training with weights

what weight is that bar?
tried this workout last night at home with some pressups situps and stretching between circuits
good workout I had a 40lb bar

zenmonk wrote: »

Roper do you not rate what Randy was doing?
looked ok to me as a general conditioner

And it probably is, for Randy Couture. My point is that all the guys who see shít like this on the internet and go off and try it in the gym would be better off on a very simple programme and to go from there. Doing what GSP or Randy did to win a UFC title or what Arnie did to win Mr. Universe is not going to have much benefit for them because they aren't anywhere near the level of fitness and strength required to condition themselves like a professional athlete.

Based upon what I see in gyms, what comes in to me to train for the first time and what people who are in the know nationally have said to me is that 99% of sports people in Ireland are at a really, really low level in terms of resistance training, be that because of a lack of strength or a lack of knowledge. I know guys who think of themselves as fit and strong but would score terrible numbers in a standard strength test. Show them the numbers for the same tests in America and they assume something is wrong because in some cases they're at the level of high school wrestlers- 16 year olds.

Bit of a rant there but I had 5 minutes

zenmonk wrote: »

I would be fairly poor strengthwise compared to a few guys in my class , (I can hold my own in the ring using speed and fitness) but in some of the resistance stuff like kick shields or press ups I really come up short. I have improved over the last couple of years but don't go to the gym(time and money reasons).
I have free weights at home but am at a loss to how I can increase strength so any suggestions would be welcome guys!!

check out the fitness forum and www.startingstrength.wikia.com

Mick T wrote: »

arent anywhere near the level of fitness and strength to condition themselves like a professional athlete!
so how do you know this?

Its whats called an educated guess. If the only place you're getting your fitness tips is from a YouTube video then I'd guess you're not going to be on the same par as Randy or GSP.

Mick T wrote: »

arent anywhere near the level of fitness and strength to condition themselves like a professional athlete!
so how do you know this?

Well the word 'professional' is a dead giveaway for a start. After that it's 6 years of coaching, 2 as a pro, and gleaning as much information as I can from the top guys in Ireland during that time. I'm not bragging there, if anything, the more I learn the more I realise how little I know.

It stuns guys to find out how comparitively weak they are compared to other amateurs in other countries. I know it stunned me.

Boston wrote: »

I'm not really following what's being said in this thread. Roper are you suggesting that routine is beyond the ability of novices? I've only been doing free weights 15 months and I could do (and often do) the exercises in that clip and more.

I'm sure you can, as could I as could an awful lot of people posting on this topic. Does that mean that it's the best use of your time? No, and I think I can safely say, even having not met you that it isn't.:)

Let me put it to you this way. In an interview with a TV station, is Randy Couture going to say a) "Yeah Bob I spent 30 years building up a really good strength base through my Olympic training doing standard 5x5, olympic lifts and bodyweight", or b)"Yeah here's a cool thing I do to get strong check it out"

I checked out that link it seems really good - Roper I am a little confused by your comments- what would you recommend to a guy like me (sub par strength in upper body but can't get to the gym)?

zenmonk wrote: »

I checked out that link it seems really good - Roper I am a little confused by your comments- what would you recommend to a guy like me (sub par strength in upper body but can't get to the gym)?

I think my point about Irish sportsmen is sort of summed up by your question. If you have to come to the internet to ask a random guy who might know nothing then I think it speaks volumes about how resistance training in Ireland is at best misunderstood and at worst just terrible.

If you can master basic bodyweight exercises such as squats, push ups, lunges, pull ups, dips then you'll be in good shape for the future. Then add in things like planks, bridges, head then handstands and so on.

Best of luck with it.

Boston wrote: »

Roper, you're awfully dismissive of internet advice.

You mean I'm advising ignoring advice?:D

The interweb is great, a mine of information, most of it written by people who don't have a clue what they're talking about. I include myself in that category so take that as you will.