Bulgarian for Masters??

[azolylifter]

I am thinking about doing Nick Horton's (PDX Weightlifting) version of Bulgarian training. Basically, I would be doing:

Monday - Snatch to max plus 3 doubles, CJ to max, FS to max plus 2-3 doubles/triples
Tuesday - Power SN to max, Power Clean to max, BS to max plus 2-3 triples
Wednesay - rest day
Thursday - Same as Mon
Friday - same as Tues
Sat - same as Mon/Thurs

What does everybody think?? I'm 39 and compete in the 85's. Bests are around 90 SN and 120 CJ.

[JohnCaesar]

Do it. I am interested to see how it turns out.

[azolylifter]

Originally Posted by JohnCaesar

Do it. I am interested to see how it turns out.

Thanks!!

I did a shortened version of it last year for about 6 weeks and it worked pretty well. If I do it here, I will start it after my June 23rd meet.

[Joel]

Good topic.

I've always wondered about Bulgarian for master lifters. I used to train 4 days a week, then eventually cut it to 3 x a week as I got (relatively) strong (for my age).

[David Woodhouse]

Like Nick alot but the worst possible thing a Master lifter can do is adopt a Bulgarian training program. You are not a genetic outlier, you cannot have a two hour nap every afternoon and most importantly... you are not having daily injections of testosterone suspension!!

My next article is going to illustrate how little training a Master actually requires to reach the World top 5...

[Joel]

Originally Posted by David Woodhouse

Like Nick alot but the worst possible thing a Master lifter can do is adopt a Bulgarian training program. You are not a genetic outlier, you cannot have a two hour nap every afternoon and most importantly... you are not having daily injections of testosterone suspension!!

My next article is going to illustrate how little training a Master actually requires to reach the World top 5...

Good deal. Please share with the rest with once you finish the article. Thanks.

[Einherjar]

Originally Posted by David Woodhouse

Like Nick alot but the worst possible thing a Master lifter can do is adopt a Bulgarian training program. You are not a genetic outlier, you cannot have a two hour nap every afternoon and most importantly... you are not having daily injections of testosterone suspension!!

My next article is going to illustrate how little training a Master actually requires to reach the World top 5...

Really interested in reading this.

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

this is not entirely Bulgarian or Nick's system, but for kicks, I saw how many days I could squat 190kg for sets of 5+ during the Month of June just because. I have no idea what my max squat is and I doubt I'll ever try it because I don't really have the inspiration for that anymore.

I had a major competitions in my sport on June 1-3, then another small on on June 9 - so I didn't lift then. But otherwise, I squatted 22 out of the 30 days during June. Every time I went to at least 415/190 for sets of 5. 10 of those days I did the 415 for sets of 10 - again, just because. Two days I went crazy and did it for one set of 20.

Right now, that same 190 feels like 60. But I'm back to doing it every other day and doing my event work on the off days.

I'm 42 and not a spring chicken. I'm very surprised because I didn't think I would be able to do it. I'm much stronger now I think. I also recover faster. And I am doing full movements without fear - which speaks volumes as I've been very averse for 22 months now after a knee injury that resulted in surgery.


All the best,
Arden

[azolylifter]

Well, just to let everyone know, I will be starting this program the week of July 23rd. I'm running Smolov Jr for Back Squats right now, just did Day 2 of the program yesterday, along with some presses for a short strength cycle. This was actually Nick's recommendation to bring my squat strength up and volume up, except he recommended the regular Smolov base mesocycle. I can't get through the 9's and 7's on that program, so I decided on the Jr version for me.

I'll continue to update this thread in the future so that other Master lifters can see how it turns out.

One other thing, I do have a couple job interviews next week, so if I get one of them, I'll have to figure a couple of things out schedule-wise!!

[PDM]

"Bulgarian" seems to be the CrossFit of weightlifting. Seems like a lot of folks think it is the way to forge "elite snatches/clean and jerks". Like CrossFit, its basic principles should be followed by most lifters...focus on the snatches, C&Js, front squats and do them heavy. But, also like CrossFit, most of us will be crushed by the volume prescribed.