"Powerbuilding is an Abomination" | Natural Hypertrophy VS. Bald Omni-Man
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
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Natural Hypertrophy Video: • Powerbuilding is an Ab...
Bald Omni Man Response: • “Powerbuilding is an A...
The Great MOGGING of Bodybuilding:
• The Great MOGGING of B...
00:00-01:38 The Argument
01:39-04:09 Powerbuilding for Gen Pop
04:10-09:32 CZcams Fitness is not for Gen Pop
09:33-14:25 Why Powerlifting dominates Bodybuilding
14:26-18:47 Strength is addicting
18:48-20:15 Powerlifting is not Strength Training is not Bodybuilding
20:16-21:52 Pursing strength in different areas - Sport
Boy there was some trauma behind that barbecue monologue
Most likely Rippetoe Texas Cafe classics had a role in that.
100%
Yeah that kept going on
😂😂😂
That's a man who spent a good amount of time in BBQ fourms online lmfao
Anytime you get super into a hobby that's about what happens without fail lol.
I'm a 76 year old woman who loves strength taining. Your video on deadlifts showed me what I was doing wrong. Will I ever deadlift 500 lbs....no but I can deadlift and farmer carry my weight! Thanks for your channel! I never miss your videos.
76 and on youtube with comments? not passible
Awesome!
Impressive 👍🏼
Awesome to hear Linda! Keep it up!
you are an inspiration
Alan is still the most real dude in the fitness industry after all these years. Never sold out or changed who he was to get approval. Respect
Cause he didn't need to
Train however you want, just go to the gym, the only thing that matters is your end goal then use specificity towards your goal. Its that simple
Yup that’s what Alan said.
"Train however you want" -- just as long as its UNTAMED
"But I prefer chocolate icecream"
This is an acceptable response @@firstname4337
@xullassg.6190 dude how could you leave out the most important part? Tribalism! You have to pick an influencer and champion for them without being asked to do so or getting rewarded for it.
Alan, as one of the "gamers" that watched other gamers back in the day, it was very rarely for secrets or improvement! Similarly, despite being a lifter, I watch EVERY one of your videos despite not really having the problem addressed (not being a dad etc.) Just because they are entertaining and YOU are a cool dude. I think i speak for some people in saying this
I'm 37 and have totally given up on playing video games anymore. But I've watched Elden Ring and D4 and Zelda perfect walk through and I'm okay with that lol
I never really had an interest in playing videogames, but I did enjoy watching people play video games. A lot of time-wasting dumb shit for their entertaining personality, but I also enjoyed the games with more of a story and a finite ending. They're essentially long movies.
I remember watching like... Life is Strange 1, Uncharted 4, The Last of Us, The Walking Dead Season 2, etc.
I was about to comment the same thing. People often want a personal connection with their favorite creators, not just a transactional one
BOM is also someone whose approach to fitness I identify with. I want to get swole but I also want to push my strength to the limits. It’s great to hear you all put your 2 cents in.
When you injure yourself you will wish you just did pure bodybuilding. Nobody cares how much you can lift
@@travishowrish6805I think you misunderstand my position, I am also a pure hypertrophy trainee, and outline my thoughts comprehensively in my vid.
@@travishowrish6805 you know you can get injured during bodybuilding style training, right? There’s safe and healthy ways to engage in all lifting modalities my guy.
@@travishowrish6805no one cares how jacked you are either
@@travishowrish6805dude if he trained for pure strength he would def place at a powerlifting meet, it's bcuz the dude is strong af plain and simple.
I like the idea of powerbuilding even if it’s not “optimal” for both. Some people just like maxing out there lifts and axing out gains. If your trying to be a pro power lifter or bodybuilder your probably going to need to focus on one or the other but for most of us powerbuilding is going to be good
agreed for average joe i think powerlifting has more benefits
I disagree, with powerlifting it's about lifting the most amount of weight as possible while neglecting form. Bodybuilding is safer and focuses more on muscle building instead of ego lifting@@abhisheksathe123
@@abhisheksathe123 Not really TBH. A regular bodybuilder is strong compared to the general population.
@@abhisheksathe123 I think both are equal. Cuz body building still requires you to gain strength. Bodybuilding has a slight edge because no muscle groups are neglected
If you care about numbers, sure. But if you care more about hypertrophy, just do bodybuilding.
I liked the answer of "just deadlift 700lbs and you'll have all the muscle you want" I remember hearing you say that years back, or something along those lines, so I chased just building my deadlift as much as possible, I did build up my back and got very muscular, but the love for chasing that number overtook my love for wanting the muscle, so I started powerlifting. Years later, I have deadlifted 700, I have all the muscle I want, and I've found love for powerlifting
That's actually the perfect ending to this story nice to hear !
I think it's an interesting window into human nature when you think of how small a percentage of the gen. pop actually has sincere passion about training. Bodybuilders, powerlifters, weightlifters, strongmen and everything in between have mutual passion for training and have much more in common with each other than we do with the rest of the world.
Yet, there is always this powerful temptation to distinguish ourselves from each other so we can feel superior rather than embracing a mutual love for training and always pushing our limits. Fascinating.
Well said!
Yea, that's all cool, bro. But I asked how many sets you had left.
Well Said
The og Hodgetwins reference did not go unnoticed.
Fitness OGs right there
I like your always empathetic stance on these things. You always invite people to go out of their echo chambers and get some fresh perspective. Keep up with this!
Well put Props!
Hell yeah pumped to hear your thoughts
I like how he says powerlifting has bled into bodybuilding, not the other way around. Great point and I totally agree. He also had a good point about hypertrophy being a harder target to measure than strength. I think Alan ultimately agrees with you at this point.
Watching untamed strength when I first started lifting taught me more to start than I could have imagined, and later on getting into Bald Omni Man, GVS, and others has helped me just as much. To see you guys essentially peer review each other is great, even when you don't agree. All of this helps to deepen understanding.
I am a 70 -year-man that started lifting in the 1960's when I was 14-15 years of age. been a gym rat ever since. I have done body Building bench pressing 450l bs squatting 550lbs, leg pressing 1000 lbs. Arm curls 250lbs. that was in the early 1990". Today I am trying to move into kettlebell, heavy clubs and mace and sledgehammers because i am trying to give my body a different feel and i want to build a stronger cord and back. i am also including landmine work outs. I am through with body beautiful cause of my age i need the strength not so much the looks. been there done that. this is for long life and health. Strength training will give you that edge if you are willing to put in the work. MOST PEOPLE HAVE FAR TOO MANY EXCUSES FOR NOT DOING IT BUT WANT THE DOCTORS TO GIVE THEM A PILL TO LOOK GREAT OVERNIGHT. PLUS. FOR ME IT IS TO SEE HOW FAR I CAN GO AS I GET OLDER. THANKS FOR THE FLICK.
Alan, you’re one of the smartest and most insightful guys on the platform. Everything you say is so well-articulated and well thought-out. Always appreciate your perspective
Another factor is age, different people have different goals at different times in their lives. From vanity to health concerns, we all have our own motivations.
Another great job Alan!
Taking time to consider your response is the right way to go Alan! Great video!
NH is the LAST "influencer" I'd take advice from.
Reminds me of the time I got my first smoker and then did some research/asked around for cooking advice. Holy hell! I was not ready for the avalanche of BS...arguemnts, gatekeepers, and extreme confliction.
And yup, my powerlifting journey has been filled with the same. Through all this I've learned to just do me and tune the rest of it out as much as I want. I have the mainstays that have never failed me, and Alan, you are one of them. The rest of it is just chatter in the wind.
Edit: spelin
Excellent point about bodybuilding not having immediate feedback. I always take something from your videos!
Wise words as always from Alan , someone who understands the training game and has years of experience with training people ,
The main point is too get more people training properly long term with sensible programmes , most people over a long training career will dabble/switch about at some point and that’s great , it’s not a contest , the key is to keep training and professing
As always, Thrall coming with a level headed response to what’s going down in the fitness community.
Great video, the thing is just lift how you want, but evaluate your goals & be honest with yourself, adjust your training accordingly just make sure you enjoy it.
Very much appreciate this. (1) thinking about this as a conversation is good; (2) no one's way is the only way; (3) people's goals and preferences are constantly changing.
This is the value of hearing an argument, thinking and pondering, formulating a well thought out opinion and then speaking about it. I love Alan's philosophy....."Do whatever you want, you are an adult."
Love this type of content. Much appreciated as always
Another great video Alan, as an educator, I appreciate how you use your analogies to illustrate your points clearly
The more and more this fight goes on the more I realize it is like chocolate versus vanilla icecream arguments in kindergarten
Man...and its been years already since this started
@HandsomeTouchdown what? I mean the powerbuilding thing...i have no idea what are you talking about
The world of online barbecue sounds like a fun battleground!
Gotta say Alan, some great analogies in this video. Always liked your vids but watching your personal growth over the last few years has really been neat. Keep doing your thing bruthah :)
Alan is the wise voice of fitness industry
Natural Hypertrophy thinks he's the arbiter of all truth and wisdom. I can't stand listening to the guy, especially since he has to upload hour long videos regardless of what he's talking about, and has no idea how to be concise. He's an egomaniac LARPing as a philosopher.
Agreed, dude is super annoying
If you actually have the patience (and sanity/insanity) to watch his videos fully, you can pretty quickly realize he does not think he's some kind of a carrier of truth and wisdom. He voices his opinions, which are meant to always be in the context of bodybuilding (hypertrophy). I find his philosophy and anime videos cringe and he indeed has no idea of how to be concise. But he has a lot valuable bodybuilding information.
Highly insightful and informative video. Great work! 🙏👍💪
So glad to hear you’re into bodybuilding (natural style). It was my first and only love in the gym. Only thing I gained from powerlifting and strongman was injuries. Never got injured doing bodybuilding aside from occasional mild tendinitis from fast pull ups or curls.
Alan u r spiritually advanced and I am healed in your presence. Thank you for your majesty, content, thought and genius.
Honestly , speaking to the general public. Any exercise is good exercise. The best exercise is the one you enjoy the most.
However! The biggest problem with the fitness industry is that most trainers & fitness entities lie about the results that they could truly provide. Example: Zumba , Herba life, dr oz, athlean x, spinning, CrossFit, bootcamp, etc. That’s not even talking about the many other fitness influencers, mens health, etc.
That’s why you get a lot of people who get discouraged, demotivated, and frustrated.
It’s really up to us to change the fitness industry. Because it really is that bad.
Exactly, for some reason people now are just over thinking/over complicating training. The whole fun part of it is the journey to find out what works for you .
BTW, Thanks for the multiple tips on BBQ !! :)
Didn't expect a Narwuar reference there. Awesome vid my man. The general population is not out there to "optimize" anything. They just wanna get fitter than they are. From a lifter's perspective, It's easy to try and offer advice but in the process inadvertently piss on someone's parade.
Great video as always. Also happy birthday brother
Powerbuilding is my favorite way of training, as someone who doesn't look to compete in either category I feel like its the most balanced approach.
Me too! I love maxing big weight every week for my first lift and then building muscle after with high volume. Conjugate all year baby.
Very well said. I remember as a youngster seeing the add in every comic book. The bad guy kicking sand in the face of the skinny guy... and after following the ATLAS training program the skinny guy showed up at the beach... Weight training... has been around forever. You were either sculpted and viewed as a circus freak or just a big corn fed giant. Gyms had weights barbells and dumbbells. But people did calisthenics and "exercises ". To stay "toned"... look good in a suit and tie. Don't look like "Grandpa " on the beach or at the pool. Look at the military fitness program. A combination of everything. Bodybuilding took a turn in the 70's.. Strongman around the same time when WSM competition aired on TV. But the debate as you so well stated has gone on and will go on. Free weights versus machines... and aerobics !!
I think you summed it up best.... JUST DO SOMETHING ! run, walk, lift, calisthenics.... GET OFF THE COUCH AND EXCERCISE. WHEN YOU DO..TRAIN UNTAMED ! You will feel better, look better, sleep better... and just be better. Jack La Lane.. was the standard for getting up and getting "in shape ".
Well said! I think a big part of the "discussion" is - what in the heck is powerbuilding and why do we even need another term? Does anyone walk around actually saying they are a Powerbuilder, or if someone at the gym asks what they are doing do they say "I'm not working out....I'm powerbuilding"? Unless you are competing, you are just working out. I guess you are free to call that whatever you want, but seems silly to me to even use that term.
As someone who mostly trains powerbuilding style, I just say "I lift" and that's usually enough for most people to get the idea.
It’s mostly used as a description for programs available for purchase, such as Jeff Nippard.
Alan you still smart as usual and informative since that video you posted on how to do romanian deadlifts
I got back into lifting through you alan actually, i was running allot and doing strength training but numbers went up, discovered BOM and be following his style for awhile with alex and others and discovering my own path - put on some decent mass this year and i'm way happier, super interested in hypertrophy but still enjoy the big 3 but in more of bodybuilding style these days, works with my leverages and long limbs lol
Me being a former powerlifter, managed to get into the "elite" category before army life, after half a decade in the army i come out with having broken my clavicle , knee injury , torn shoulder muscle that required surgery as well. Not to bad compared to some friends but after a year or two of rehab i realizing that powerlifting my old weights will not happen. Though being able to squat today 450 pounds and pull 500lbs deadlifts is probably my max before old age takes me , powerbuilding gives me motivation to keep training while still seeing progress outside the big 3.
You do what works for you, life just happens and you'll have to adjust to it.
I really hate that about old youtube. He is so right about Power Lifters - they always "prescribed" how to lift. I ended up with various injuries because of that, they were often dogmatic and had ZERO nuiance.
I wish more people were like you Alan, using common sense. Keep up the good work.
I love Alan that Alan has entered the deep end of the home gym life. I know there are advantages and preferences on where to work out, but I remember Alan's video from 3 years ago about why he prefers commercial gyms and now I feel like Palpatine cackling
This new-ish Alan Thrall era is the my favorite. Keep it up champ
You're not late to the party..you just gave a reflective, well thought out, reasonable response..HOW FUCKING RARE!!..this is why people love your channel..
Very thoghtful and well-reasoned view, Alan.
The gaming comparison was spot on, (especially as someone who loves lifting and gaming).
You can get pretty strong on "bodybuilding" training. At my peak (20 years ago) mostly training 6-10 rep range, I was able to bench 375 for a single. probably could have done a little more weight but wasn't obsessed with one rep max. Back in the day most gym goers went for size and strength. It was mostly "bodybuilding" but we did max out on squats and bench from time to time.
Love your more nuanced and mature perspective
I just learned more about barbecuing than I even knew existed lol! but seriously awesome vid!
You're first point is the most important. All fitness advice is contextual to some degree. Some people push their bodybuilding or powerlifting goals on individuals interested in fitness, and it ruins the experience for some. For example, I told an 80 year old training client of mine that he did not need to include triceps extensions and curls in his program, as he was just interested in general health. Bottom line, context is vital.
Here because I love the nuance of this kind of discussion from Alan.
Nuance, you say? Jordan would be proud.
As a random guy on the internet I'll share my thoughts. From what I have learned, if you want to get as big as possible, AND as jacked as possible, taking a phasic approach to training (alternating strength focussed and hypertrophy focussed training blocks) will be a little bit better for maximizing results . However, if you enjoy powerbuilding, do it, because if you enjoy your training you are more likely to stay consistent for years on end and end up jacked and strong.
I'll vouch for this 👍🏻 I alternate strength blocks (powerlifting/strongman) and hypertrophy blocks (kinda like powerlifting hypertrophy) but if one likes to take a middle ground approach, I guess it'll work almost as well!
thank you for the levelheaded video Alan.
and the oldschool hodgetwins reference. those are always good.
If you are late to the debate, so am I. I saw some stuff about it yesterday and love that you are reacting to it, no matter "how late".
Great video. Only one thing I would personally add:
Powerlifting and bodybuilding can and do go hand in hand. What doesn't get talked about nearly enough these days is Phase Potentiation. Powerlifters have hypertrophy phases and bodybuilders often have strength phases. The idea being that one phase will help potentiate the other.
As a natural lifter, nothing helped me put on more size than getting stronger in the big 4 and then using that increased level of strength to push bigger loads with my bodybuilding work.
Everyone these days talks about it being a "one or the other" and "them not belonging in the same sentence", but I think this is a narrow sighted perspective that leaves gains on the table. Put simply, ignoring strength work will hinder your ability to build muscle, but focusing solely on strength work will also hinder your ability to build muscle.
Ya, I'm a fan of Powerbuilding, both as a singular focus, as well as a phased approach.
@@antiwufei553 you clearly know very little about the topic. Bodybuilders absolutely have strength blocks and powerlifters have hypertrophy blocks. The purpose is to “potentiate” the other. Go research phase Potentiation and then we can talk. Strength and hypertrophy absolutely go hand in hand. If you don’t agree than you don’t understand the most basic and important muscle and strength building concept of progressive overload.
Great thoughts, and it definitely makes so much sense.
I am so glad someone finally made this point- those who want to bodybuilders are always forgetting who they want to be, and turn into powerlifters. Powerlifters know who they are. This is probably also why we don’t see many impressive natural bodybuilders in the mainstream CZcams space. Only recently have podcasts like Longevity Muscle come out and shed some light on natural bodybuilding. And thank god for that - because for someone who is natural and looking for aesthetic physiques that rival those on anabolics basically had no good models to look up to- it’s all just Powerlifters and powerbuilders everywhere. Bodybuilding is what most of us got into this for- and somewhere along the line everyone starting chasing the powerlifting carrot on a stick. 🥕
I started working out consistently about 6 years ago. Ngl, I fucked around for the first couple of years. I gained a little. But it wasn’t crazy. After I learned the definitive difference between power lifting and bodybuilding, I started making strides.
I’ve never had a coach or bought a plan. But I realized that focusing on one goal at a time can be a game changer. More importantly, if I take a few months to work on weak points and hypertrophy, that would make me feel better on my strength training. When I got back to strength training, I didn’t lose anything, just because I haven’t hit a one rep max deadlift in a while. And pushing up those strength numbers lets you do better hypertrophy work.
I’m sure none of this is news to anyone. But knowing it and “feeling” it are just two different things that a lot of people don’t really understand.
Amazing video. I think you captured the balanced perspective, just like Steve Shaw.
I think you can be a powerlifter, do something like 5x5 and include accesories that can give you a decent physqiue. Mehdi who basically popularized 5x5 through stronglifts has a great physique along with his strength.
After 10 years of middling experience with the Gym, starting with my time in the military, I finally jumped into a consistent gym routine over the last year. I decided to start off with 5x5 to build back a base of strength and I assumed I''d 'naturally' get a physique; Was not the case.
Ultimately I landed on Candito's 6 Month Beginner Program as it essentially was a Powerbuilding program. I can tell that it definetly works: To the end that I have a decent Beach body. However, do i look like Scott Herman? no, But do i have an otter bod, hell no. I have a decent base of strength, going from beginner level lifts to now intermediate in a year (partly due to muscle memory)
Not to besmirch anyones opinion, but ultimately I believe if you know how programming can effect your outcomes, and you have some experience (even if it isnt what you wanted), you'll eventually build and understanding of how to mould and shape your own body.
Sounds like it's time for Alan Thrall's Untamed Barbecue second channel to me!
I'm impressed by your bbq knowledge!
A video on when enough is enough would be interesting. Been a subscriber for years, but missed it if you ever talked about it. I'm all for improving, but at some point, a person just isn't going to be able to lift any more weight. What's next after that? Maintenance mode? I dropped out of CrossFit, but I still think the principle is sound. I just try and do a wide range of stuff, from walking/running/biking, to body weight exercises, to lifting...and yoga. I've been lifting for probably about 7 years. I just feel like if I go any heavier, there is a potential injury on the horizon. Trying to avoid that.
Before watching this video, or either of the two you are reacting to, I have a few thoughts. It depends very much on what you goals are and how far along that journey you are. Even if you have lofty goals of being competitive in both bodybuilding and powerlifting, for the first few years specialisation isn't that important. For someone at the stage of entering competitions then it makes sense to focus on preparing for the next competition. Also the training styles are far from mutually exclusive, if a competition isn't imminent then there is benefit from mixing in other types of training.
For a novice or beginner, trying to figure out bodybuilding programming is overwhelming. Powerlifting programming for a beginner centers around three movements and probably a handful of accessories (or maybe not). It also gives you a concrete goal - lift more. Bodybuilding or physique training is much more ambiguous - what are you trying to achieve? What's the best way to get there? It's not always as simple as gaining weight as progressively overloading a handful of lifts. It takes some programming knowledge, experience under the bar to understand effort/movement, and self awareness to push yourself day to day.
I remember when I was doing 5*5. I started enjoying the "accessories" more than the main lifts, so I modified the program quite a bit to accommodate more isolation. It's nice starting from a simple base and building up rather than jumping straight into more complex topics
I think at this point, many content creators like NH just try to be controversial, for the algorithms sake. They tend to overanalyze and overthink certain topics, lay out pseudo-definitions, just to argue upon them in a straw-man type of monologue. Powerbuilding is a legit term, because it means you pursue strenght in the big compounds more than a conventional bodybuilder would probably do, but you also value isolation movements, mind-muscle-connection and a fun pump.
If i talk to three guys in the gym and the first one says hes a BBer, the second one says hes a PLer, and the third calls himself a powerbuilder, i have a pretty destinct and distinguishable vision of what their training may look like, and what they goals are, and that alone makes "powerbuilding" a legit term.
No need to make science about everything, just to circlejerk about it indefinitely, in order to create cheap, controversial content, only for the sake of it. Just do what you enjoy the most, dont let anyone tell you your sport of choice is not a real thing.
Well said. Do what gets you results. The end.
Exactly natural hypertrophy is all about clicks ever sense opening a Patreon lol
@@gregoriomiller8241 i think you're being harsh bro he's always been a hypertrophy purist. His whole thing is that strength goals (and strength standards) can distract people from why they wanted to lift in the first place (usually to look swole!). but I think he doesn't take into account how people's priorities change as they grow older. Sometimes strength is cooler than being swole tbh.
@@DarkMuj What natural hypertrophy gets wrong is that peak natties have always focused on powerbuilding at a foundation for their physiques just look at how the old timers trained before steroids were created they all focused on the big 3 lifts and also Olympic lift to build their dense quality muscles. Everything natural hypertrophy promotes is all wrong and that's why he's built like a noodle
@@DarkMuj And look at Alex Leonidas and Bald Omni man they all do a lot of strength focused exercise with hypertrophy the opposite of what natural hypertrophy promotes and they are way bigger.
I forgot completely about NH until this lil cycle... And now i will work hard to forget him again... Those SUPER long self-righteous tirades are so silly
I believe one methodology can nicely complement the other.
I'm a rugby player here in the U.K., I am a forward (think scrum for those who aren't too good with the sport) and so I need a range of physical qualities; absolute strength, explosive strength/power, strength endurance, speed, stamina and so on; it also is a requirement to carry a good amount of useable mass/muscle.
For me, therefore, it makes sense to include the pure hypertrophy rep ranges in the off season to add as much useable mass as possible, but it also is in my best interest to cycle between phases where I may use fives for a bit of a blend of strength and hypertrophy, down to doubles and triples for power or absolute strength. This is the basic approach the Strength and Conditoning team use with us, at least.
Where bodybuilding is concerned, I'm not an expert, but I can see the benefit of working in some lower rep range, heavy, heavy work here and there, I don't know.
Either way, great video as always Alan.
I disagree with powerlifting being a disgrace to strength training. People cherry pick the couple people capable of doing zero ROM benches and such but the vast majority of lifts in a meet you'd attend are more traditional/legitimate displays of strength. The exception doesn't make the rule.
I don’t think that anyone says that the OG powerlifting is a disgrace to strength training. It’s more like the direction where it’s heading doesn’t seem to be about absolute strength anymore, it’s more like finding loopholes to increase your maxes
I honestly dont see why there is such an overcomplication of the science behind working out nowadays
Because people want to get all the results with none of the work
Because Fitness CZcamsrs have to get views they keep making up videos on minutia
Ego and science elitism, people can feel like they know more by watching Mike israetel (just an example lol)
@@alexandruS_ I don't think anyone wants to get away with 0 work when the current consensus is getting to 1-3 reps in the tank to maximize hypertrophy - this feels fucking tough
@@alburaq3290 been saying this for years. Everyone agrees on 90% of the formula to training for whatever goals one has. However all the spicy posts/videos are on the not nearly as relevant 10% of optimization.
I've been subscribed for years, and this is the first video that has showed up in my feed for probably 2 years. When did Alan slim down?
I love the death metal merch style. Do Not Move The Barbell.
wow thank you for letting us know, i too think you can enjoy bbq however you want.
Good to know you're so passionate about it too
I enjoyed the video! What shoes do you use for deadlifts? Thanks
It’s dumb how some ppl say “there is no such thing as training for hypertrophy, only strength, because in both bodybuilding and powerlifting you’re trying to get strong.”
Sure you’re trying to get strong in both sports, BUT in one you’re prioritizing strength over growth and in the other vice versa. It’s on a spectrum.
As gym hobbyists I think it’s ok for everyone to focus on anything they want, I do powerbuilding myself, though I’ve learned to not try and max often and take reloads by doing volume work. If you’re training for a specific sport then it’d make sense to focus on one over the other
Loved the hodge twins reference. Love those guys and miss their lifting videos.
Yeah after you've been training a long time muscular gains are very slow and so I think it's impossible to stay motivated without tracking your numbers, you can still be in your hypertrophy rep range doing it. Honestly I think the lines are blurry between a powerbuilder and a bodybuilder making progress on your lifts produces hypertrophy. It's just if you want a good physique you have to do a greater variety than three lifts to develop one. So I pretty much set rep PRS on everything
Hodgetwins reference of yours made me smile gratefully for the fitness journey of mine and the fitness culture of past times. Thanks Alan, you were one of my inspirations when I started, matter fact, you still are.
Like everything social media touches, people will overcomplicate everything.
Nh is an edge lord
I do this ALL so wrong..I run a 9 day training week, at the moment, with 3 runs (aiming for trail mountain marathon completion spring next year)...and also wanting the get 1000lb powerlifting total (I'm close...im 75 kilos @5ft 9inches, by the way), weights is twice week...and im running Hyrox training, once a week, which also "counts" as both strenght(ish) and tempo cardio. In hyrox im trying to get into top 10 in my age group in uk (fat chance, but lets try :-))..Throw in a yoga session and a walk for recovery. I'm nearly 60 y.o...use it or lose it! :-)....(ps I KNOW its not optimal, but I don't care!)........live your life! Chase everything!
Man, I’ve been away from the channel for a little (I was getting fat). You look great, way different, but great! & solid advice like I remember
great video 👍🏻 😊
if it is general/dummy strength (with zero context) you seek, look no further than the Bloatlord.
Learned more about barbecuing than I ever thought I would
Do you still work with Barbell Medicine? I loved their Powerbuilding plans
Awesome video
My man got bbq ribs on his mind
Yeah. My problem with bodybuilding is the subjectivity, where am I going and when is enough, enough. How are you setting your bodybuilding goals, Alan?
If you lift with consistent form, you can set bodybuilding goals by simply having strength goals in each movement you do. Not saying it's the only way, but it works.
In the long term, muscle growth is what drives strength gains (again, assuming form is kept the same or similar).
Steve Shaw popularized the term powerbuilding when he was still writing for magazines. He used it as a term meaning pursuit of strength and size, and the pursuit of getting strong on a many movements as possible.
By that definition, a lot of hypertrophy focused lifters on CZcams who have a heavy focus on aesthetics are powerbuilders, including Alex, BOM, and Hersovyac.
By this definition, it's also very possible to accomplish both goals since the rep ranges you use for hypertrophy and strength overlap at the lower end of hypertrophy training.
My other big issue with the takedown of powerlifting is the effect on beginners. Bodybuilding gets really complex and granular. Training someone to get strong on a bunch of compound exercises is much more straightforward and usually the way to go for beginners. I think a person needs a certain base before they can really even pursue bodybuilding, and that doesn't come from doing a bodybuilding program that is built for intermediate to advanced lifters.
Most IFBB pro bodybuilders started out with the basics as well. CBum was a football player and did the usual high school weights program and got strong on a bunch of compound movements before transitioning into bodybuilding. You still see it in his training, he'll do deadlifts in the offseason even though they're not really necessary for him anymore. He still likes to lift heavy. Would anyone call Chris a powerbuilder? I don't think so.
I train at a public gym, and I see far too many skinny teen kids who are obsessed with bodybuilding focusing their training on "finishing touch" movements, meaning structuring the training around isolation movements and having no concept of intensity. Bodybuilding is so popular right now, I think just as popular with Gen Z as powerlifting. A 5'10", 140 lb guy isn't going to get great results unless he knows how to push on compound movements. I'm not saying they should all do the big 3, but big compounds like those are easy to progress, teach coordination, and more importantly teach being able to handle feeling uncomfortable. Bodybuilding training is very uncomfortable, and very few regular gymgoers train close enough to failure. Having a strength training background and knowing how to push to a 1RM with good technique carries over very well to bodybuilding.
I should know, I spent nearly the first 20 years of my lifting career chasing performance goals over aesthetics. I've spent the past 7 years with more of an aesthetic focus, but still like getting stronger (much like Alex and BOM). Am I wrong for this? My development is very similar to the rest of the natty CZcams fitness crowd, so I guess I wasted my time building a base and falling in love with hard training.
The conversation continues!
been a long time subscriber, but the video feels a lot more like powerlifting vs body building rather than "powerbuilding is (or isn't) an abomination"... not sure if that was intended. Either way, I think powerbuilding is great. Sure you won't get the strength gains on compounds as you would on a pure powerlifting specific program, and sure you won't have the arm measurements of a pure body builder, but you will be well rounded with a good physique and still enjoy the measurable progress that powerlifting provides on your compound lifts. I actually think your point about powerlifting being more addictive / attractive to new lifters is extremely applicable to the concept of powerbuilding. Most people will probably begin on a powerbuilding journey in my opinion before they let others taint their views. Powerbuilding is an extremely attractive concept to a new lifter. What do I want to achieve? Well I want to get stronger and have a good physique. That is powerbuilding. The end :) Love the videos as always Alan.
Currently going through this struggle right now. About 3 years ago, I was benching around 350, deadlifting 650, had deadlifted 500 for 12 and squatting 500x5. Never competed in powerlifting a day in my life, I just did it because it was addicting.
Fast forward to now, my child is almost 3 and I have far less time to dedicate to chasing numbers. I feel like a bum because I’m not where I was before, but I’m still trying to build muscle. Have been slowly transitioning away from solely doing competition lifts and their specific variations, to much more variation. It’s more relaxing, feels like less pressure (that I put on myself) and is much more enjoyable.
Still trying to figure out a way to schedule my training though. I work 12 hour shifts and I’m up at 4am and usually get home around 7:30pm. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to structure/plan my training?
Great video as always, Alan!
I have had a similar time situation (no kids, though) I would recommend working out 20-30 minutes every day. Pick 2-3 exercises to focus on for each day make sure to hit each muscle you work twice per week, and increase difficulty (#reps, more weight, #sets if time allows) each week. You can do a set 1-2 intense sets per exercise and go home. This will at least help until you start getting more free time.
You should compete. It's really fun.
I work permanent Night-shift, so I am in a similar situation. I found after experimentation 4 days a week optimal due to my sleeping arangements.
I program my heaviest day (legs)on my day off work. I follow that with a lighter day for Upper body as my CNS takesa hit the previous day. This includes variations of main lifts so the weight is lighter anyways.
My other two training days are done post nightshift, I finnish my shift at 7:30am, my gym is between my home and workplace, so its optimal time wise and saves fuel(petrol/gas isnt cheap in England😂)
I find going to bed after training improves my sleep quality also.