Feedback: David W's Training Philosophy

First off, many thanks to David W for distributing his articles regarding a strength training approach and other related topics. The articles stirred up a lot of thinking, forced some analysis of my own program, and was written with good clarity. David provides a well thought-out strength training prescription complete with myths, schedules, overtraining advice, research studies, and some physiology. In short, the sort of information one would expect to have to pay for!

Some interesting points and questions:

1. The concept of TTUT (Total Time Under Tension) is not something I’ve considered previously. Been using a traditional pyramid progression while seeking moderate hypertrophy for the early years of my training age. The concept of low reps throughout the macrocycle to avoid wasting an adaptation to strength endurance is also very interesting, and appears to be compatible with your points about TTUT.

Do you consider some hypertrophy necessary for young/physically undeveloped athletes, and would you go about it with a low rep/high set/medium to high intensity regimen? [For example the 8x3r@85%(120s rec) workout]

2. The clean, squat, and bench are promoted as the principle movements, with reasoning behind their efficacy.

Is an upper body pulling movement needed as well, such as a row or shrug? Along those lines and thinking about the CNS, can a useful amount of Motor Units be stimulated by the row or shrug?

3. <4 repetitions are advocated for core exercises.

Many core exercises seem to lend themselves to high repetition use, given their ease of execution. Is hypertrophy really a disadvantage in the core, and not insurance against injury? Is it your intent to train the core for max strength, as the primary exercises are intended to do?

4. “Jerk throw” and “overhead throw”

Would these be analagous to a squat thrust chest pass and a soccer throw in?

Again, great material David W.

Most people that use the OHB (overhead backwards throw) have it where you are holding the medball in front of your body where you would then squat down and explosively throw the ball back up while getting full extension, with the ball going overhead and backwards for a distance.