Dedicated to Your Physical Transformation
Q: Your Progressive-Speed 4X concept has really helped me get bigger and stronger in only the four weeks I’ve been using it. I’ve been doing mostly compound exercises with X-centric on the first set, two standard sets, and speed on the last one. I notice you’ve been doing two X-centric sets instead of one. Is that better?
A: It’s not necessarily better—it’s just another variation. You can use any of those rhythm method tempos within a 4X or even 3X framework. [Read more…]
Q: I heard or read somewhere that you suggest going real heavy on the last set of a TORQ sequence for only 5 or 6 reps. I want to try it, but I am over 40. How do I do it safely, without joint damage or muscle pulls?
A: Just as a review, here’s how to do a Power TORQ (tension-overload repetition quantity) sequence… [Read more…]
Q: Guys, do you have a favorite workout for when you’re overtrained or not in the mood for your full Positions-of-Flexion workouts? Low motivation always seems to hit me when the weather gets warm for some reason, but I want to keep growing for the summer.
A: We have a few good muscle-recharge methods actually—methods you can use to continue the huge. LOL! [Read more…]
Q: I really like X-centric sets [lifting in one second and lowering in six]. Great muscle feel and pump. I’m getting ready to use a version of the Heavy/Light program in X-traordinary Muscle-Building Workouts I just got. My question is, If I want to use an X-centric set or two for each bodypart, should they go on heavy day or light day?
A: The reason for heavy/light training, as explained in XMBW, is nervous system regeneration. The light day still hits the target muscle for growth without much CNS stress. [Read more…]
Q: You’ve mentioned supersetting a large muscle group and a small one within a 4X sequence. Like back and triceps or chest and biceps. But didn’t Arnold and some of the other Golden Era bodybuilders superset chest and back for old-school mass?
A: Yes, but they did not take short rests between sets. In fact, going from bench presses to rows takes a lot out of you and a rest of at least 1 1/2 minutes is required just to get your breath… [Read more…]
Q: You’ve sent emails about specializing for lagging muscle groups. What is your favorite way to bring up the slacking bodyparts?
A: One of our favorite methods is one we borrowed from Arnold—with our own density twist…
We call it Staggered Density because we fuse Arnold’s staggered-sets method with 4X density. What does that mean? [Read more…]
Q: I tried DP 4X (downward-progression 4X) on my big midrange exercise with a speed drop set after the last one. Wow, what an amazing feel and pump. I do behind-the-neck presses for delts. Can I use speed sets on those too if I’m careful?
A: You could—but you may end up needing rotator cuff surgery… [Read more…]
Q: I’ve been using TORQ in my workouts, usually on my last isolation [or contracted-position] exercise. What a big difference. I usually do 30, 20 and 15 reps, then on the last I do a drop set or a double drop. Crazy pump. My question is, should I use the drop or double drop on the last set of my DP 4X sequence as well? I do that on the big midrange exercise, like pulldowns [12, 10, 8, 6–adding weight on each set, 40-second rests between sets].
A: You can use a drop or double drop on the last set of a TORQ, DP 4X or standard 4X sequence. It’s just one more way to get extra volume and overload for extreme mass creation… [Read more…]
Q: I have used 4X with 10 reps per set, but I see you’ve also used 15 to 20. Does that work? Will it get me bigger and more vascular? Is it better than standard TORQ [30-20-15]?
A: It’s really just another variation—semi-TORQ, if you will, but without a poundage increase on each set. It’s high-end hypertrophy with a density edge. [Read more…]
Q: I love the feel and pump I’m getting from TORQ [30-20-15] and Super TORQ [50-40-30-20-10]. My problem is on the drop sets on the last set. I am so fatigued, I don’t get many reps on the drops. I revert to the poundages I used on the previous sets, but no go. Should I just lighten the poundages even more for my drops?
A: That’s one solution. Another is to drop the get-big bomb by changing the parameters of the drops… [Read more…]
