KenshinH's Quest for Old Man Strength and Fitness

[howimliving]

Pendlay Row:
135x8
170x6
200x3
225x3
245x3
... FatGripz up to 200

strong rows

smash dem skwotz tonight

[johnblythe]

Lol not 500 yet. But sometime this year and more. I just need to focus on it

give it some more time before focusing on it...for no reason in particular

[KenshinH]

DAMN big bro......congratulations!!!!! Way to grind past that sticking point.

Thanks little bro!

Wait, you did cardio

Solid job on the Pendleys. Never really liked the FatGripz, gave em away to Marshall

Yeah, cardio and I don't mix. The only type I'd do is the elliptical because it's easy on the knees.

Nice work with the Pendlay rows. and the FG even better.

Waiting on some squats!

strong rows

smash dem skwotz tonight

Thanks guys! And squats ... soon

give it some more time before focusing on it...for no reason in particular

And why would that be?

[howimliving]

And why would that be?

don't wait-you know you can do it already

[KenshinH]

Barbell Squat: (Smolov wk 6 day 4)
45x8
135x5
205x3
275x2
335x1
390x1 (vid)
435x1 PR (vid)
445x1 PR (vid)
... The 445 was a grinder


Notes
* Max testing day 2. This was done Saturday night. Day 1 was Thursday night.

* Right from the get-go, I was feeling stronger than Thursday. I had decent sleep and ate well during the day so that was a big factor. Plus, being the second day back from a week off squats, my form felt a lot better. The balance issues I had two nights ago were gone.

* I took 435 only to parallel so I wasn't satisfied with that. Still felt strong so I added another ten pounds to make it 445. Took that a little below parallel, and grinded it up. During the grind, I could feel the pressure pounding in my head from keeping air in while pushing upwards. I was pretty damn relieved when I finally stood up with that weight and exhaled.

* 455 might have been within reach if I had done a different weight progression: 345 (instead of 335), 405, and then 455. But I was being cautious because 425 had felt so heavy two nights ago. Still, I'm very happy with the results

* Final result of the Smolov base cycle: +40 lbs to my 1RM (405 -> 445).


Edit: Here are the final videos.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZCtyskkE2k (mobile-friendly)

[dbone1026]

Wow, impressive jump in Squat with Smolov, congrats!

[bobbydigitaloa]

Who dude...strong squat numbers. I'm jelly!

445 is legit!

[KenshinH]

Wow, impressive jump in Squat with Smolov, congrats!

Thanks bro! I wasn't satisfied with +20 lbs from Thursday night

Who dude...strong squat numbers. I'm jelly!

445 is legit!

Hey bobby! Nice to see you here, and thanks!

I just attached the raw video of the 445 squat to the writeup. The finished video with all three singles will be up in the morning

[bobbydigitaloa]

Hey bobby! Nice to see you here, and thanks!

I just attached the raw video of the 445 squat to the writeup. The finished video with all three singles will be up in the morning

Yeah man...sorry it took me so long to join the party. The video looks good...the hip crease passed the knee and that's what matters to me

[Juggernaut0]

40 lb. PR?!




Awesome Kenshin. No matter what you decide goin forward, this was awesome work. Great job.

[Raigs]

Nice Squat PR! Def a grinder but I mean you had it. It just slowed you down thats all.

[Woody-5]

Stellar PR my man! Still looks like you have more in you! Nice job!

[12ccopeland]

What a squat Ken! Great job man +40lbs in one cycle is insane.

[da2ricky]

congrats on the +40 man, thats pretty damn impressive. What program are you going to run now?

[KenshinH]

Yeah man...sorry it took me so long to join the party. The video looks good...the hip crease passed the knee and that's what matters to me

Thanks man! I want to do PL-legal squats when I can

40 lb. PR?!



Awesome Kenshin. No matter what you decide goin forward, this was awesome work. Great job.

LOL thanks for the Patrick Swayze gif

Nice Squat PR! Def a grinder but I mean you had it. It just slowed you down thats all.

Thanks Raigs! As always it looks easier on video than it felt. I had a split-second of doubt that it was going down and not up lol

Stellar PR my man! Still looks like you have more in you! Nice job!

Thanks bro. My progression ruled out trying for 455 ... next time

What a squat Ken! Great job man +40lbs in one cycle is insane.

congrats on the +40 man, thats pretty damn impressive. What program are you going to run now?

Thanks guys, Smolov is the bomb! The +40 is actually right on cue. Taken from http://www.seriouspowerlifting.com/3...-squat-routine:

"The base mesocycle is going to deliver a 30-60 pound strength increase, maybe a little less for smaller lifters."

I'm going to do one or two weeks of the switching cycle, which focuses on speed - speed box squats, rack squats, box jumps. Also may incorporate some negatives.

After that I'll either continue on with the 4-week intense cycle or transition to TM. Right now, I'm leaning towards doing the intense because I don't want to stop halfway through Smolov

-----

The final videos are done.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZCtyskkE2k (mobile-friendly)

[johnblythe]

awesome PR brother!

[Anthony21]

Always a constant motivation and that was some beautiful squatting these eyes just witnessed. Awesome work Ken and you definitely deserve every lb added from the consistent and hard work you put in.

[KenshinH]

awesome PR brother!

Thanks man. Had to push it on Saturday night

Always a constant motivation and that was some beautiful squatting these eyes just witnessed. Awesome work Ken and you definitely deserve every lb added from the consistent and hard work you put in.

Thanks Anthony. I can say the same for you

[JustBulk]

Wow, just realized you're asian too.

Good luck to your lifting goals in 2013!

[KenshinH]

Supplements
1 scoop Energized N'Gage post-workout*


Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown:
105x8
120x8
135x8

Barbell Bench Press: (TM VD)
45x20
135x5
175x3
215x3
245x5x5 (vid of 3rd and 5th sets)

Wide-Grip Pull-Up:
3x11

Pendlay Row:
135x8
185x5
205x5
225x5
... Threw these in at the last minute


Notes
* I'm starting a sponsored log for Energized N'Gage, the new BCAA product from Axis Labs that also contains 150 mg caffeine per scoop. For now, I'll take it post-workout in place of Protocol or Re-Con. I may experiment with taking it intra as well, although I'm using Xtend intra at the moment. I actually started with a scoop on Saturday to test the flavor and get a feel for the caffeine. The sponsored log will be up sometime on Monday.

* For bench, I increased VD weight by +5 lbs because my bench strength is returning. Not close to full strength though because I have a slight cold, which always hits bench the hardest.

* Monday will be a much-needed rest day. I've been hitting the gym since Thursday, and two of those were the max squat sessions, which were quite tiring.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNMYy3wSZFk (mobile-friendly)

[BenW22]

In for more Swayze gifs.

In for more Kenshin sex tapes...uh, workout vids.

Also interested in hearing about the N'Gage Energized. Sounds very interdasting, but I'm not sure I need an extra 150 mg of caff in my already stim heavy life.

[Anthony21]

Strong benching as always, nice work T.

[KenshinH]

Wow, just realized you're asian too.

Good luck to your lifting goals in 2013!

Thanks bud!

In for more Swayze gifs.

In for more Kenshin sex tapes...uh, workout vids.

Also interested in hearing about the N'Gage Energized. Sounds very interdasting, but I'm not sure I need an extra 150 mg of caff in my already stim heavy life.

Speaking of which, there was a chick doing bodyweight squats and bent over rows yesterday. 6/10 face but 7-8/10 body. She was working out in a corner of the gym away from the benches though.

For the N'Gage, you can always take it post. That's what I'm doing because I don't want to add another 150mg C on top of Craze nor take in additional C during the workout.

Strong benching as always, nice work T.

Thanks bro. Kill your squats today

[KenshinH]

Ok, new sponsored log for Energized N'Gage is up! Come by and join the fun

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=151972193

[Raigs]

Wait are you taking Ngage post? Or am I reading wrong?

[KenshinH]

Wait are you taking Ngage post? Or am I reading wrong?

I'm taking Energized N'Gage post for now per the instructions. May try pre and intra as the log goes on.

Are the instructions for the original N'Gage different? I never tried it.

[New Evolution]

Ok, new sponsored log for Energized N'Gage is up! Come by and join the fun

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=151972193

Are you still going to update this page?

[KenshinH]

Are you still going to update this page?

Of course mon ami This is the main log. I don't expect most of the subs to migrate over there.

The workouts over there will just be copy-and-paste from here.

[Raigs]

I'm taking Energized N'Gage post for now per the instructions. May try pre and intra as the log goes on.

Are the instructions for the original N'Gage different? I never tried it.

No but I cant imagine taking caffeine after a workout. I usually need the kick before not after

[KenshinH]

No but I cant imagine taking caffeine after a workout. I usually need the kick before not after

I take a pre before (Craze) so I don't necessarily want the additional C. Having said that, I've added a 200mg caffeine tab to Craze when I felt like the energy kick wasn't there. Will definitely try the N'Gage stacked with Craze pre at some point though