Periodization/ cycling models (Poliquin)

[svincenz]

@NumberTwo

For what it’s worth, I work with one of the top female gymnasts in Canada one time per week on strength training (it’s all her schedule will allow given she trains 30+ hours per week in gymnastics). We do explosive med-ball throws, jumps and olympic lifts, along with some basic weightlifting movements (i.e. bench press, pull downs, etc.).

She weighs about 90-95lbs, but can power clean 120lbs, bench press 125 and squat about 200lbs. This is from lifting only 1x per week. She has steadily improved over the 3 years I’ve work with her. We train her like I would train a sprinter or jumper, and she has kept improving. I believe she can lift a lot more, but I’m very careful about loading her given her high volume of work in her disciplines.

From what I understand, she’s the exception when it comes to gymnasts in Canada in that I don’t hear of many others doing weight training, particularly in an explosive manner.

When you say that you train her like you would train a sprinter or a jumper, you mean (?):

1. general and not specific approach to strength training. I think so, what is more specific that the specific gymnastic exercises?
2. consideration for the 30+ hours of specific work.
3. planned unloading
4. is there a need for jumps? During practice the amount of jumps (and depth landings) performed by a gymnast can be huge.

What is the rationale behind strength training with you (in this case)? GPP, CNS adaptations?