cycles for a total of 52 weeks worth of bench-blasting workouts. That’s right, BENCH PRESS STRENGTH! provides you with a full year’s training cycle!

For the client, there were several key factors that occurred on the day of his 300 lbs bench press that are important to pass on:

1 – The record was set on a Monday after a weekend full of rest and good nutrition.
2 – The atmosphere in the gym was conducive to hard training.
3 – Correct mental focus (visual imagery) was used prior to the lift.
4 – The warm-up sets progressed properly with the correct mix of volume and intensity. Only low reps were used in the warm-up sets and the final warm-up repetition was less than 90% of the estimated maximum lift. The precise order of warm-up was:
45 x 6 reps
95 x 6 reps
135 x 3 reps
185 x 3 reps
225 x 1 rep
245 x 1 rep
265 x 1 rep
300 x 1 rep – SUCCESS!

Quick tips:
* Keep your elbows tucked in to your side and use your strong triceps to help the lift. The BENCH PRESS STRENGTH! manual contains the appropriate volume and intensity of triceps work to prepare your arms.
* Use your whole body in the lift. Push against the floor with your feet. Keep your upper back muscles tensed and keep the upper back on the bench for stability.
* Push the bar straight up to reduce the movement distance.
* Practice your technique! Heavy lifting is a combination of skill and muscular work, so learn how you to perform the movement most efficiently.
* Identify your weaknesses so that you can train appropriately. Use the following questionnaire (from the CB ATHLETICS BENCH manual) as a guideline.
> What are your weaknesses in the bench press? Liftoff? Lockout?
> What are your strengths in your lifts?
> What are your specific goals for the bench press?
> What is your training schedule? – Detail each workout day.
> Have you had any injuries?
> What training program has given you the best results in the past?

 

2 – BENCH PRESS TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS

If you need to take your bench to the next level, and hit 500, 600, or more, then CB ATHLETICS recommends you visit www.elitefitnesssystems.com. Read some of Dave Tate’s articles and spend some time in the “Q’n’A” section.

The first step to improving your bench (even before designing your program) is figuring out what the heck is stopping you from benching more weight. What is your weak area in the exercise?

1) If you fail at the bottom…
If you just can’t get the weight off your chest (but would have no problem with the lockout), you need to become more explosive in the start of the movement. Dave Tate recommends you incorporate explosive pressing. This is described later in this newsletter as “Dynamic Effort” training.

2) You can’t complete the lockout…
If so, then your triceps strength (or lack of it) may limit your success. Use a combination of heavy close-grip presses and triceps extensions to build the necessary triceps strength.


Pick the weak spot in your bench and make it a priority in training. In addition to determining your weaknesses in the bench, here are a couple of other factors you can modify that will help you add plates to your press.

1) Address the importance of your body position when you bench…

If you want to bench heavy, you have to turn bench pressing from a bodybuilding exercise into a skill. That means you have to practice the form that allows you to lift the heaviest weight. Dave Tate insists on keeping your upper body tight and keeping your upper back and lats contracted.

According to Sarah Clarke, gold medalist at the 2002 Canadian National Powerlifting Championships in the 75 kg weight class, “You can’t let your legs dance around or tap your feet when things get tough. This reduces your power generation in the bench press. Instead, you must set a strong foundation with your legs. Press your upper back into bench and use this to aid in the pressing of the bar. Stability is a key in a heavy bench press, so putting your feet on the bench isn’t going to help you out one bit. Tension throughout the entire body is mandatory in the bench press.”

Review each rep afterward and use this feedback to improve each future rep. According to Tate, you should “stay tight, keep the elbows tucked, drive your heels into the floor and shove your body away from the bar as you press”. Practice your technique. Treat strength development like any skill development. Perfect practice makes perfect. You have to do it over and over again to find your best method of benching


2) Strengthen your upper back.

You don’t just need a strong chest and triceps to bench big. You also need a strong upper back to keep your body tight and stable. Concentrate on barbell rowing, seated rowing, and pull-ups (or pulldowns) to build a big strong back. In addition to stability, this will also go a long way in keeping your shoulders healthy (and your upper back looking nice and thick).

 


3 – BENCH PRESS STRENGTH! TECHNIQUES

Maximal Effort Training

This type of training refers to the sessions where you lift as much weight as you possibly can for a specific number of repetitions. For example, a 5 RM maximal effort session would require you to work up the best weight that you can lift for 5 repetitions with good form.

The philosophy of the BENCH PRESS STRENGTH! program is to have one upper body maximal effort session per week. The exercise you choose for your max effort lift must change regularly, and can be used for a maximum of 3 weeks continuously. The purpose of switching max effort exercises frequently is to keep your central nervous system from adapting and from reducing the gains from your training. This theory has worked very well in practice for some of the strongest lifters in the world. For more information on how this philosophy is incorporated into training, please visit www.elitefitnesssystems.com.

NOTE: The max effort workouts use very heavy weights. Do not attempt to lift very heavy weights if you are alone, inexperienced, injured, or fatigued. Do not use max effort training unless you have over 1 year of experience in weight training. Always ask someone to spot you when lifting. If you have an injury or medical condition, consult your physician prior to using this program. Do not perform any exercise without proper instruction. Always perform an appropriate warm-up prior to max effort training.


Dynamic Effort Training

Dave Tate recommends devoting one day per week to “dynamic effort” training. Dynamic effort training is designed to increase explosiveness. The foundation of a dynamic effort workout is opposite to a traditional workout. Because the focus of a dynamic exercise is to move the weight as fast as possible, you will use much less weight. In addition, rather than performing a small number of sets and many repetitions, you will perform a larger number of sets of only a small number of repetitions (i.e. 8 sets of 3 repetitions for the bench press).

It is extremely important to push the bar with maximal force on each rep. Don’t take it easy just because it is a lighter weight. Adding chains and bands (see below) helps increase the resistance at the top of the movement. You must press with maximal force to overcome the added resistance at the top of the movement. Tate describes dynamic effort training as, “compensatory acceleration” and that “it can help you break through sticking points”.

The key to getting through a sticking point as Tate describes it is to, “train to accelerate through the sticking point”. If explode the bar up, you can get break through your sticking point. When training with the dynamic effort, focus on bar speed. If the bar slows down from rep to rep, it means the weight is too heavy. Use a resistance that is ~50% of your estimated 1 RM bench for 8 sets of 3.


The Use of Bands & Chains in Bench Press Training

Adding a chain or band increases the resistance at the top of the movement. For example, if you have 225 lbs. on the bar plus a 10 lbs. chain on each side, you will bench press 225 lbs. off your chest but you will lockout 245 lbs. The chains must be attached to “unload” onto the floor when the bar is lowered.

The same principle applies to the bands. The bands are looped around both a secure object at ground level and the ends of the barbell. The bands then provide less resistance at the bottom of the movement. If you require a photo of the band set-up, email: cb@cbathletics.com

NOTE: Start light when using these tools for your first time so that you get used to the unique resistance provided by bands and chains.


4 – BENCH PRESS EXERCISE DESCRIPTIONS

Here are some of the exercise descriptions from the manual. Remember to always have a spotter for heavy bench pressing and for the lift-off. Your spotter will help you get the bar off the rack and out to the start position. You will also need them to make sure that you complete every repetition in your set.


Bench Press

* Keep your feet flat on the floor, legs bent, and upper back flat against the bench.
* Grip the bar using a medium-width grip.
* Have your spotter help you take the bar from the rack.
* Keeping your elbows close to your sides, lower the bar straight down to the bottom of your chest.
* Pause briefly and then press the bar back up above the chest in a straight line.

Dynamic Bench Press

* Attach the chains or bands to the ends of the bar as required. Make sure to anchor the bands under the rack or with very heavy dumbbells.
* Keep your feet flat on the floor, legs bent, and upper back flat against the bench.
* For the first 3 sets, grip the bar using a medium-width grip. Use a slightly wider grip for the next 3 sets, and a slightly narrower grip for the final 3 sets.
* Keeping your elbows close to your sides, lower the bar straight down to the bottom of your chest.
* Accelerate the bar up as quickly as possible. Perform all 3 reps as fast as you can.

DB Floor Press

* Lie on the floor and hold the dumbbells above your chest with your palms turned toward your feet.
* Lower the dumbbells until your upper arms contact the floor.
* Pause briefly and then press the dumbbells straight up above the chest.
* You can also hold the dumbbells with your palms turned towards your body (palms will face each other) to emphasize triceps and minimize shoulder stress.

A floor press strengthens the mid-point of your bench and demands a strong grip. It also removes the leg drive from the exercise and makes you work harder while forcing you to keep your body tight. Do 2-3 sets of 6-8 reps. Start with no more than 75 percent of what you use in a normal flat bench dumbbell press.

 
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