High Frequency Training QnA with Chad Waterbury, Part II
CW, in your HFT / High Frequency Training & muscle-building system, you talk about the necessity of adding more volume for muscle growth. Talk about that & explain why we need a certain amount of volume to spur new muscle growth.
CW: Yes, if a muscle group hasn't responded to traditional training parameters, it's likely that it needs more volume to make it grow. Have you ever stopped to think why professional cyclists have bigger quadriceps than some of the strongest powerlifters you know? Or why swimmers have huge lats, soccer players have awesome calves, and boxers have killer deltoids? It's because they exposed those muscles to a high volume of work.
Now, if you want bigger lats, you don't need to quit your job to become a professional swimmer. I've found that just a few minutes of training a stubborn muscle group each day is enough to turn on muscle growth.
Can you give us an idea of how the daily training plans & workouts are laid out in the HFT system?
CW: Sure, there are two ways you can use HFT. One is for targeted muscle growth. So if a guy is pretty happy with his current program, but wants to add some extra muscle to a lagging muscle group, or two, he'll just plug the Targeted HFT plans for those muscle groups into his current program.
Let's say you need to add mass to your biceps and calves. All you have to do is spend about five minutes per day on the specific exercises I outline in the system. You'll follow the Targeted HFT plan for 28 days, and then you'll let that muscle group rest for five full days to allow for supercompensation.
The other way to use HFT is to add muscle across your entire body.
For that goal I've designed a 12-week, full-body program that consists of four workouts per week. Each workout lasts less than 45 minutes, and the workouts incorporate many cool rings and body weight exercises. The HFT program consists of instructional videos for each exercise. So when you open the file on your computer or mobile device, all you have to do is click on the name of the exercise and a video immediately pops up of me performing that move.
Very cool. Is there any heavy lifting in the program? I'm sure people will get freaked out if they're not
Deadlifting or Squatting once a week, ha ha
CW: Yes, a full-body maximal strength lift is part of one workout per week in the full-body program. I feel that you can't reach your ultimate strength, muscle, and power potential unless you include a heavy deadlift, squat or O-lift as part of the program.
Or you could do heavy kettlebell swings because that exercise is outstanding for developing posterior chain strength - the missing element in any body weight training program. In any case, some type of heavy lifting should still form a portion of any training program.
CW. Thanks BIG time for cranking a Part II for this interview. HFT has me fired up and I'll be honest, I never looked at volume or frequency training in this light, with things like 28 day cycles or simply spending a few extra minutes per day. You're the man.
CW - My pleasure, Zach. This was awesome and I had a blast. Once again, if your readers want to check out HFT, it's on sale now and they get the details HERE
11 Responses
Hey Chad and Zach!
I’m wondering if there is a difference in strength development between using gymnastics rings and the Jungle Gym XT or other suspension trainers? Such as pullups, pushups, etc. Do you get more strength using the rings? The suspension trainers? Or are they about the same?
Thanks!
I prefer rings because you can do the iron cross and muscle-up, unlike other suspension trainers.
Chad and Z,
I am now convinced. I will include parts of HFT into my current prgram. Even though I train primarily because I want to be able to crush anyone/thing at any moment, the vain part of me does desire to beef up certain parts of my physique so I’m going to implement some of the 5 minute extra workouts. Thanks for the informative interviews Z, keep bringing it!
Dennis, this course is pretty kick a**, CW is Underground Approved. I LOVE doing the little “extras” to spur muscle growth and I’m fired up to work this into my program. Thanks for taking the time to read the interview, homie, MUCH respect and keep us posted on your success!
Zach, Undergrounders,
haven’t been on the blog for some time now. This is some interesting stuff you put out there. And you know what – respect to you and all the other cool guys out there who feature other systems and philosophies on their pages (check Matt W. http://www.tss.com out!). That’s the way it should be and how we grow. Good stuff.
Cheers
Uuups – wrong adress. Sorry.
Here’s the right one: http://www.tssathletics.com/
Zach,
just saw that you don’t like promotion of other websites on the blog. But as a fellow undergrounder Matt W. should be okay. 😉
Cheers
Matt W is my boy! We will be putting something out together for 2013, stay tuned on that!!!!
Hey all. I NEED HELP!! bigtime. I dont have a squat rack so I always end up squatting significantly less than I should. Id love to crannk out 250-300lb squats but theres just no way that I can even get there due to my lack of a rack. what do you suggest
Tone, brutha, I have seen MANY self made “squat stands” – you can make it with heavy duty boxes as they make in the old school weightlifting halls or heck, seriously bro, go on craigs list and buy yourself a squat rack.
I’ve seen MANY racks under 100 bucks and if you’re serious about getting strong and wanna squat then you will pony up and get the squat rack.
Get after it, brutha!
For feet elevated ring push-ups is a heavy weight vest recommended? We could elevate our feet higher but it tends to bother our shoulders while 2-3 feet elevated seems to be a sweet spot for us.