Martin's odyssey to become not as weak.

[martin_mathers]

Looking strong. Don't let yourself fold over just to get depth bruh, keep sitting back into the suit and stretch it out right.

How you liking the THPs?

That actually happens to me with raw squats as well, the more I sit back the more my back rounds. I've never been able to squat/pull with a neutral spine. I'm trying to let me knees come forward more so I can stay more upright.

THPs are much better than RPMs. IPF wraps are still IPF wraps though, nothing compared to my strangs and kraits.

[martin_mathers]

Bench
315x1
345x1
365x1
Shirt up
405x2
455x1
475x1
495x1
515x1 https://www.instagram.com/p/BZb84CADmin/
455x1,2,1

Rows
4x12
1x18

Dips
3x15
1x30

Equipped bench went well today, still no touch but it was very close. First time focusing on tucking my elbows in and the weight came down much easier. Still need to tuck more and bring the bar down more towards the belly.

[NorthStrong]

Bench
315x1
345x1
365x1
Shirt up
405x2
455x1
475x1
495x1
515x1 https://www.instagram.com/p/BZb84CADmin/
455x1,2,1

Rows
4x12
1x18

Dips
3x15
1x30

Equipped bench went well today, still no touch but it was very close. First time focusing on tucking my elbows in and the weight came down much easier. Still need to tuck more and bring the bar down more towards the belly.

Very nice bench. Don't worry about the touch, it will come, that groove looks really good.

[martin_mathers]

Very nice bench. Don't worry about the touch, it will come, that groove looks really good.

Thanks bruh, I want to get a solid touch before I commit to the equipped meet in December. Been watching lots of Blaine's benches and I'm trying to tuck more like him.



Light Squat
405x3
425x3
445x3
455x3
465x3

Belt Squat
4x10

Pullups
6x7

Core
a bunch

Felt crappy today.

[martin_mathers]

Light Bench
275x5
295x5
305x5
305x5
305x5
305x5

Rows
4x12

DB OHP
4x12

Triceps
3x12

[martin_mathers]

Squat
405x1
455x1
495x1
Suit (straps down)
545x1
585x1
615x1
645x1x2 sets https://www.instagram.com/p/BZqyaYAjQth/

Deadlift
405x1
455x1x2 sets
475x1x3 sets

Split Squats
2x15

Leg Curls
3x12

Squats felt sub-par today but still moved well. Can't seem to stop rounding my upper back when I get to depth. It's a problem that I've always experienced but with super-maximal weights it's more pronounced. Going to substitute my Monday light squats with SSB Goodmornings for a while to get that back stronger.

Deadlifts felt awesome. Finally learned to pull myself down and get tight in the suit. Can't wait to see what happens with heavier weights.

[martin_mathers]

Sunday

Bench
315x1
345x1
365x1
Shirted
405x1
455x1x2 sets
475x1
495x1
515x1
525x1 https://www.instagram.com/p/BZxRqjvjamn/
475x1x3 sets

Rows
5x12

Triceps
3x12

Core
a bunch

525 moved pretty well. Close to a touch again. Still need more weight. Practiced with some lighter weights after and the groove felt really good.


Monday

Deload Squats w/ SSB
245x5x7 sets

Belt Squats
3x10

Pullups
5x7

Core
a bunch

Raw squatting sucks. My knees and IT band were already flaring up after this deload workout lol. Back to raw w/ wraps squatting for my light days next week.

[NorthStrong]

bench looking good again, more weight and more reps and you'll be golden.

make sure if youre competing OPA to take the weight out with locked arms tho.

[martin_mathers]

bench looking good again, more weight and more reps and you'll be golden.

make sure if youre competing OPA to take the weight out with locked arms tho.

Yea definitely need to get that sorted out. Right arm always starts slightly unlocked. Also need to practice holding the weight for a few seconds before and after the lift.

[martin_mathers]

Light Bench
275x5
295x5
305x5
315x5x4 sets

Rows
4x15

DB OHP
4x10

Triceps
3x15

In Ottawa this weekend for thanksgiving. Hoping to visit 613 LIFT. Looks like a sick gym.

[martin_mathers]

Squat
405x1
455x1
495x1
Suit
545x1
545x1
585x1

Deadlift
455x1
475x1
495x1
495x1
495x1

Took it easy on this day for squats. Lower body was feeling beat up this week after 4 straight weeks of supermaximal lifting. Wasn't even gonna suit up but did anyways. Deadlifts felt great, tried straps up and it was tough to get down to the bar.
In Ottawa this weekend but decided not to train at all. Next week I'll start ramping up for the meet on Dec 2. Still gotta get my CPU membership and sign up for the meet.

[martin_mathers]

Light Squat
405x3
425x3
445x3
445x3
445x3

Pullups
5x7

Split Squat
4x10

Core
a bunch

Finally got my CPU membership and signed up for the Dec 2 meet. 8 weeks out, time to ramp up.

[martin_mathers]

Wednesday
Light Bench
275x5
295x5
305x5
305x5
315x5
315x5
295x6
295x6

Rows
4x12

DB OHP
4x12

Dips
3x15

[martin_mathers]

Friday
Squat
405x1
455x1
495x1
Suit
545x1
585x1
615x1
645x1
665x1 https://www.instagram.com/p/BaNnlgJjuXa/

Deadlift
455x1
495x1
515x1
515x1
515x1

Back to some heavy squats. Felt pretty good, 300kg might be a good opener in December. Still some imbalances in my hips and low back and I'm twisting a bit when I squat.
Deadlifts were nice and fast.

Saturday
GHR
4x8

Leg Curl
4x12

Back raises w/ top holds
4x8

Core
3x8

Adding an extra day of lower body accessories since I always run out of time on my equipped days.

[martin_mathers]

Bench
315x1
345x1
365x1
Shirt
405x1
455x1
475x1
495x1
515x1 w/ touch!
515x1 touch
515x1 touch
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaR9DDUjurj/
Super happy about finally touching in the shirt. The first single caught me by surprise because I didn't expect to touch but it did. Then the following two singles touched pretty easily. Guess I won't have to bench raw at the meet!

Rows
4x12

Tri's
5x10

[martin_mathers]

Light Squats
405x3
425x3
445x3
455x3
455x3

Split Squats
4x10

Lat Pulldowns
3x15

[martin_mathers]

Light Bench
315x3x2 sets
325x3x5 sets

Rows
5x12

DB OHP
4x12

Curls
3x15

Dips
2x20

[martin_mathers]

Squat
405x1
455x1
495x1
Suit
545x1
585x1
625x1
655x1
685x1 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bagx4wVDunt/
Very happpy with this 7 plate plus squat. Warmups felt sub-par but the last two heavy singles moved very well. Keeping my stance narrower helped.

Deadlift
405x1
455x1
495x1
535x1x3 sets

Deads were still fast but need to work on better lockout. Currently 6 weeks out but I only have 1 or 2 truly heavy squat sessions left.

[martin_mathers]

GHR
5x8

Leg Curls
4x12

Back Raises w/ top holds
4x8

Ab Wheel
4x8

[martin_mathers]

Sunday

Bench
315x1
345x1
365x1
Shirt
405x1
455x1
475x1
495x1
525x1x4 sets all touched https://www.instagram.com/p/Bapijdljawx/

Rows
5x12

Triceps
3x15

Curls
2x15

Equipped benching is getting better and better. The only question now is will the judge be able to tell I'm touching lol. I can feel it and my gf/handler can see it but might be hard to tell at certain angles with an old judge.

[martin_mathers]

Light Squats
405x3
425x3
445x3x3

Leg Press
a bunch

Core
a bunch

Definitely still feeling the 685 from Friday. Lower body is quite beat up. Took it easy.

[NorthStrong]

Damn dude, looks like things are clicking now. Great work. Bench looks very nice.

[martin_mathers]

Damn dude, looks like things are clicking now. Great work. Bench looks very nice.

Thanks. Equipped lifting is feeling more and more natural while raw lifting is feeling more and more boring.

Bench
315x3
325x3x6 sets

Lat Pulldowns
4x15

DB OHP
4x12

Curls
4x12

Triceps
4x12

[martin_mathers]

Squat (kg)
180x1
200x1
220x1
Suit
240x1
260x1
280x1
300x1
300x1

Deadlift (kg)
190x1
210x1
230x1
250x1
250x1
250x1

Equipped squats felt crap, legs were strong but back was beat up. Managed 300kg for 2 singles which moved well, but not as fast as I'd like. Should still be a good opener though. Deadlifts felt ok, lockouts were better but still not good enough.

There will be only 6 guys in my flight and I'm the only equipped lifter. So for squats I will probably just get an opener in, and if I feel really good I'll skip 2nd and go for a 3rd. For bench and deadlift I think I'll be able to do all 3 attempts because I won't have to wrap.

[martin_mathers]

Bench (kg)
140x1
150x1
160x1
Shirt
180x1
200x1
220x1
230x1
240x1
240x1 touch
240x1 touch

Rows
5x12

Triceps
4x12

Crappy day as well. Right humerus was hurting a lot on the descent in the shirt so I couldn't be patient and wait for a touch. Kept rushing at the bottom. Ended up only touching 2 singles and they were both sloppy. My last single with 240kg I almost dumped the weight forward it was pretty scary. Once my arm gets better I shouldn't have a problem touching. Going to try spraying the chest plate and armpits with water next week to see if it helps the touch. I want to open around 230kg which means I need to touch with 230kg which hasn't happened yet.

5 weeks out so I have 3 more sessions to dial things in.

Vid of training from last week: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba2ttvQD9fT/

[martin_mathers]

Split Squats
5x12

Lat Pulldowns
4x15

Core
a bunch

Time to taper for the meet so no raw w/ wraps squats for now.

[martin_mathers]

Raw Bench
275x3
295x3
315x3
325x3
335x3x3
315x5x2

Rows
5x12

Side Raise
4x12

Curls
4x12

Triceps
3x12

[martin_mathers]

Squat (kg)
180x1
200x1
220x1
Suit
240x1
260x1
280x1
300x1
310x1

Deadlift (kg)
190x1
210x1
230x1
250x1
260x1
260x1

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbExKCQjamG/

This went much better than last week's session. The 310kg (683) moved very well. 4 weeks out now, meet is getting close. If I feel really well next week then I might take a shot at 320kg (705), but only if I feel 100%. No point burning myself out before the meet.
Deadlifts were the same story, everything was fast except lockout. I haven't returned to my full pulling strength yet ever since I hurt my back. But I'm happy where my deadlift is right now. Wasn't long ago I was scared to pull 3 plates.

[martin_mathers]

GHR
5X8

Split Squats
5x12


Leg Curl
4x12

Core
some

[martin_mathers]

Bench (kg)
140x1
150x1
160x1
Shirt
180x1
200x1
220x1
230x1
235x1
235x1 touch
235x1 touch
235x1 touch https://www.instagram.com/p/BbIa7yND6mI/

Rows
5x12

Triceps
4x12

Started out the session struggling to touch. Wanted 230kg as an opener at the meet but couldn't touch, went up to 235kg and still couldn't touch. Then I remembered to stop benching like a raw lifter and I touched and pressed 235kg for three singles. So as long as I remember to bring the bar down towards my belt, touching seems to be no problem. 235kg should still be a decent opener though.