length-tension-motor-pool (LTMP-VOLUME) sessions.
Ok so the title sounds really advanced, but that's just because I can't really think of a cool title for this blog. As usual, going to try and keep it very short, this is more of a concept blog and one should realize I've only recently been utilizing this exact ideology of training, so it's long term effects are unknown, which in fact could predispose someone to even greater risk of injury. So keep that in mind. Though, so far so good.
I had this huge blog written but i'm going to keep this ridiculously simple.
If your goal is elite performance, you need to stimulate the highest threshold motor units of your prime movers on a daily basis, in fact possibly multiple times per day. Why do we allow our highest threshold MU's to lay dormant for days until our next max effort session? Training at a very high velocity, daily, is dangerous, so tapping into the fastest MU's using high velocity + high frequency training has far more risks than benefits, which include physiological, neural, and psychological fatigue. So what is the solution? To stimulate as much MU's as possible, every day, using submax intensity + "fatiguing work". This means, operating at 60-80% of 1RM and performing reps non stop, tempo doesn't matter, absolutely no rest in between, until failure or very close to it. This method becomes much safer than high frequency 90+% lifting, as it is far less draining neurologically, and is in fact very much restorative due to blood flow/temporary hypoxic environment. Thus, tapping into these MU's daily, or multiple times daily, using less fatiguing and in fact restorative methods, encourages growth of the entire motor pool, improves motor learning which builds connections which access these highest threshold MU's, aids in recovery, results in a significant amount of post-activation-potentiation (PAP/STIM), and should improve strength in regards to motor learning of the specific movements (such as improving strength at half squat depth).
So what does this mean? It means we can train at a relatively high intensity, using a submax RE method, which allows us to train more per week, month, and year than we ever thought possible. The amount of sessions we can handle per day, or week, depend on our progression & development of our work capacity. People accustomed to high frequency training can get away with multiple sessions per day. People who have no experience in high frequency training would need to stay strictly within the 1x/day limit for safety reasons. Regardless, progression of this ideology of training results in endless capability for growth. The percentages used per LTMP-VOLUME session can vary, as long as the tempo, no-rest, velocity, and "failure" guidelines are adhered to. This allows us to take advantage of what is considered the most powerful form of motor learning: randomized learning aka contextual interference (as opposed to block learning). Keep in mind these sessions are supplementary, they should not result in one "changing their program" to account for the LTMP-VOLUME sessions. The LTMP-VOLUME sessions are to be non fatiguing and in fact restorative, so they have no bearing on your actual "program".
So we covered the motor pool aspect, but what about the "length tension" relationship. This is where we kill two birds with one stone, if that even makes sense. Part of the motor learning aspect of this training, involves improving the resting length of our muscles/fascia prior to each LTMP-VOLUME session (well, the stretching part is considered the beginning of the ltmp-VOLUME session). Each LTMP-VOLUME session starts with mobility work of some sort, which can include but is not limited to: static stretching, pnf stretching, dynamic stretching/mobility/warmup, etc. Regardless of the method chosen, the idea is to "improve resting length" of key muscle groups. For lower body, this includes calfs, quads, hip flexors, hamstrings, glutes, adductors, and lats. So, prior to hitting our restorative squat, we would spend 15-30 minutes stretching to improve resting-length. Improving resting length WITHOUT improving the tension relationship is a problem, so, if we simply stretch without reinforcing the "tension relationship", we have a major problem. This is where we kill two birds with one stone. We lengthen, then utilize these muscle groups under tension in their slightly improved length. This will hopefully allow us to improve flexibility rather quickly while maintaining proper tonus in these muscle groups, for example, jello legs no longer exist from a long bout of static stretching, they in fact feel "loose" and ridiculously "springy", the active tonus is there, they are ready to fire.
So, putting it together, we lengthen, warmup using this "temporary" lengthened position, then perform a high rep submax fatiguing resistance exercise using these muscle groups, which if done using a high frequency approach, will result in very quick motor learning, recovery, stim, and thus more power.
An example LTMP-VOLUME session might look like this:
Stretching of various muscle groups: 15-30 minutes
Half squat: Warmup 30% x 10, 60-80% x F.
Done.
Something I'm thinking will work really good also will be this, have been doing it since tonight and it feels even better because of the interval sprints:
Stretching of various muscle groups: 15-30 minutes
Light interval sprints: Build up intensity over 10-20 sprints, do not exceed 70% effort
Half squat: Warmup 30% x 10, 60-80% x F.
Edited in, 03/19/2011: Another idea that might work, would be to hit a variety of exercises in the same manner, for example:
Stretching of various muscle groups: 15-30 minutes (upper AND lower)
Light interval sprints: Build up intensity over 10-20 sprints, do not exceed 70% effort
Half squat: Warmup 30% x 10, 60-80% x F.
Calf raises: Warmup 30% x 10, 60-80% x F.
Pullups: Warmup x ?, Work set x F
Pushups/dips: Warmup x ?, Work set x F
Edited in, 03/25/2011: Some other stuff:
Light completely stiff leg ankle hops: 4-5 x 25-50
RDL: Warmup 30% x 10, 60-80% x F.
Pullups: Warmup x ?, Work set x F
Calve Raises: Warmup 30% x 10, 60-80% x F
A good idea could be to alternate "knee bend exercises" (a-chain dominant: front/back/half squat/pin squat etc) with "stiff leg exercises" (p-chain dominant: 45 deg hyper, rdl, rev hyper, and let's include GHR), one could do this every other day, or rotating through the sessions throughout the day.
This method can most likely be used for more than squat, of course, but my guinea pig status stops at squat. One could do 3-4 squat sessions per day in this manner, or do a different lift per session. With all the talk of "neural charge", this is beyond a neural charge.
As far as injuries are concerned, I actually feel better following these LTMP-VOLUME sessions. My knees and all muscle groups become lighter and feel stronger/more explosive throughout the day. I've been utilizing this for nearly 2 weeks now and I don't know when I'm going to stop, because I can simply back off on the intensity per LTMP-VOLUME session to 60% and achieve failure on those, achieving basically the same effect.
So to summarize, why are we not stimulating the highest threshold MU's in the prime movers specific to our goals on a daily basis, or in fact, multiple times per day? If we can do so, job/school/life situations withstanding, then the potential for growth is endless. The potential for power, strength, hypertrophy, and PAP/STIM adaptations are enormous.
Here's my sessions over the last week or so, and my legs have never felt better. They in fact feel the best using the higher rep sessions and that is what i'm sticking with:
- 03/08/2011: 3 sessions of pin 6 squat: 225 x 5 {6pm, 7pm, 10pm}, one heavy half squat session also
- 03/09/2011: 4 sessions of pin 6 squat {3:30pm=225x5, 5:30pm=225x5, 2am=245x5, 4am=225x5}
- 03/10/2011: 2 sessions of pin 6 squat {11pm=225x10, 12:30am=225x10}, 2 heavy half squat sessions also
- 03/11/2011: 3 sessions of pin 6 squat {6pm=225x10, 9pm=225x10, 1am=225x10}
- 03/12/2011: 3 sessions of pin 6 squat {6pm=245x5, 9pm=245x5, 1:40am=245x5}
- 03/13/2011: 1 session of pin 6 squat {10am=225x5}, dunking, heavy squat session at night
- 03/14/2011: 3 sessions of pin 6 squat {7:30pm=135x10,225x5,275x5,295x1,315x1, pullups=10}, {11:30pm=135x8,225x5,275x5,295x1,315x1, pullups=8, prone-reverse-hyper=100}, {3am=prone-reverse-hyper BW@5x50, 135x8,225x5,275x5,295x1,315x1, pullups=10}
- 03/15/2011: 4 sessions of pin 6 squat {6pm=225x5, 2am=225x10, 3:30am=225x10, 5am=225x10}
- 03/16/2011: 2 sessions of pin6 squat {9pm=135x8,225x15, 12am=135x8,225x15}
- 03/17/2011: 3 sessions of pin 6 squats {9pm=135x8,245x10 2:30am=135x8,245x10 5am=135x8,245x12}
- 03/18/2011: 3 sessions of pin 6 squats {7pm=interval sprint + 265 x 10, 9pm=interval sprint + 265 x 8 3:30am=interval sprint + 265x10}
Again, keep in mind this is experimental, if you try it, start out with just 1 session per day and 60-70% of 1RM for at least a week or so, see how you feel, and make sure you get the stretching in, that is apart of this ideology. As always, listen to your body and back off when needed.Make sure you keep your ego in check and keep it safe, this is supplementary to your normal routine which gives you all the more excuse to stay lighter and not push your limits per session. Pushing your limits comes through the frequency + STIM effect of this style of training.peace
