My raw journey to 1900...

[Brian C]

I feel the same way squatting raw in chucks. Just feel like im not able to get to depth properly. Going to get some oly shoes to give them a shot. Really nice deload sessions Bri.

[Brian Hopper]

Waiting on the videos. Otherwise, it all looks pretty darned good!

Thanks a lot Tim!!! I'll have it up soon...

[Brian Hopper]

I feel the same way squatting raw in chucks. Just feel like im not able to get to depth properly. Going to get some oly shoes to give them a shot. Really nice deload sessions Bri.

Yeah, but I feel so much more comfortable squatting in my chucks. I'm going to play around with the shoes and see what works best for me. Thanks B!!!

[Brian Hopper]

Video

[-JM-]

Holy hell that was a lot of work Brian. Big volume. You looked like you could squat that all day long. Scary.

[Brian Hopper]

Holy hell that was a lot of work Brian. Big volume. You looked like you could squat that all day long. Scary.

Haha, thanks a lot Justin!!!

[Coke]

Wow dude, the Brian we all know putting on a clinic!

[CHASE TRUSNOVEC]

squats looked great bri!! form on the pulls is money too!!

[LuNa]

Holy hell that was a lot of work Brian. Big volume. You looked like you could squat that all day long. Scary.

X2, impressive work Brian. I love the garage gym, any equipment additions you are planning to make soon?

[Brian Hopper]

Wow dude, the Brian we all know putting on a clinic!

squats looked great bri!! form on the pulls is money too!!

X2, impressive work Brian. I love the garage gym, any equipment additions you are planning to make soon?

Thanks guys!!! Luna, I'm not sure yet...I would like to add a GHR, reverse hyper, leg curl & leg extension bench, seated calf machine, just not sure when i'll be buying some new stuff, lol.

[GazzyG]

Great vid, Brian!

Those pulls at the end looked like the plates were hollow, that's how quick they went up, haha!

[Brian Hopper]

Great vid, Brian!

Those pulls at the end looked like the plates were hollow, that's how quick they went up, haha!

Haha, thanks alot Gaz!!!

[Brian Hopper]

Thursday
05/17/12
Upper Accessory

DB side laterals
30/3x10

Seated shoulder presses
Bar x alot
135/3x10
165/2x10
185x10

Close grip incline presses
135/2x10
185/2x10

Wide grip pulldowns
70x15
120x10
140/2x10
90x20

DB rows
80/3x10

Barbell curls superset with bench dips
75/3x10...BW/3x10

Done...A pretty decent session, I kept it light and easy.

[April Mathis]

All the squats looked fine to me. The 2nd set seeing from the side, I would have white lighted all of them. I'm sure that would be the same for the rest also.

[Brian Hopper]

All the squats looked fine to me. The 2nd set seeing from the side, I would have white lighted all of them. I'm sure that would be the same for the rest also.

Thanks April, I'm pretty sure the depth won't be a problem. I'm thinking about throwing my olympic shoes back on and squatting with the wider grip and see if that helps any.

[Brian Hopper]

Friday
05/18/12
Lower Accessory

SQ-GM's w/cambered bar
Barx10
175/2x10
225/2x10

Dimmel deads
135x20
225/2x12

Tri-plane squats
BW/2x8

Tri-plane lunges
BW/2x6

Back raises
BW+25/3x10

Done...This wraps up my deload for this week. Now it's time to just relax and get ready for next week. I'm hoping for some PR's, so we'll see what happens.

[Coke]

Way to end the week with the fine accessory training.

[Brian Hopper]

Way to end the week with the fine accessory training.

Thanks Coke!!!

[HJP]

Depth looked pretty good to me in the vid mate.
Solid accessory work for both the upper an lower, plenty of good volume mate.

[Brian Hopper]

Depth looked pretty good to me in the vid mate.
Solid accessory work for both the upper an lower, plenty of good volume mate.

Thanks alot Hayden!!!

[joey54]

Brian, I just watched your squat videos today. You obviously go deeper in the oly shoes, but the depth with the chucks and the wider grip is more than fine. You look more comfortable with this style of squatting. You keep a better arch and are much more explosive. I think you may find if you try to squat in the oly shoes the way you are with the chucks, it is going to not feel as comfortable.

Brian C, to mimic oly shoes, give a pair of old dress shoes a shot first. I have heard that suggestion before and it holds true. I tried it after getting my oly shoes and the difference is minimal, minus about $100.

[Brian Hopper]

Brian, I just watched your squat videos today. You obviously go deeper in the oly shoes, but the depth with the chucks and the wider grip is more than fine. You look more comfortable with this style of squatting. You keep a better arch and are much more explosive. I think you may find if you try to squat in the oly shoes the way you are with the chucks, it is going to not feel as comfortable.

Brian C, to mimic oly shoes, give a pair of old dress shoes a shot first. I have heard that suggestion before and it holds true. I tried it after getting my oly shoes and the difference is minimal, minus about $100.

That's what i'm afraid of. I think if I take my time getting down in the hole by staying tight and getting a feel for where I need to be, then I should be fine. Tone suggested that I take my stance in about an inch or two in my chucks, which should allow me to hit depth better. I think I feel more comfortable in my chucks because I don't dive bomb my squats in chucks, I stay tight and try to be more explosive out of the hole. The grip is something I still need to play around with. I'm not sure that I can carry the bar low using a wide grip with 90-100% load on my back. So this is something i'm going to play around with, whether I use my chucks or olympic shoes. Thanks for your input!!!

[t gale]

Squats looked good. what is your opinion of the program so far

[CHASE TRUSNOVEC]

always lookin great brian...keep on movin dude

[Brian Hopper]

Squats looked good. what is your opinion of the program so far

Thanks!!! So far I like it alot. Today was sort of an off day, but I still managed a tough PR.

always lookin great brian...keep on movin dude

Thanks alot Chase.