fast lifting vs slow

chad's fast lifting article any thoughts about lifting fast?

I'm looking forward to hear others comment on the technique. I just wanted to say that I don't appreciate the crotch-grabbing photos.

You may remember from physics that power is work performed per unit time (P = W/t).  Basically, the faster you move a given amount of weight the more power you've had to generate to do this.  I've noticed a difference since I've started focusing on speed.  I'm definitely more powerful.  I was originally told to focus on "maximizing speed of movement during a lift" by my brother, who is a college track and field coach and strength trainer.  This article, along with my own experience getting stronger reinforced the concept in my mind.

This article on the t-nation site goes into some more detail on Chads methods, like using "change in speed" as an indicator of when your set should be finished:

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/s ports_body_training_performance_interviews/ge t_huge_in_a_hurry

Surprisingly, there is no so-called "crotch grabbing" in this one at all.  There is a nice graph on p. 2 plotting "% of force developed" as a function of "% of motor units recruited" though.

I personally find photos of well sculpted men and women to be inspiring.  Technically, she's not even "grabbing", just hooking her thumb over the top of that fabric sash thingy.   She's also pretty hot.  

thanks ds, he made some interesting points:

"Then you only get three or four reps, which is fine. You do as many sets as it takes to get to 25. What you don't want to do is stop every set at five reps, even if you could've done more, or force yourself to get five reps even if you should've done less." (that actually makes perfect sense to my way of thinking)

"It's wrong if he isn't getting the results he wants. If he is, this book isn't for him. The target reader is someone who tried all that and didn't get what he wants."

"Arnold being the guy who famously compared the pump to an orgasm" (ooo, i must try this, never heard anything that good coming out of arnold's mouth)

im doing the new rules for women thing so i can't really change up my workout as of yet but im game for trying anything for awhile. & there were a few quite explosive moves in the rffl plan i did & i did enjoy that & saw some pretty good results for a few weeks.

& alevin, didn't even notice her hand down there till you pointed it out. i must be losing my sight.

I don't mind attractive models at all, e.g. models in fitness magazines and sports product catalogs. It's the overt sexuality that makes me uncomfortable where I'm not seeking it.

I have no opinions (well no knowledge either) about lifting fast, but I'll chime in and say that even when the information in a t-nation or figure athlete article is good, I can't stand going to either site.  The fake boobs and the whole drenched-in-sex aura mixed with the ads for supplements, not to mention the fact that the sites take forever to load - blech.

Oh, I meant to add in a gratuitous Arnold quote:

"I do squats until I fall over and pass out. So what? It’s not going to kill me. I wake up five minutes later and I’m OK. A lot of other athletes are afraid of this."

Original Post by meganr:

I have no opinions (well no knowledge either) about lifting fast, but I'll chime in and say that even when the information in a t-nation or figure athlete article is good, I can't stand going to either site.  The fake boobs and the whole drenched-in-sex aura mixed with the ads for supplements, not to mention the fact that the sites take forever to load - blech.

 I totally have to agree here! 

t'would be nice to have melkor chime in here. im all for talking about sex n stuff but...

From the article:

Lifting heavy weights for just a few sets of three reps will not make your muscles bigger, but it'll make you strong. And what woman doesn't want to have the strength to knock off a handful of pull-ups?! If you want those muscles bigger, that's fine, too — just increase the volume.

It seems contradictory to everything else I read.... This seems to advocate less weight/more reps instead of heavier/less reps.  What he was saying is that if you want to build  bigger muscles - lift more volume(reps)?

I would say thumbs down to this article - it contradicts everything else on that site.

Yogagirl, you may be misinterpreting "volume".  3 x 3 is a lot less volume than 6 x 4 (9 vs 24).  He's saying that 3 x 3 at a heavy weight, say 70-80 % max will make you strong, while 6 x 4 with that same weight will make you bigger. 

You should read the article on t-nation for more details before you dismiss this article like that.  In that article, he goes into more detail regarding volume.  One thing I appreciate about authors like this is that they cite scientific studies to support their training methods when available (t-nation article cites a reference).  Chad happens to have a Masters degree in physiology as well, so I have some confidence in his ability to understand the papers he cites.

Remember, your goals should define how you train and how you eat.    If you check out the table of contents of his book and some of the reviews at Amazon, you'll see that he has 6 different phases, depending on the goal of that phase. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1605299340?i e=UTF8&tag=louschulercom-20&linkCode= as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creat iveASIN=1605299340

Original Post by ds1973:

Yogagirl, you may be misinterpreting "volume".  3 x 3 is a lot less volume than 6 x 4 (9 vs 24).  He's saying that 3 x 3 at a heavy weight, say 70-80 % max will make you strong, while 6 x 4 with that same weight will make you bigger. 

You should read the article on t-nation for more details before you dismiss this article like that.  In that article, he goes into more detail regarding volume.  One thing I appreciate about authors like this is that they cite scientific studies to support their training methods when available (t-nation article cites a reference).  Chad happens to have a Masters degree in physiology as well, so I have some confidence in his ability to understand the papers he cites.

Remember, your goals should define how you train and how you eat.    If you check out the table of contents of his book and some of the reviews at Amazon, you'll see that he has 6 different phases, depending on the goal of that phase. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1605299340?i e=UTF8&tag=louschulercom-20&linkCode= as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creat iveASIN=1605299340

 Thanks for clearing that up!  I obviously was reading it wrongly!  I am glad I am not using my own lift workout!  I do NROLFW.  Keeps me motivated to see results!