MOVING TARGET KETTLEBELL COMPLEX, PART II

BY PAVEL TSATSOULINE, CHAIRMAN

Several months ago, StrongFirst published Moving Target Kettlebell Complex, a workout we sometimes put the students through at SFG I instructor certification.  I asked the readers with program design experience to build a four- to six-week training plan around it.  Following is one of your solutions.

Before I present it, I want to stress that one must organize a plan of such a length in a way that enables one to progress at a sustainable manner to reach the limit on the last week.  One must use some form of cycling: linear, step, or wave.  Light and/or medium days are indispensable with linear cycles; optional with the other two types.

With that in mind, take a look at one of the solutions offered by Dave T.:

“For this progression use bells closer to the 8RM.  6RM may be too heavy to progress.  Do the workout three times a week.  Add a rep to the top set of each 2, 3, 5 movement every week.  Week two it would be 2, 3, 6.  After five more weeks you should be at 2, 3, 10.  Take a deload week doing 2, 3, 5 again.  Start your next week at 2, 3, 5 with heavier kettlebells.”

A smart move to start light, with 8RM, to gain momentum.

A three times a week frequency will work for most.

Adding a rep once a week means Dave chose a step cycle with no light days.  Very well.

Let us take a look at the rate of progression.

Is it realistic for one to press his old 8RM ten times after six weeks of such training?—A piece of cake for any intermediate.

Even on the third rung of a ladder?—Yes, because Dave has kept the bottom rungs low: 2, 3, 10.  They will only make your top set stronger instead of pre-exhausting you, as a taller ladder like 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 would.  The 1:1 work to rest ratio might be a problem, so take extra rest between rungs the last couple of weeks.

Well done, Dave!

The author did not specify whether you are supposed to do one or two series.  If it is one, you are looking at 50 presses per week.  Complexes do give an extra anabolic stimulus that enable one to reduce the press volume—but not that much.  So let us agree on two series, about 100 weekly reps.  If you run into trouble on the top rung of the press ladder in the second series towards the end of the cycle, simply finish the set in a rest/pause fashion.  E.g, you did 1 clean + 9 presses + 1 squat in the first series.  In the second you are running out of gas after 6.  Do not push to failure but park the bells, shake off the tension for about a minute, then reclean the weights, do three more presses and one squat.  You already made your target in the first series; in the second all you need to do is get the volume in.

If you are an experienced girevik who has met the SFG II military press standard, you are likely to find a step cycle without light or medium days too tough to handle.  You will need sharper load changes and regular deloading.  That means either a wave cycle or an introduction of light and or medium days.  Following is a simple implementation of the second option.

Make Monday your heavy day, Wednesday your light day, and Friday your medium day.  There are many ways to make that play out.  Since we do not have much room to maneuver with the already low volume, intensity or density will have to give.  Try this: on Wednesday reduce the intensity, while keeping the 1:1 work to rest ratio.  In other words, if you were pressing a pair of 24s, drop down to 20s.  On Friday maintain the intensity (stay with the 24s) but lower your work to rest ratio to 1:2.  In practical terms it means three gireviks going through the training, rather than two, with the bells never resting.

After five weeks the author has suggested: “Take a deload week doing 2, 3, 5 again.  Start your next week at 2, 3, 5 with heavier kettlebells.”  That I would not do.  Your body and your mind would appreciate switching to a low rep, long rest pure strength program.  Deload with a week or two ofKettlebell Simple & Sinister.  Then scale S&S back to twice a week and “grease the groove” with military presses, single or double, and double kettlebell squats for three weeks.

In the near future I will analyze other effective programming solutions to this complex offered by our readers.  Meanwhile, you have something to keep yourself busy with for six weeks.