Martin's odyssey to become not as weak.

[Hunttarded]

Still keeping strong and moving a lot of weight bro. Where you at in Toronto where they got a mono?

[martin_mathers]

Still keeping strong and moving a lot of weight bro. Where you at in Toronto where they got a mono?

Fortis Fitness. As far as I know this is the only gym in Toronto with a mono. The next closest one is in Oshawa.

[Hunttarded]

Thought so. Seems to be the best gym for the sport here, was considering joining myself but it's a hike for me.

Atmosphere must be great. I think Jeremy Hamilton and some OSM guys train there.

[martin_mathers]

Thought so. Seems to be the best gym for the sport here, was considering joining myself but it's a hike for me.

Atmosphere must be great. I think Jeremy Hamilton and some OSM guys train there.

Yea I train with Jeremy. He does some of my programming too. There are a few strongmen here but I don't think any of them actually won or have been to OSM. Unless you're talking about the lightweight strongman guy Dain Wallis. I don't know if he ever won but he did really well before but I think he's injured now.

The atmosphere used to be better at the old and smaller location. Ever since we moved to the bigger location and Omar started advertising Fortis a lot, we've gotten a lot of really annoying douchebag bros (not his fault). Now it's just really busy and really segregated. Back in the old place everyone talked to everyone (as far as I remember).

[NorthStrong]

dat sean kelly dollahs tho

also u inspire me to start knee wrapping sooner in this training cycle lol.

[Hunttarded]

Yea I train with Jeremy. He does some of my programming too. There are a few strongmen here but I don't think any of them actually won or have been to OSM. Unless you're talking about the lightweight strongman guy Dain Wallis. I don't know if he ever won but he did really well before but I think he's injured now.

The atmosphere used to be better at the old and smaller location. Ever since we moved to the bigger location and Omar started advertising Fortis a lot, we've gotten a lot of really annoying douchebag bros (not his fault). Now it's just really busy and really segregated. Back in the old place everyone talked to everyone (as far as I remember).

Shame the atmosphere changed, but atleast it helps keep the gym afloat and you get better equipment (maybe?). That must be pretty dope to train with him, needless to say the guy's hench as **** and from what I see on Youtube seems like a sick guy.

For some reason I thought you were from out west or something.

[martin_mathers]

dat sean kelly dollahs tho

also u inspire me to start knee wrapping sooner in this training cycle lol.

He got no problem kicking out the douchebags we complain about though. But now that Antoine Vaillant is training here I’m sure there will be more annoying bros who have never even stepped on stage but call themselves bodybuilders.

Get on that Malanichev/Zahir program bro, wraps all year round.

Shame the atmosphere changed, but atleast it helps keep the gym afloat and you get better equipment (maybe?). That must be pretty dope to train with him, needless to say the guy's hench as **** and from what I see on Youtube seems like a sick guy.

For some reason I thought you were from out west or something.

Yes the equipment was good in the first place but it’s just getting better and better. Sean the owner is a little crazy and he’s constantly thinking about newer equipment and expanding the gym.

I live in Toronto and Kitchener/Waterloo.

[martin_mathers]

Deadlift
Barx15
135x10
225x5
315x3
365x2
405x1
455x1
495x1
505x3x5 sets. http://instagram.com/p/BCrULPGSkcy/
All pretty fast, had to use the pound plates today and it felt so different. I think I’m quicker off the ground with the pound plates but slower on the lockout. With the kilo plates which are much thinner, I’m slower off the ground but have better lockout. Also the weight kept bouncing around which caused me to pull from a not so optimal position. Last set was a little tough so capped it at 5 sets.

Rows
4x12

GHR
3x10

[martin_mathers]

5.5 weeks out
Bench
Barx20
135x10
185x8
225x5
275x3
295x2
315x1
330x4 PR. http://instagram.com/p/BCwS9zrSkWh/
330x2 Right pec (close to the pec tie in area) popped on the way down on the 2nd rep. Managed to push the weight back up fast as fuk cause I was panicking lol. Really felt like a pop at the time but there's no bruising. Maybe it's a strain or bad spasm? Really don't know what it is, but I know I felt something bunch up and "jump". Tried benching the bar after and I couldn't lower it without hurting. Now it hurts when I move around or flex the pec. Still no bruising.

I was feeling very strong on this day. My bench is feeling the strongest it has ever been. But all my warmups felt a little painful but I assumed it was just the usual aches. So in my head I was only going to hit 1 top set and shut it down. Looking back I definitely should have done that. The first set of 330x4 I felt no pain at all, so I thought I should do a 2nd set.

Finished with lots of triceps and DB OHP. At least overhead stuff doesn't hurt. Hurt my left pec 3 weeks ago and now it's the right. I won't be benching at all for the rest of this week and next week. I have a plan of what I'm gonna do assuming it heals after next week. But I probably won't be hitting any heavy 90%+ singles before the meet.

[BombDonald]

330x4 looked great. Get some ice on that pec!

[grandmoloch]

Tough break with the pec. No bruising is a good sign, hopefully you'll get back to somewhat normal bench training and kill it meet week.

[Hunttarded]

Tough break with the pec brother. Hopefully it's nothing but a spasm.

[martin_mathers]

330x4 looked great. Get some ice on that pec!

Tough break with the pec. No bruising is a good sign, hopefully you'll get back to somewhat normal bench training and kill it meet week.

Tough break with the pec brother. Hopefully it's nothing but a spasm.

Thanks guys. I think it's not a big problem. It's already hurting less right now than this morning when I woke up.

[Juggernaut0]

Rest that pec up and come back strong man. You'll be fine.

[martin_mathers]

Rest that pec up and come back strong man. You'll be fine.

Shouldn't be too bad. Still in pain though.


Squat
barx10
140x8
230x4
280x3
320x2
370x2
410x1
440x1
470x1
490x3x4 http://www.instagram.com/p/BC1tM23ykUy/
Didn't feel hard but these didn't move as fast as I'd like. Last week of wrapping "training tightness". Next week I'll start wrapping tighter. Last set I used the Powerbelly Death rows just for fun. My first time using them for a working set and I actually felt less support than the strangulators. But I could've been just tired.

Rows
4x10

Split Squats
3x10

Decline situps
3x10





Then the next day I just did some benching with the bar and 95lbs for sets of 15-20. Trying to get some blood in the area. Also did many sets of 10 on DB OHP. Shoulders were destroyed.

[martin_mathers]

5 weeks out
Deadlift
barx15
135x8
225x5
315x3
365x2
405x2
455x1
495x1
525x3,3,1,1,1
http://www.instagram.com/p/BC9NSj4SkbS/
The triples moved well but felt sloppy especially the lockout. Cleaned it up on my 2nd set and form was much better. Decided to do singles after to practice better and they all felt good. Next week was supposed to be my last week of triples but I think I'm going to start training singles.

Rows
3x15

GHR
3x10

[martin_mathers]

Bench
worked up to some triples with 225, hurt. Felt the same "pop" in my pec but this time it was more like a "click". I think the pec muscle is pulling on the tendon underneath and the tendon might be strained/inflamed.

Lat Pulldown
4x15

DB OHP
8 sets of 10-12

Tri Pushdown
3x15

Two options I have right now:
1) Pull out of the meet, take 2-3 weeks off from benching completely. Compete on June 18 instead at an RPS meet which will give me 13 weeks from now. Downside is I would be in school at that time and the date would be close to midterms. And I wouldn’t get to train with a deadlift bar while I’m in school.

2) Still compete in 4 weeks since I already paid. I wouldn’t be able to plan anything for my bench workouts for the next few weeks and I’d just have to take it one week at a time. Downside is if I keep trying to bench even with light weights I could re-injure it like I did today. And since I injured my pec last week and I’m currently 4 weeks out, this would mean 5 weeks of no real bench training at all and I won’t be able to hit anything close to what I want at the meet. So there goes the total.

On the fence right now, but I guess if my pec still hurts next week I'll have to pull out of the meet.

[martin_mathers]

Decided to pull out of the meet in 4 weeks. Going to take the next 2 weeks off from benching completely and focus on LOTS of OHP. Competing on May 29 instead at the CPF Amateur World Qualifier. I'm currently 10 weeks out and have more time for my pec to heal. I'm moving back to school at the end of April which means no more training with squat bar and deadlift bar.


Friday
Squat
barx15
140x8
230x5
280x3
320x1
370x1
410x1
450x1
490x1
520x1
550x1 tied PR from 4 months ago
575x1 25lb PR. Moved well but felt heavy. Not surprising since this is like 100lbs over my normal training weight. I was in a peak phase for the meet in 4 weeks. But now that I'm doing the meet in 10 weeks instead I decided to hit something heavy and then reset next week to get ready for May 29. Jeremy told me today that I should go for 600lbs in a few weeks but I think it'd be smarter to back down and save it for the meet. Personally going heavy is more taxing mentally than physically.

Rows
4x12

Leg Press with bands
4x10

520:


550:


575:


I originally planned to hit around 584 to 595 at the meet. So considering I didn't peak for this I'm quite happy. Now I have 6 extra weeks to train and hit even bigger goals at the meet.


Saturday

Barbell OHP
up to 155 for a lot of 5's. Still learning how to do these without killing my shoulder.

DB OHP
5x10

Lat pulldown
4x12

Tricep Pushdown
3x15

Facepulls
3x12

Super light machine flys for rehab
3x20, done extremely slowly

I expect boulder shoulders after the next 2 weeks.

[martin_mathers]

Deadlift
barx15
135x5
225x3
315x2
365x1
405x1
455x1
505x1
545x1
575x1
600x0 Just couldn't lock out the last few inches. Really surprised with this because out of all lifts I was 99% sure I would've gotten this 600 pull. It's not like I was having a bad day either. 545 and 575 moved the fastest they have ever moved. I've gotten a lot stronger on the deadlift, just didn't show on the 600. Pretty mad about it at the time. Now I have 9 weeks to surpass this.

GHR
5x10

We'll meet again 600... Back to volume training for now.

[martin_mathers]

Light Paused Bench
up to
180x3xlots

Lat Pulldown
4x12

DB OHP
4x10

DB Bench
many sets of 20

Flys
3x15

Tricep Pushdown
3x12

Happy to be able to bench today without pain. Still felt tightness and discomfort in the area but not really any pain. Same thing with the DB Bench. I couldn't even do those last week. Got a nice pump from all the reps. Wanted to add more weight but oh well, live to fight another day.

[Juggernaut0]

So it's safe to say you won't be attempting 600 again unless it's at the meet. That'll be some hype stuff. lol

Hope the pec heals ASAP man.

[martin_mathers]

So it's safe to say you won't be attempting 600 again unless it's at the meet. That'll be some hype stuff. lol

Hope the pec heals ASAP man.

Pretty much. I'm certain if I had peaked for it I would've gotten the 600. I mean I was still pulling for volume the week before.

Squat
barx15
135x10
225x4
315x2
365x1
add wraps
405x1
425x1
440x5,5,5,5,6 Did 6 on my last set cause I can't count.
Squatted in flat shoes and I was surprised how much BETTER it felt. Felt like the power was transferred a lot more efficiently into the weight. And I didn't get thrown on my toes at all, which occasionally happens when I'm in heels.



Leg Press with bands
4x10

Rows
3x12

Decline Situps
3x10

After every set on the squat my right calf was killing me. Felt extremely tight and painful and couldn't even walk. Felt fine during squats though. Left groin has also been bothering me a bit.
In Ottawa for the long weekend. Might drop by Jay Nera's gym tomorrow for a quick bench workout.

[martin_mathers]

Trained at Jay Nera's Dynamo Barbell today. Pretty sick gym. Much smaller than Fortis, kind of like the gym I train at when I'm in school. Nice old-school warehouse gym dirty and sweaty. Had a talk with Jay about my pec problems and he thinks there's something wrong about the way I set up my lats during deadlifts, which is kinda messing with my pec minor. Also got to talk with Willie Albert which was pretty damn cool to me cause when I first started powerlifting, Jay and Willie's youtube videos were the first ones that I came across.

Did a lot of paused bench triples at 220 and 225. No pain in the pec today. Then finished with DB OHP and DB Bench. They don't have any machines and not much to work with in terms of assistance stuff. Which explains why some of them go straight to globo gyms after training the main lifts.

[martin_mathers]

Deadlift
barx15
135x8
225x5
315x3
365x3
405x1
445x1x25
Going to focus on lots of singles until the meet. Really need to hone the technique and make my sumo deadlift resemble a sumo deadlift. I have the strength for 600+ just not the technique. Got to practice my set up today and tried to get my hips down and use more legs. Still a few issues to be fixed but after 25 singles I did feel like my form already got better.

Rows
4x10

GHR
3x10

[Hunttarded]

Glad your pec is headed the right way brother. I totally see where you're coming from re: sumo form, very minute technical change can make or break the entire lift.

[martin_mathers]

Glad your pec is headed the right way brother. I totally see where you're coming from re: sumo form, very minute technical change can make or break the entire lift.

Thanks. And yea I've always been very lazy at the bottom with the deadlift and just try to rip it off the ground. Need to be more patient.

[martin_mathers]

Light Paused Bench
barx15
135x8
185x5
225x3
245x3x12 sets
No pain in the pec but I still felt something. Don't know what it is but it's still there. Part of it is probably in my head. Plus I kept messing with my pec between sets so that didn't help.

DB OHP
4x10
Went heavy on these

DB Bench
4x20

Flys
3x15

Lat Pulldown
4x12

Facepulls
3x15

Got a nice pump.

[martin_mathers]

Friday
Squat
barx15
135x8
225x5
315x2
365x1
wraps
405x1
435x1
450x5x5 easy, kept shifting onto my right leg for whatever reason.

Finished with rows and leg press against bands.

Saturday
Paused Bench
up to
265x3x12 sets
Pretty much zero pain and discomfort on this day, felt good. But I know the pec is still not 100% healed yet.

Finished with pulldowns, DB OHP, DB Bench, flys and tricep pushdowns. Pump.

[martin_mathers]

Deadlift
barx15
135x8
225x5
315x3
365x2
405x1
445x1
465x1x25
Form felt a little better than last week. Still trying to squeeze it off the ground slowly instead of jerking it. Need to keep my hips down more. Getting there slowly.

GHR
3x10

Pulling 25 singles is definitely more taxing than a 5x5, for sumo anyways.

[martin_mathers]

Paused Bench
barx20
135x10
185x5
225x4
255x3
275x3x12 sets
Nice and fast. Wanted to do 5's but I need to stick with lower reps until after the meet. Too risky.

Lat Pulldown
4x12

DB OHP
3x10

DB Bench
3x20

Facepulls
3x15

Flys
3x15

Still 7 weeks out, lots of time. Moving back to school in 3 weeks though which means no more Fortis and back to sub-par equipment.