Student - Teacher

I really like the concept of consolidating one's strengths before expanding - like instead of rapidly progressing and hitting a wall, I stay in a particular range till I have mastered it in such a way that I can do it any day of the week, like how I can Deadlifts 405 on any day of the week - it's no longer a 1RM on a GOOD day - it's a 1RM on ANY day. I know this was your plan and I am really appreciating it now. I remember all those times when I was in the 200's that I was complaining to myself and asking why am I not just going to 300 when I can - now all that makes much more sense to me.

Absolutely. I was kind of rambling with that last PM but you've seen exactly what I was getting at. The thing is if I hadn't had you progress like that you would be appreciating right now just how illusory preparedness can be.

But you also must realize that there will be a time when you get toward your upper most strength ceiling that "doing it any day of the week may be out". In other words if you hit 625 one day you can't really expect to be able to hit 625 consistently all the time any day of the week, etc..and so on. BUT when you are at a point where you HIT that you can do it without getting hurt and that is BECAUSE OF the fact of what you can do any day of the week right now and for the forseeable future. Being able to hit 495 and then later on beyond that consistently comes with a lot of injury buffering.

Actually, Kane and me were talking about a similar thing and this is the difference between going in the gym and "just getting it done" and paying your dues and getting it done, slowly, surely, and rightly. JUST GETTING IT done doesn't work in the long run.

Are you referring to my width being in my hips? hahaha….Is it really supposed to be easier? If this is easy I shudder to think whats difficult, sir. I was always under the impression that the skinnier you are the easier it is for you to deadlift. I consider myself a fatty so I presumed I have the odds stacked up against me.

I was referring to your skeletal frame, lol, not your fat layer. You have to just think logically about a "robust" skeletal frame as compared to a "slight" skeletal frame and ask yourself what those two different frames are good at. Anything "slight" is not going to be as good at absolute strength as something "robust" lol.

This particular exchange of pm's and your words of wisdom E have really made me all the more grateful for being taken under your wing: there are no words that will do justice to how thankful I am to have you guiding me.

I apprecitate that.

The thing is I want you and everybody else I help to far exceed anything I can do or will ever do. It's funny when you ask me about what I lift and all that because in my mind I don't think of you maybe lifting as much as me on deadlifts (for instance). I see you surpassing me like I have no business being in the gym. I feel, and I have always felt that the student SHOULD surpass the teacher and that that is the best testament to the teacher.