Just a few training questions

[rbrown]

Hello Tribe! A few general questions, if I may.

Currently, I am in the midst of a Density Cycle of Bullwhips and am enjoying it and progressing incrementally, if not rapidly. My first question is in regard to this lack of rapidity. I would like to make quicker strength gains as well as some (functional) size gain. Now, I know it will come with just the Bullwhips, but I feel like I am not progressing as well as I could be since my grip goes before the rest of me has been pushed hard enough. I never feel “overworked” by the Bullwhips and I’m wondering if I could do something further to increase my overall strength and strength-endurance? Either more Clubbell work that same day, after a rest (some grindage, maybe), or bodyweight or dumbbell exercises to supplement. I don’t want to overtrain of course, but I do want to pump it up, so speak, a bit. I would very much appreciate some thoughts on this from the CST coaches.

Another question in regards to cardio and strength/strength-endurance training. I think I have heard that one shouldn’t do both on the same training day, but I’m not sure about that. If that’s true, what is the reason. Something about the cardio “undoing” the strength training or some such. I assume that it would be okay to do cardio on the days I’m not swinging the Clubbell. Right now, I would like to burn some extra calories to shed a healthy portion of body fat. So any suggestions on that would be most welcome as well.

Also, would there be any problem with doing BME/Kinetic Chains on the same days I do either cardio or strength/endurance training?

I’m sure I’m forgetting a question or two, but that should do for now.

Thanks much!

[Coach Jones]

I would like to make quicker strength gains as well as some (functional) size gain. Now, I know it will come with just the Bullwhips, but I feel like I am not progressing as well as I could be since my grip goes before the rest of me has been pushed hard enough. I never feel “overworked” by the Bullwhips and I’m wondering if I could do something further to increase my overall strength and strength-endurance? Either more Clubbell® work that same day, after a rest (some grindage, maybe), or bodyweight or dumbbell exercises to supplement. I don’t want to overtrain of course, but I do want to pump it up, so speak, a bit. I would very much appreciate some thoughts on this from the CST coaches.

Good question Robert. I'm a little tired right now but I’ll try to help out.

It'll come, believe me, it'll come. I feel your pain when it comes to wanting quicker size gains. Remember though, what we're developing here is functional strength. The Clubbells are the best tool out there when it comes to correcting the strength deficits that conventional lifting creates. The reason you don't feel "worked" after a session of the Bullwhips is that your grip is your weakest link. The Clubbells will fix that.

Think of it like this:
Your arm is the bullet and your grip is the gun. Without the gun you have no means with which to deliver your power. You may have a ton of potential power...but it won't mean anything without a way to deliver it.


I think I have heard that one shouldn’t do both on the same training day, but I’m not sure about that. If that’s true, what is the reason. Something about the cardio “undoing” the strength training or some such. I assume that it would be okay to do cardio on the days I’m not swinging the Clubbell®. Right now, I would like to burn some extra calories to shed a healthy portion of body fat. So any suggestions on that would be most welcome as well.

I am of the opinion that this all depends on what your goals are. In your case, if I understand you corrrectly you want size (muscle growth) and you want to burn calories to facilitate fat loss. Remember, that muscle and fat are both tissue. You need to be in caloric deficit in order to lose fat and caloric surplus in order to build muscle. So you may need to re-examine your goals.

This is a bit of an oversimplification, but you get the idea, right?

Hope this helped

[rbrown]

Coach Jones, thank you for the reply! My apologies for not being clear in my initial post. I’m more concerned with functional strength and strength-endurance gains than in size gains. Some size gain would be good and I assume I will gain some size whether I’m specifically trying to or not and that’ll be fine.

I agree that my grip is my weak link, but that isn’t to say that the rest of my body can’t be continuing to progress as well. Or does it? Or should it? I don’t see how doing some extra work where my grip isn’t concerned so much would hurt me (such as pull-ups, dips, pushups, squats or DB snatches) as long as the amount of extra work, the timing of it and the specific exercises are appropriate. I’m just not sure what appropriate is. If I am all wrong about this, I’ll just continue with only the Bullwhips Density Cycle and reassess what I should do when that is complete, but would like to “do more” without doing too much (or too much of the wrong thing) more.

I see what you mean about cardio and size gain. That makes sense to me. Is it still an issue if I’m not so much concerned with size as I am with strength?

[Coach Jones]

My advice would be to first complete your curent density cycle and then re-evaluate. Decide where you want to go from there.

If it were me, i'd save the extra cardio for my next cycle.

Good luck!