Posts Tagged ‘Deadlift Blocks’

Week: 4

Date:Friday 7/15/16

Time: -

Location: Heavy Hammer Gym
         
Training Partner: -

Working Sets:

Block Pull – 400x3x1/fail, 8/8/8 reps, 0 rating

Low Bar Good Morning - 100x2x1/fail, 12/12 reps, 0 rating

Barbell Upright Row - 100x3x1/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Crunches - Bodyweightx2x1/fail, 34/34

Accessories:

Hammer Curl/Tricep Ext. superset – 40/70x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Daily "Selfie" - None

My video editing software wasn't working so there will be no videos for a couple weeks...Sorry.
Sorry it has been a little over a week since I have posted.  My wife and I took our daughter on a little vacation.  We went to Des Moines, IA (Polk City) and stayed with my in-laws.  While we were there we went to an Iowa Cubs game and visited the Blank Park Zoo and Living History Farms while spending a lot of time with my wife's family. It was a fun 10 day vacation.  The best part about it was not missing a day of training.  The owner of 22nd Street Barbell in Des Moines was kind enough to let me train at their gym while I was on vacation.  It was a great place and I will do a post about their gym later.  On to my Training Journal:

Week: 2

Date: Friday 7/2/16

Time: 9:00 am

Location: Jesup Gym Equipment, Jesup, IA
         
Training Partner: None

Working Sets:

High Bar Squat – 375x3x3/fail, 6/6/6 reps, -1 rating

Wide Grip Bench Press – 185x2x6, 6/6 reps, +1 rating

One Arm DB Row - 80x2x3/fail, 12/12 reps

Barbell Upright Row - 95x2x3/fail, 12/12

Accessories:

Preacher Curl/French Press superset – 30/80x3x3/fail, 10/12/12 reps

Barbell Wrist Curl/Ext. - 50x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Calf Press - 300x3x3/fail - 30/30/30 reps

Daily "Selfie" - 

wp-1468417399556.jpg
This is a picture of me in my Jesup Gym Cut-off, however, I took this one day while training at 22nd Street Barbell, hence the 22BB hat.
Week: 3

Date: Monday 7/4/16

Time: 5:00 pm

Location: 22nd Street Barbell, Des Moines, IA
         
Training Partner: None

Working Sets:

Wide Grip Bench Press – 210x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps, +1 rating

Underhand EZ Bar Row - 135x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Accessories:

Hammer Curl/Tricep Ext. superset – 35x70x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Barbell Wrist Curl/Ext. - 60x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Calf Raise - 315x3x3/fail - 20/20/20 reps



Week: 3

Date: Wednesday 7/6/16

Time: 3:00 pm

Location: 22nd Street Barbell, Des Moines, IA
Training Partner: None

Working Sets:

Front Squat – 215x3x2/fail, 9/10/10 reps, 0 rating

Block Pull – 390x2x2/fail, 8/10 reps, 0 rating

DB Lateral Raise - 20x3x2/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Accessories:

Preacher Curl/French Press superset – 35/85x3x3/fail, 12/12/10 reps

Shrugs w/Straps - 245x3x3/fail - 12/12/12 reps

Week: 3

Date: Thursday 7/7/16

Time: 6:45 pm

Location: 22nd Street Barbell, Des Moines, IA
Training Partner: Tank the Bulldog

Working Sets:

Overhead Press – 155x7x2/fail, 10,10,9,8,8,8,8 reps, 0 rating

Underhand EZ Bar Row – 335x2x2/fail, 12/12 reps, 0 rating

DB Lateral Raise - 20x3x2/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Accessories:

EZ Bar Curl/Overhead Machine Ext. superset – 85/65x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Barbell Wrist Curl/Ext. - 60x3x3/fail - 12/12/12 reps

Calf Raise - 315x3x3/fail - 20/20/20 reps

wp-1468417399564.jpg

Week: 3

Date: Friday 7/8/16

Time: 5:30 pm

Location: 22nd Street Barbell, Des Moines, IA
Training Partner: None

Working Sets:

Block Pull – 390x3x2/fail, 8/8/8 reps, 0 rating
Low Bar Good Morning - 95x2x2/fail - 12/12 reps
Barbell Upright Row - 95x3x2/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Accessories:

Hammer Curl/Tricep Ext. superset – 35/65x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Shrugs w/Straps - 245x3x3/fail - 12/12/12 reps

Week: 3

Date: Saturday 7/9/16

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: 22nd Street Barbell, Des Moines, IA
Training Partner: None

Working Sets:

High Bar Squat – 380x3x2/fail, 6/6/6 reps, -1 rating

Wide Grip Bench Press - 190x2x6 - 6/6 reps, +1 rating

One Arm DB Row – 80x3x2/fail, 12/12/12 reps, 0 rating

Barbell Upright Row - 95x3x2/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Accessories:

Preacher Curl/French Press superset – 35/85x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

This week of training seemed to go pretty well.  I am finding that the volume I have been doing for quads is too much.  The program is giving me less and less Front Squats to try to recover better.  I don't mind the extra rest. I really think it does help me.  I just have never really training with this much volume before.  It is interesting to note that the volume for my shoulders/chest has been going up.  Apparently my upper body is fine with more volume, but my lower body isn't.  At least I am learning to ready my body better.  My hips were very sore this week.  I had to stretch them out in between every set.  My back didn't bother me too much.  My biceps started hurting a bit due to the fact that I have never really trained my biceps much.  Now I am doing them 5 days a week.  I have noticed huge gains in size in just 3 weeks or so.  Oh those Noob Gainz.  No videos this week...sorry.
Week: 2

Date: Tuesday 6/28/16

Time: 10:30 am

Location: Heavy Hammer Gym

Training Partner: Nick Bennigsdorf

Working Sets:

Front Squat – 210x4x3/fail, 9/9/9/9 reps, 0 rating

Block Pull – 385x2x3/fail, 7/10 reps, 0 rating

DB Lateral Raise - 20x2x3/fail, 12/12 reps

Planks – bodyweightx3x35sec

Accessories:

Preacher Curl/French Press superset – 30/80x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Shrugs w/ Straps – 230x3x3/fail (used Pro-Versa Wraps)

Daily "Selfie":

wp-1467219547500.jpg

Mt. Avengers. Mt.Rushmore of Avengers T-Shirt. It has Avengers superheroes instead of the presidents on Mt.Rushmore. I hope you have that clearly now. I am pretty sure I got this shirt at Wal-Mart. Flip-Flops...

I watched out for my back on Front squats and especially on Block Pulls.  I used a belt on Block Pulls and I only tightened it enough so that I could still fit my hand through it.  This allowed me to get into a good position while still giving me enough back protection.  (I know that the belt, especially being loose, doesn't help much with actual back support, but is more for intra-abdominal pressure. It is a psychological thing for me.)

Here is a link to the video of my training on my YouTube channel:
Heavy Hammer Gym - Hypertrophy Mesocycle: Week 2: 6/28/16

I have become a HUGE fan of the Do-It-Yourself stuff lately.  I have taken it upon myself to try to upgrade and outfit the Heavy Hammer Gym with as many DIY projects that I can.  My latest endeavor resulted in a pretty nice product.  I made Deadlift Blocks.  Here is what you need to know:

  1. Here is a great article from EliteFTS explaining some benefits of partial range of motion deadlifting: Partial Movement Training For The Deadlift / Elite FTS
  2. You can make this a DIY project, but if you don’t think you are up to it there are a lot of choices out there for purchasing deadlift blocks such as: Rogue 15 Wood Jerk Block PairRogue Medium Metal Pulling Blocks, or DC Blocks – Set of 18.
  3. List of materials used. (you can make them to whatever dimensions you think will work for you and your space/needs; this list will make 2 blocks(because you need 2 blocks to do it right))
    1. 8 – 4×4 cut to 15″ lengths (I actually used 2×4’s because I couldn’t cut the thicker wood)
    2. 2 – 3/4″ plywood cut to 15″ squares
    3. 2 – 1/2″ rubber matting cut to 15″ squares ( I used a very nice welcome mat for mine, just flipped it upside down; people tend to use horse stall mats)
    4. 4 – 1×2 cut to 15″ length (so weights don’t roll off the top of the block)
    5. 2 1/2 ” or 3″ screws
    6. EXTRA: Wood Glue (I actually used industrial strength so it will hold up longer)

Pretty easy to put together.  Used 4-4×4’s on the bottom, screw them together (use wood glue too, maybe, I did), screw (wood glue) plywood to top of 4×4’s, screw (wood glue) rubber mat to top of plywood, screw (wood glue) 2- 1×2’s to top of mat on either side.  Be generous with screws (wood glue) to make sure it can handle the HUGE weights you will be using on it.

wp-1466475937687.jpgwp-1466475937685.jpg

Hope you like this DIY project as much as I have.  I have used them multiple times now with 400+ lbs and they haven’t moved/given out at all. Check back from time to time for more DIY Gym Projects.