Total Strength Program

Improving strength and oaverall conditioning are important aspects of my programs, but to many of you, they're side effects. The real purpose is bigger muscles.

The Total Strength Program (TSP) is different. Sure, you'll get bigger muscles with this program – much bigger. But this time the goal is to make you stronger – much stronger.

And not just stronger in general, although that, like hypertrophy, is inevitable.

I want you to get stronger in the three powerlifts: bench press, squat, and deadlift.

But don't mistake this as a powerlifting program and nothing more. Sure, it's a terrific program for powerlifters, but my goal is to help you use the powerlifts to reach your own goals, whether you compete in a sport or work out for the classic reasons:

• Strength
• Size
• Power
• Performance

The key to TSP is one of the most effective strength-building methods I've used in more than a decade of working with athletes: the supramaximal hold.

Don't let the jargon put you off. This is more straightforward than it sounds. A "supramaximal" load is easily defined: It's a weight that's greater than you could lift for one full-range-of-motion repetition. For example, if you can bench press 300 pounds from chest to lockout, then a supramaximal load is anything more than 300 pounds.

You know, of course, that shortening the range of motion allows you to work with a heavier load. We've all seen guys in the gym who claim PRs despite cutting inches (if not feet) off the distance the bar has to travel. But cheating isn't the goal here.

The idea is to use isometric holds and shortened ranges of motion deliberately and systematically, with the goal of increasing the amount of weight you can lift through the entire range.

Let's look at the bench press. If 300 pounds is your max for a full range of motion, you could easily hold 125% of that near lockout – 375 pounds. That's a lot of weight to hold in your hands. And that's great because it conditions and strengthens your muscles and joints to lift with much heavier loads.

A second goal of TSP is to develop explosive strength, which is defined as your ability to develop maximum force when available time is limited. It's one of the most important strength qualities than any power athlete can develop.

Explosive strength has three components: maximal strength, starting strength, and acceleration strength. The supramaximal holds I described enhance the first component, maximal strength. Remember that the holds involve the final few inches of the range of motion, where you can normally handle the heaviest loads.

You'll develop starting strength by doing the opposite: You'll work with weights that are lighter than your 1RM and blast them through the first part of the range of motion. With the bench press, that means moving the bar from your chest to a point a few inches above your chest.

To improve on the final component, acceleration strength, you'll do something invigorating: Lift light loads as fast as you can. To develop this strength quality you'll do exercises like explosive push-ups, coming up off the floor on every repetition, which, I don't mind saying, are kinda fun and challenging in their own way.

To synopsize, you'll be doing three separate variations of a traditional full-range rep:

• Heavy supramaximal holds in the upper range of motion
• Moderately heavy loads in the fist third of the motion
• Light loads moved super fast through the entire range of motion

Enough with the sales pitch. Let's get to the goods of the program!

TSP Testing

In order to develop your strength, you must first understand where you're weakest. Ideally, you'll perform a 3-repetition maximum (a load you can lift three times before failure) for each of the following lifts with a narrow, medium, and wide position.

Exercise	Narrow	Medium	Wide
Barbell Bench Press – Distance between index fingers	12"	18"	24"
Deadlift – Distance between big toes	8"	16"	24"
Squat – Distance between big toes	8"	16"	24"

Once you've tested all three lifts with three different positions, make a note of which position is weakest for each lift. You'll use that position for the following programs, where noted.

TSP for Bench Press

You know that the bench press is a "chest" exercise. You know because everyone crowds to the bench press stations in your gym on "chest day." I don't need to tell you that strong pectoral muscles are not only a consequence of dedicated bench pressing, but also a requirement if you're going to improve in the lift. However, a chest can't grow in isolation. You must also have strong triceps, anterior deltoids, rotator cuffs, serratus anterior, and lats.

A good bench press also includes high levels of all aspects of explosive strength that I mentioned earlier: maximal strength, starting strength (including isometric strength from the stretched position), and acceleration strength (a quality that includes the subcategory of reversal strength).

Here's what you need to do for the next month to boost your bench press.

Day 1 – Goal: Maximal Strength

	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Rest	% 1RM	Hand Position
A1	Barbell Bench Press Supramaximal Hold *	4	8s	60s	125	Weakest
A2	Barbell Bench Press	4	3	75	80	Weakest
A3	Wide Grip Pull-Up or Pulldown	4	3	75	80	N/A
B1	EZ Bar Skullcrusher	4	3	60	80	N/A
B2	Dumbbell Decline Pullover	4	3	60	80	N/A
B3	Standing Hammer Curl	4	3	60	80	N/A

* To clarify, that's 4 sets of ONE hold, held for 8 seconds

Barbell Bench Press Supramaximal Hold

Note: only lower the barbell 2-3 inches for the hold.

Day 2 – Goal: Active Recovery

Exercise	Sets	Reps	Rest	% 1RM
Dumbbell Bench Press	2	50	180s	25
Wide Grip Pulldown	2	50	180s	25

Day 3 – Goal: Speed Strength

Exercise	Sets	Reps	Rest	% 1RM	Hand Position
Explosive Push-Up *	7	3	60s	Body weight	Weakest
Chest-Supported Row	7	3	60s	60	N/A
Dumbbell Front Raise	7	3	60	60	N/A
1/4 Dip * *	7	3	60	60	N/A

* Hand position should coincide with weakest bench press position. Do them so fast that your hands come off the floor on each rep
* * Only lower yourself 1/4 of the way down

Day 4 – Off

Day 5 – Goal: Maximal Strength

	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Rest	% 1RM	Hand Position
A1	Barbell Bench Press isometric hold *	5	3	90	85	Weakest
A2	Dumbbell Face Down Side Raise * *	5	3	90	85	N/A
B1	Half Dip	5	3	90	85	N/A
B2	Dumbbell Decline Pullover	5	3	90	85	N/A
B3	Dumbbell External Rotation	5	3	90	85	N/A

* Hold the bottom position for 2 seconds.
* * Lie face down on a 45-degree bench

Days 6 and 7 – Off

Day 8 – Repeat cycle for three more weeks.

Increase the load whenever you can.

TSP for Deadlift

The deadlift is one of the most beneficial exercises known to man, a great way to build muscle and increase total body strength. By no coincidence, it's also one of the hardest exercises. The harder an exercise is, the more your body will transform once you focus on it.

The key to the deadlift is what we call the "posterior chain," which includes the muscles that make up that chain along with the other muscles that surround the chain. Everything in the back of your body, from your spinal erectors to your glutes, hamstrings, and calves must be made progressively stronger. If you want a great deadlift, more than twice your body weight, you need those posterior chain and surrounding muscles to be super strong.

But it's more than muscles: you have to make them strong in the specific movements involved in deadlifting. The main movement is hip extension – straightening your hips when they're bent forward. Back extension – straightening your spine when it's rounded – is also involved, although mainly as a something you want to avoid.

In other words, you want your spine to move as little as possible and that gets a lot harder when the weight gets a lot heavier. You'll also perform movements at the ankles, knees, and even shoulder blades (which pull together to complete the deadlift).

Here's what you should do for the next month to boost your deadlift.

Day 1 – Goal: Maximal Strength

	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Rest	% 1RM	Hand Position
A1	Supramaximal Partial Deadlift *	4	2	60s	125	Weakest
A2	Deadlift Lockout *	4	3	75	80	Weakest
A3	Leg Curl	4	3	75	80	N/A
B1	Side Bend	4	3	60	80	N/A
B2	Hip Abduction	4	3	60	80	N/A
B3	Seated Calf Raise	4	3	60	80	N/A

* These are the same movements, the only difference being the load you use. The supramaximal deadlift is a super heavy deadlift performed through the final 3-4 inches to lockout. The deadlift lockout is the same movement, but it's performed fast with a lighter load.

Here's the thinking: The supramaximal load partial deadlift boosts maximal strength for 60s through postactivation potentiation. Then, you simply perform a set of partial deadlifts 60s after the supramaximal dead because you'll be able to perform the reps more quickly – thus recruiting more motor units.

Partial Deadlift and Deadlift Lockout

Note: From the top position, only lower barbell to just above the knees.

Day 2 – 10 minutes of uphill walking

Day 3 – Goal: Speed Strength

Exercise	Sets	Reps	Rest	% 1RM	Feet Position
Good Morning	10	3	30s	50	Weakest
Reverse Crunch	10	3	30s	50	N/A
Standing Calf Raise	10	3	30s	50	N/A

Day 4 – Same as Day 2

Day 5 – Goal: Maximal Strength

	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Rest	% 1RM	Feet Position
A1	Elevated Platform Deadlift	5	3	60s	85	Weakest
A2	Woodchop	5	3	60s	85	N/A
A3	Leg Curl	5	3	60s	85	N/A
B1	Dumbbell Power Row	5	3	60s	85	N/A
B2	Back Extension	5	3	60s	85	N/A
B3	Donkey Calf Raise	5	3	60s	85	N/A

Dumbbell Power Row

Back Extension

Days 6 and 7 – Off

Day 8 – Repeat cycle for three more weeks

Increase the load whenever you can.

TSP for Squat

When most lifters think of squats they think of quadriceps. As in, "if you want big quads you have to squat big weights." That could be true enough, considering that the alternative quad-builders are leg presses and leg extensions, neither of which is worth any serious investment of your time or energy.

But let's look at the question another way. If you wanted to squat big weights, which muscles do you think would be most important for that goal? The answer isn't quadriceps; their role is grossly overrated. If you want the kind of strength that requires you to empty a plate stand for your max effort sets, you'll need super strong hamstrings, glutes, and back muscles. Sure, your quads will get bigger and stronger, too, but they don't need to be emphasized.

The real action in the squat takes place in the muscles surrounding your hip joints and back. That's where your strongest muscles converge to handle the most extreme feats of strength and power your body is capable of performing. Your knee joints are important – it's impossible to squat heavy weights if they're injured or unstable – but even the healthiest knee joints would come apart if you constantly forced them to take the brunt of the load when you have twice your body's weight sitting on your shoulders.

Here's what you should do for the next month to boost your squat.

Day 1 – Goal: Maximal Strength

	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Rest	% 1RM	Feet Position
A1	Supramaximal Squat	3	8s	60s	125	Weakest
A2	1/4 Squat *	3	3	75s	85	Weakest
A3	Leg Curl	3	3	60s	85	N/A
B1	Side Bend	3	3	60s	85	N/A
B2	Hip Abduction	3	3	60s	85	N/A
B3	Seated Calf Raise	3	3	60s	85	N/A

* Squat down 1/4 of your entire range of motion.

Supramaximal Squat Hold

Note: perform the hold in a power rack; push your hips back and slightly bend your knees.

Day 2 – 10 minutes of uphill walking

Day 3 – Goal: Speed Strength

Exercise	Sets	Reps	Rest	% 1RM	Feet Position
40 Meter Sprint	5	1	180s	N/A	N/A
Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift	10	3	30s	50	Weakest
Reverse Crunch	10	3	30s	50	N/A

Day 4 – Same as Day 2

Day 5 – Goal: Maximal Strength

	Exercise	Sets	Reps	Rest	% 1RM	Feet Position
A1	Barbell Squat	4	3	75s	85	Weakest
A2	Plank *	4	20s	75s	N/A	N/A
A3	Single Leg Deadlift	4	3	60s	85	N/A
B1	Iso-Hold Lunge	4	3	60s	85	N/A
B2	Back Extension	4	3	60s	85	N/A
B3	Standing Calf Raise	4	3	60s	85	N/A

* Have a partner put a plate on your back for added resistance.

Iso-Hold Lunge

Note: Lunge forward and hold the bottom position with your knee 2-3 inches off the floor for two seconds before returning to the starting position.

Days 6 and 7 – Off

Day 8 – Repeat cycle for 3 more weeks

Increase the load whenever you can.

Final Words

The TSP is one of my most advanced and effective programs to date. Follow any of the aforementioned programs for one month and your maximal strength will skyrocket. Feel free to combine the bench press program with either the squat or deadlift programs.

This program is an excerpt from my book Muscle Revolution. The book contains the complete 12-week program with many more advanced methods. In addition, Muscle Revolution contains cutting edge information for building a bigger, stronger, leaner body with tons of nutrition, energy systems and fatigue management.