The Code of Bushido is Harsh and Relentless: TS's Grind to the Stage

[demonwareltd]

I sure meant to take today off of the gym...but here I stand in the gym ready to hammer some cardio.

I was in bed with my lady, the time was 8am (I slept in after my 14hr day yesterday) and I was wide awake and didn't know what else to do...so I grabbed my gear and went to my second home. All the old codgers at the gym gave me sh*t for being late lol. Bastards.

Gotta love the seniors during the early morning workouts. When I would train at 5 AM, there would be about 10 people in the gym, most of whom were over the age of 70

[NaturalPursuit]

big 3 numbers are BLOWING up man! Killing it hard!

[TakedaShingen]

big 3 numbers are BLOWING up man! Killing it hard!

Thanks man.

Damn pushes still get me.
I'm comin for em though.

Damn RPE8 makin me hold back too lol. I wanted to leave everything on those first 3 exercises, but I'm following orders like a good trainee.

[TakedaShingen]

^^A little afternoon posing^^

I have worked as hard as I could to get my body where it is today. But, I am still this far off.
I have 10 weeks to get rid of about 13-15lbs.
I also have the option of taking an extra 4 weeks to do a different show in the same organization in Erie, PA on April 20th, instead of March 23rd. I refuse to step on stage at less than 100%, so if I really need the time, best believe I'm gonna take it.

Please shred my posing, and even though my trainer has full confidence I can drop these last lbs before March 23rd, tell me your opinion and experience.

Notes on posing:

-Sorry for the crappy angle.
-And my new routine kicked my ass this morning, so I am a bit beat up. Was actually breathing hard by the end.
-I need to work on closing those gaps on side chest, as well as keeping my back straight and not leaned forward like it was on that left side chest.
-And I am really trying to keep my breakdancing transitions out lol. Years of dancing has a way of creeping in though.

[Ccm644]

Thanks for all your help today

The video wont play as it is set as private

[TakedaShingen]

Thanks for all your help today

The video wont play as it is set as private

Sorry about that. Fixed.

[Ccm644]

I think the motivation and determination you have you will come in great in 10 weeks. It is nice that you do have another show if your not happy but this would be a decision for you

Im not much help when it comes to posing
A thought ... On double biceps could you raise your arms a little more to give you that extra V shape

Keep at it

[TakedaShingen]

Day 2 of back to full body!!!

Hack Squats: (3x15 - 5sec eccentric/3sec concentric)
140x15
180x15 (x2)

I've never done these so slow before. My quads were on fire! Next time, I'm gonna push 270x12 with the slow eccentric...really get this b*tch movin.


Standing Military: (RPE9 -6reps)
95x6
105x6
115x6
125x6
135x6
145x6


DB Side Laterals (leaning): (3x15)
35x15 (x2)
30x15 (x2)

I don't know how in the hell NaturalPursuit does 50's for 15, because I was f*cked up after the 35's. I aspire to be such a demon.


Walking BB Lunges: (30steps x3)
70lbs x 30 steps x 3

90 lunges is awesome! Last set was supersetted with Box Step-Ups for 10each leg with BB still on shoulders.


Close Grip Skullcrushers: (3x10)
80x10 (x3)


Spider Curls: (3x12 - 3sec eccentric/3sec concentric)
50x12 (x3)


Reverse Grip Pushdowns: (2x20)
50x20
60x25


DB Hammers: (3x15)
35x15 (x2)
40x15


Certainly not as brutal as yesterday, but Day 3 is coming on Thursday and it is plenty BRUTAL. Day 2 & 4 seem to be higher rep days and supplementary exercises. 1 & 3 are all heavy compounds. I'm glad to be back training like this. Honestly, I'd like a little more volume, but I trust in the process of my trainer, and believe he knows better than I.

And a side note:
My check hit the mail for my Team Demon tshirt today...I'm stoked. Get you one!

[NaturalPursuit]

SOLID workout man! Strong stuff!!!!!

DB Side Laterals (leaning): (3x15)
35x15 (x2)
30x15 (x2)

I don't know how in the hell NaturalPursuit does 50's for 15, because I was f*cked up after the 35's. I aspire to be such a demon.

^^^i have mental problems when I get into the gym lmao!

[TakedaShingen]

SOLID workout man! Strong stuff!!!!!







^^^i have mental problems when I get into the gym lmao!

I told you...I'm comin for ya!


Today, yet again, this guy at the gym (a regular who has the worst form of anyone I've ever seen, And hasn't made a gain in decades...if ever) comes over and says, "You guys go really hard, really often. You don't get enough rest, and your nutrition probably isn't in line enough to keep any gains produced. You guys should really take my advice, head over to the office and have them take your lean body mass and body fat levels and you'll see that you're just wasting muscle. There's no way I'd be able to train like that constantly."

I actually laughed a bit.

I responded with, "I do appreciate your concern, but I think I'll be ok. I don't need to go have them caliper me because it doesn't really matter. I trust my eye in the mirror, and the eye of the person who has helped me get to where I am today. You just did an awful lot of assuming about my life and training. And as for the overtraining...the last part you stated is probably true, "YOU" couldn't train like this. But that's what makes you, you, and me, me. Have a great day guy."


These people kill me. Automatically, because I don't come in and do 3sets of 10, for 5 exercises a session...I'm overtraining.

[NaturalPursuit]

I told you...I'm comin for ya!


Today, yet again, this guy at the gym (a regular who has the worst form of anyone I've ever seen, And hasn't made a gain in decades...if ever) comes over and says, "You guys go really hard, really often. You don't get enough rest, and your nutrition probably isn't in line enough to keep any gains produced. You guys should really take my advice, head over to the office and have them take your lean body mass and body fat levels and you'll see that you're just wasting muscle. There's no way I'd be able to train like that constantly."

I actually laughed a bit.

I responded with, "I do appreciate your concern, but I think I'll be ok. I don't need to go have them caliper me because it doesn't really matter. I trust my eye in the mirror, and the eye of the person who has helped me get to where I am today. You just did an awful lot of assuming about my life and training. And as for the overtraining...the last part you stated is probably true, "YOU" couldn't train like this. But that's what makes you, you, and me, me. Have a great day guy."


These people kill me. Automatically, because I don't come in and do 3sets of 10, for 5 exercises a session...I'm overtraining.

I completely lost my mind set when I saw the word overtraining

...i kept hearing it so much from people in my gym I took a sharpie and scribbled "STFU I'm working hard" on the back...havent been told I was overtraining since

[TakedaShingen]

I completely lost my mind set when I saw the word overtraining

...i kept hearing it so much from people in my gym I took a sharpie and scribbled "STFU I'm working hard" on the back...havent been told I was overtraining since

Great idea!

There will be pics posted Monday of me in my new shirt lol.

F*ckin people kill me. I nearly hit him after he told me my nutrition sucked. Haven't had a cheat meal in almost 7 months and haven't missed macros in 6 months...and my calories are dropping steadily and I'm a little cranky sometimes...scrawny bastard.

[TakedaShingen]

Today was a rest day.

And by rest, I mean:

- 10 rounds of 30sec/90sec interval sprints @max effort/half max effort

- 430reps of various core.

I usually do sprints first to get em out of the way, but my favorite treadmills were all locked up, so I switched it and did core first today. This was unpleasant. By the time I got through my second interval, I could feel the tremendous tension from the sprints in my core.

Wooooooooo...hot on this b*tch!!!

Weight: 183.6

[jpfaherty]

90 step lunges? what is this sorcery?



Nice work man.

[Gym God]

I completely lost my mind set when I saw the word overtraining

...i kept hearing it so much from people in my gym I took a sharpie and scribbled "STFU I'm working hard" on the back...havent been told I was overtraining since

Such a misunderstood word from some.

[TakedaShingen]

90 step lunges? what is this sorcery?



Nice work man.

Not a wizard. Just a masochistic bastard.

Today I did another 72 supersetted with 10 low box step ups with the 110lb bar still on my shoulders. Wish they had a straight bar that weighed more than 110lbs. They yelled at me last time I did em with a set of 45's and an Olympic bar.

I want MONSTROUS quads!!!

[TakedaShingen]

Day 3:

Moderate Grip Pull-ups:
BW 3x10

Just a warm up. Been feelin a little tweak in my right lat. Nothing too serious, just a little twinge here and there.

Deads: (RPE 9 -3reps)
225x15 (x2) -warm up
245x8- warm up
275x3
295x3
315x3
335x3
355x3
365x3
315x5

One Arm DB Rows on Bench:
(3x6 - 3sec eccentric)
120x6 (x3)
85x6 -just because

Front Squats: (3x12 - 2sec hold at bottom)
135x12 (x2)
155x12

Can I front squat more than this? Yes. Could I front squat more than this TODAY for prescribed reps? I'm not so sure lol. My quads are completed dusted. That's the third day of squats out of 4 possible days this week, and I'm just gettin back into this volume game. I'm ready, but man...I'm feelin it : ) Plus, I knew I had heavy BB lunges coming up.

Pulldowns: (4x12-drop set last set)
110x12 -close grip
110x12 - wide grip
110x12 -close grip
110x12 -wide drop set
90x12
70x15
50x30

Superset:
BB Walking Lunges/Box Step-Up
110lbs x24 steps/10 step ups with weight on shoulders
(x3)

This was the final exercise. The last two step up supersets, I did 15 step ups. They took everything I had. I'm completely shot.

Cardio:
25min on FreeMotion Treadmill
Incline Walking Intervals

This was one of the toughest cardio sessions in a while. I had very little to give. I actually focused on the person next to me and just said to myself, "Do not get off this goddamn treadmill before this f*ck next to you! Pull your sh*t together and let's go!!!"

I'm a little run down. Sleep intermittent this week. Feeling the caloric deficit. On my ish and in the game.

Weight: 183.0

[NaturalPursuit]

Such a misunderstood word from some.

^^^definitely



great volume btw man!!!!

[TakedaShingen]

^^^definitely



great volume btw man!!!!

Thanks bro.

I really find my body responds to the high volume with brutal intensity far better than anything else. When I'm on something not as intense, like the last 6wks, my body craves brutality. It doesn't understand why we aren't squatting 3 times a week and dreading twice. Actually, my brain runs the same thought train. Maybe I'm f*cked up, but I love that sh*t.

[TakedaShingen]

Day 4:

DB Incline:
65x12 -warm up
80x6
85x6
80x6

Hammer Machine Flat Bench:
(3x12 -slow eccentric, explode out of the hole)
1 plate each side x12
1plate +10 x12
1 plate +20 x12

Bent BB Rows: (3x6)
135x20- warm up
185x10
195x10
195x6

Seated DB Shoulder Press: (3x10)
60x10
65x10
70x10

DB Side Laterals -Straight Arm:
(3 to fail with 30sec rest)
20x20
20x15
20x15

Preacher Curls: (3x15)
(All reps 1/2 way up, back down, then complete rep)
50x15 (x3)

Heaviest 50lbs I've ever curled right there lol.

Cardio:
20 min of 1min on 1min off intervals. Not balls out, but more like 40% & 75%.

I'm feelin rough today. Haven't slept all week. Throwin some melatonin in the mix tonight hoping to get some rest. Back on the grind feels amazing, but not when I'm not getting sleep. That, feels sh*tty lol. Ok, I'm done whining like a little b*tch.

Sprints tomorrow and another 500reps on core! Let's keep this goin.

[TakedaShingen]

Slept like a brick last night. Feelin the fire today.

Morning:
10 rounds interval sprints
Kept the low end high on these and the high end at max speed.

370 various reps core.

Evening:
35min on the step mill.

When I got off those steps, I was sweatin buckets. I really gotta add this in more.


Tomorrow morning is 9am posing practice with my sadist trainer, and no gym. Tomorrow is as close as I get to a straight rest day. Gonna sleep well tonight, been on the go all day.

Kids tested for their yellow belt in Isshinryu today. My daughter, who is 10, was so very proud of the work she's done to get there. Those are the moments I live for. I couldn't have been a prouder parent at that moment. She said she wants to come to my show because she is so proud of all my hard work. Today is great. As is every single day. Life. Is. Good.

[NaturalPursuit]

Enjoy posing practice and enjoy time with your children!!! I used to practice tae kwon do when I was doing amateur boxing...got up to a 2nd degree black belt...DEFINITELY fun stuff!

[Ccm644]

Kids tested for their yellow belt in Isshinryu today. My daughter, who is 10, was so very proud of the work she's done to get there. Those are the moments I live for. I couldn't have been a prouder parent at that moment. She said she wants to come to my show because she is so proud of all my hard work. Today is great. As is every single day. Life. Is. Good.

Hope they do great in the test
Now that is really motivation there
Have fun posing

Well done

[tripleh210]

Slept like a brick last night. Feelin the fire today.

Morning:
10 rounds interval sprints
Kept the low end high on these and the high end at max speed.

370 various reps core.

Evening:
35min on the step mill.

When I got off those steps, I was sweatin buckets. I really gotta add this in more.


Tomorrow morning is 9am posing practice with my sadist trainer, and no gym. Tomorrow is as close as I get to a straight rest day. Gonna sleep well tonight, been on the go all day.

Kids tested for their yellow belt in Isshinryu today. My daughter, who is 10, was so very proud of the work she's done to get there. Those are the moments I live for. I couldn't have been a prouder parent at the moment. She said she wants to come to my show because she is so proud of all my hard work. Today is great. As is every single day. Life. Is. Good.

I feel ya on the step machine, first time going on it I was sweating good after just 5 minute at moderate intensity!

[Gym God]

Kids tested for their yellow belt in Isshinryu today. My daughter, who is 10, was so very proud of the work she's done to get there. Those are the moments I live for. I couldn't have been a prouder parent at that moment. She said she wants to come to my show because she is so proud of all my hard work. Today is great. As is every single day. Life. Is. Good.

Parenthood is a blessing. Congrats to you and her.

[TakedaShingen]

Parenthood is a blessing. Congrats to you and her.

Yes sir it is. I have custody of my two. Both of my kids were supposed to test, but my son had a wicked toothache. He will test privately this week. It's pretty cool watching your 4yr old son and 10yr old daughter break a choke hold and counter strike. Proud moments : )


Thanks to all for the kid words. Posing practice went great. There were 4 of us there running mandatories. Apparently I have been practicing more than the other 3, because I was hammering poses like it was my job. I was seriously on my sh*t.

[TakedaShingen]

Day 1:

This is my favorite of the 4 days of the week. It's just so many sets. Normally I would do just a bit more weight, but today I really wanted to focus every contraction and rep.


Squats: (RPE 8- 6reps)
185x10 (x2) -warm up
225x6
245x6
265x6
275x6
295x6 (x2)
315x6
275x6
225x10


Sumo Deads: (RPE 9- 4reps)
-pull 2" off the floor, hold for 2sec-
-all reps are dead stop at base-

225x10 (x2) -warm up
245x4
265x4
275x4
295x4
315x4 (x2)
335x6

The holds are outstanding. They make my favorite lift even more brutal. Decided to make the increments a little smaller today and just hammer sets.


Flat BB Bench: (RPE 8 -6reps)
135x6
145x6
155x6
165x6
175x6
185x6
195x6
205x6
215x6
225x6

I really wanted to go higher, but my chest was smoked by then. I don't know why either. I got great sleep last night. But these reps felt awesome. Was very conscious of focusing each press.


Cable Incline Flies: (3x15)
50x15 (x3)


Superset:
Close Grip Pull-ups (BW)/Facepulls (80lbs)
14reps/80x12
10reps/80x12
8reps/80x12


Overall:
Feeling amazing today. Lifts all felt great. Really focused every single rep. Still on it.

Wanted to get cardio in today, but I ran out of time. Doubling the time tomorrow.

Weight: 182.8lbs

[demonwareltd]

That is some serious squatting there son - more so than what I'm doing on Sheiko! Great work

[TakedaShingen]

That is some serious squatting there son - more so than what I'm doing on Sheiko! Great work

3 days a week squatting over here. Goin for beastly legs.

And really? I was hoping to run Sheiko. Maybe I'll need to ramp up the program a bit lol. I love dropping 30 sets on compounds before I've done anything else. Volume is my friend. And I've felt my recovery time actually get better the longer I've been training.

[jpfaherty]

WOW! leg volume is off the chainz!