I posted something like this a while ago, with Shaf doing a leg matrix. This idea of a matrix or giant set of exercises to hit a variety of muscle fibres has been kicking around a bit recently.
Alwyn Cosgrove has a leg matrix of:
- 24 squats
- 24 lunges (alternating on every rep for 12 each side)
- 24 jump lunges (exploding up and switching legs mid-air for 12 each side)
- 24 jump squats (squat all the way down, jump up as high as you can)
...to be done in under 90 seconds
Vern Gambetta prescribes a circuit of :
- Bodyweight Squat x 20 (Break Parallel)
- Bodyweight Lunge x 20 (Lunge as long as leg length)
- Bodyweight step-up x 20 (Touch head at full extension)
- Jump Squat x 10
Gambetta has recently proposed what he calls the Spectrum Squat™ Workout:
- Isometric Squat – Hold 30 seconds
- Sandbag Squat (25 – 30 % Bodyweight) – 6 reps
- Unloaded Fast Bodyweight Squat (1 rep per second) – 6 reps
- Unloaded Jump Squats – 8 reps
I'm aiming to try this circuit in my workouts soon, maybe doing a kettlebell goblet squat for the second move.
Comments
I discussed this with some others on a message board recently here
Someone said there that Dr Hatfield for example came up with a similar idea about 15 years ago called holistic sets.
If you read Gambetta's post on Spectrum sets he says he got it way back: he saw "Wernor Gunthor, the Swiss shot putter, doing a similar workout and by a presentation I attended in 1987 by Giles Cometti, a French sport scientist (just rediscovered the notes)"
Devany is good, but there are others out there thinking similar things.
Start high-rep, low weightm, ST fibres. End low-rep high weight, FT fibres. There you have it.
Nice point. You should put a "TM" on that ;-)
thanks for the comment
Devany turned me onto it, but I agree there is a good amount of people out there that have been doing exactly that.
I play tennis, with an older guy (ex american football player) who is in GREAT shape. He lifts once a week in a type of Devany way. He says his heavy heavy workout takes him 15 minutes. He's been doing this for 22 years. He's 62.
Thought I'd share.
Cheers, Marc
www.feelgoodeating.blogspot.com
I tried the leg circuit this morning. Good g'd!!!!!!
I did the jump lunges last and could not complete 24.
Thanks again for posting. GREAT little workout.
Marc
Regards
CD
thanks for the post. I had a look at you blog - very interesting stuff.
Regarding the 24 reps I'd agree that those reps are too high for most. I've no idea why Cosgrove came up with 24 reps. Gambetta's spectrum idea seems more achievable.