You are not the only one 
A study reported by Vorobyev says that 3 maximum isometric efforts (in a session) of 5-6 sec are superior in terms of gains to 10, 100 and 600 (no, it’s not a typo) maximum efforts which are equal (in tems of gains) to 1 single maximum isometric effort in a session. It’s a study done in the USSR during the sixties, if I remember well. No other details.
So if using 3 maximum iso’s would you use them in the same position or as Chris Thibaudeau suggests 3 different positions?
simonevincenzi, thankyou for the great information. Did you get this from a Soviet Sports Review Issue?
John ,
I intend it as 3 maximum efforts in the same position.
James,
the info I reported was taken from “A textbook on weightlifting” by Vorobyev, a great book, very down to earth . It’s amazing how much Russian unpublished scientific (and pseudo - scientific) research is reported in Russian weightlifting texts.
simonevincenzi, I assume that after each isometric contraction you would release the bar onto safety pins.
Also, where did you purchase the Vorobyev text?
Yes, unless you have a training partner who can help you at the end of isometric rep, but it’s better having safety pins.
The text was given to me by a friend of mine here in Italy.
Where can i read about isometrics affecting strength in relation to eccentrics?
Thibault (not thibadeau) I believe has done some research looking at stretch range Isos. Quite a few of you guys are talking about overcoming isometrics, or pushing against an immoveable resistance. This type of training is totally different then taking a load and resisting the eccentric. To the best of my memory Mel Siff only talks about regular overcoming isometrics in his book.
Yielding Iso’s which are what all the DB Hammer people are doing, I would consider a form of eccentric training. You’re trying to resist the eccentric but a heavy eccentric contraction is what ends the set. The increased loading and time under load that occurs in the stretch range increases strength. You have to consider that with most full range movements the muscles aren’t having to strain anywhere near maximally except during a small and brief phase of that movement. So if my weak spot on bench presses is the area between 3 and 6 inches off my chest then the amount of weight I can get through that small area will be the amoutn of weight I use for all my sets of full range benches, even though i might be capable of locking out 50% more weight. So, even though I’m doing full range reps my strength in the rest of the movement isn’t being taxed at all. The load I can put on the bar is limited by what I an lift in that 3-6 inch gap off my chest.
During a standard set of 6 reps my “weak point” might be under load for all of 6 seconds and consider that most people try to use as much momentum as possible to drive though their weak point and it may not even be that much. Since the weak point sets the standard for what you can lift in the full range movement why not just figure out the fastest way to strengthen the weak point and focus upon that? Yielding Iso’s allow you to do that. They allow you to use more load then you would in a concentric contraction, creating great tension, while prolonging the duration of the tension above what you would do in a standard set. Partial range eccentric only repetitions would do the exact same thing.
What you do is find “weak points” or also called “CJC’s” in each movement and emphasize those. For a deadlift there is a weak point off the floor and another one around the knees so those 2 areas will limit how much weight you can deadlift. Strengthening them individually will lead to quicker results then trying to strenghtnen them by performing full range concentric reps. Keep in mind this is for yielding Iso’s only. Overcoming iso’s stress the connective tissues differently, are hard to monitor with regard to force, and I doubt if doing overcoming Isos’ in the stretch range would do much of anything besides stress the tendons and joints.