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Pyramid Training

Posted on 6/21/19 at 11:45 pm
Posted by numptythrubbers
Member since Feb 2018
246 posts
Posted on 6/21/19 at 11:45 pm
What are your thoughts on pyramid training?

I got chatting to some guy who swears by it, and he is massive. He says he's had the best progress since swapping from 4x10 to pyramid sets and reps.

He does a typical bro split, 4-5 exercises per body part, 10 sets per exercise. Every set is AMRAP as you move up the pyramid. Rest is minimal.

My question is how do you progress in an intelligent and structured manner this way? I get how you progress with sets across or reverse pyramid training, but not sure on this.

Also, training this way seems to conflict with everything else I've read on the subject? For example, you should start your 'hard sets' with the heaviest weight, not lightest. However, there's no denying this guys results.

Thoughts?
Posted by LSUAlum2001
Stavro Mueller Beta
Member since Aug 2003
47135 posts
Posted on 6/22/19 at 12:28 am to
He’s probably juiced to the gills.

My best strength gains were with 9-12 total working sets per body part varying from 4-6 reps (compound lifts) to 6-8 reps (isolation lifts). This was usually 3-4 exercises with 3 working sets.

My working sets were all 85% of my max on the compound lifts and the isolation reps were there just to force a pump into the specific BP.

Each body part once every 7-10 days.
This post was edited on 6/22/19 at 12:32 am
Posted by jvilletiger25
jacksonville, fl
Member since Jan 2014
17028 posts
Posted on 11/15/19 at 2:13 pm to
Pyramid training is what I do when I want to get bigger and stronger. It's the best way for me. I start with 12 reps and go down to 2. So 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2. Increasing weight with each set. It really gives me the best results, because you're hitting the high reps, less weight and low reps, heavy weight with each workout.
Posted by numptythrubbers
Member since Feb 2018
246 posts
Posted on 11/16/19 at 1:51 am to
Seriously?

Everyone else here just says get strong using an LP like Greyskull.
Posted by lsu777
Lake Charles
Member since Jan 2004
31231 posts
Posted on 11/17/19 at 1:13 pm to
quote:

Everyone else here just says get strong using an LP like Greyskull


Tell you one way you don't get strong is program hopping, that's for damn sure. There is nothing special about the rep schemes in greyskull, it's just that it allows one to set PRs, hits the major muscle groups and has built in progressions to bring you from a beginner to advanced.

Ok OP, there is nothing wrong with doing pyramid training. It's a preference between ramping sets like that and a rpt style. With traditional pyramid training, you are essentially warming the muscles and joints for the heavy sets to come. You are ramping the weight.

As far as how to progress, same way you would on rpt independent. Set your rep ranges for each set, when you can hit the top of the rep range or over it, you increase the weight.

As far as rest, it's been scientifically proven that to fully recover between sets, almost everyone is going to need 120s at a min. But what the guy you speak about is just doing more density training. He is fine with the decrease in strength to start and is just staying consistent adding weight when he can.

Key to any program is consistency and progression. If you want to try and see if you like pyramid training, do it for 8 weeks. Keep your rest consistent set to set, workout to workout and progress as you reach the top of rep rangesm set a bunch of rep PRs and have fun. If after 8 weeks you decide you hate it, then switch to a different rep scheme.
Posted by numptythrubbers
Member since Feb 2018
246 posts
Posted on 11/18/19 at 11:36 am to
Thanks for the reply. I just couldnt get my hear around how you would progress logically, but actually you can just use independent rpt method so makes sense.

Interestingly we spoke about roids, and apparently all the other kids in his gym take them. He said in all gyms so many people take them.
Posted by Rep520
Member since Mar 2018
10420 posts
Posted on 11/18/19 at 12:12 pm to
quote:

Everyone else here just says get strong using an LP like Greyskull.


You can do a pyramid LP. Pyramid training is about weight and rep progression in a single workout.

Linear progression is about weight progression workout to workout.

For instance, if you do 4 sets of bench 2x a week with 12, 8, 5 and 3 reps and ascending weight, you're doing pyramid training. If you try to add 5 pounds to the bar each week, you're now doing both pyramid and linear progression.

Linear progression is just a consistent measurement of progressive overload. It doesn't prohibit you from utilizing other programming approaches in the workout. It only affects how you progress over time.
Posted by numptythrubbers
Member since Feb 2018
246 posts
Posted on 11/21/19 at 12:52 pm to
So,

If size/hypertrophy is the goal for a regular natural lifter, is high volume/density training better, or lower volume 'chase the numbers' type training?
Posted by lsu777
Lake Charles
Member since Jan 2004
31231 posts
Posted on 11/21/19 at 1:03 pm to
quote:

If size/hypertrophy is the goal for a regular natural lifter, is high volume/density training better, or lower volume 'chase the numbers' type training


Depends on where they are at in progression but either way it's chasing the number. It's the increase in strength over time in ANY GIVEN REP RANGE that is going to drive hypertrophy so long as you are in a caloric surplus, positive nitrogen balance, and are meeting minimum effective volume marks

Stop over thinking it. Just eat 300g of protein, lift to get stronger in the 5-10 rep range, increased frequency and the results will come.

There is nothing magical about any rep range, it's the progression over time. It's funny the volume guys scream about volume yet DC training just plain fricking works and is super low volume.


Where you personally are at, you just need to eat 300g of protein and lift hard as frick 3 days a week.
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