Amazing video. What would be great would be you reviewing renaissance periodization's male physique templates. People say they have their best results on them.
Just wrapping up peak week five here on another successful RP cycle. Two more sessions to survive before deload. I find these work wonderfully. I do favor their bodybuilding ones however over their strength plans.
Rippetoe says and does a lot of stupid things. However, he is often unfairly taken out of context and his words get misrepresented which is exactly what you are doing at the beginning of this video in your criticism of Mark's statements about size being a byproduct of strength. The problem is that you are making your criticism of that statement within the context of his Texas Method for intermediate lifters when those comments are, in fact, made within the context of his Novice Linear Progression program -- the training method for beginning strength training --- i.e., Starting Strength. Next, when you get to the recovery day, you make up the hypothetical of a guy only squatting sets of 80K! This example makes it clear that you are not, in fact, critiquing Rippetoe's program. In his books, Rippetoe makes it pretty clear that an intermediate is able to squat three plates for 5 reps. If all you can squat is 80k then you are barely halfway to Rippetoe's definition of an intermediate and should not be doing the Texas Method!
I would say in general , the stronger you get you’re going to gain some size. Yes, bodybuilders use a lot of other techniques to get big, but most of them are DAMN strong. Arnold, Yates, Coleman, and on and on.
If Rip ever sees this, these will be his comments (or something to their effect): 1: You're not even American; what do you know? 2: You don't even look like you can pull 500; What do you know? 3: I've been doing this shit for 50 years; I know more than you. 4: Your accent is funny.
Menno, read your articles for a long time now. Apologies if you've created others; but I love the idea of you debunking common fitness theories in video form as well. Keep it up!
This comes across as a kid who confidently & critically gives a book report based only the Cliff Notes, hoping the teacher hasn't read the book herself. A lot of your confusion & criticisms of this method are addressed in his book (co-authored by Andy Baker): Practical Programming for Strength Training. It teaches very useful concepts for programming that I've not seen well explained in more bodybuilding oriented literature. As others have said, this method (not template) of programming is only relevant to those who've completed their novice linear progression in strength (see starting strength) and are unable to attempt higher amounts of weight on the movements more than once per week. That assumes the person wasn't prevented by inadequate recovery (sleep and lots of food). The method is the fastest way to continue gaining strength and requires only minor modifications to their previous programming: starting strength. This is for people who want to be stronger as quickly as possible and have the resources/hormones necessary to recover. Almost exclusively a subset of men between 20-35. It's not a powerlifting program because its not explicitly meant for peaking the athlete, although you can modify it to do so. It born under the American weightlifting coach Glenn Pendlay, who had his athletes perform it. If you think about this program in terms of muscle groups you're going to have a hard time. You need to think of it in terms of human movements that can be strengthened: pushing (BP, OHP), squatting, pulling (deadlift, power snatch/clean). Everything else is just assistance movements to those.
The statement about not thibking in terms of muscle groups and instead thibking in terms of human movements that can be strengthened is, clearly, a nonsense. What do you think muscles are for? Movement! So if you negkect a muscle you are neglecting a movement oattern that can be strengthened. Obviously. I thibk what you mean to say is that Rip is concerned with POWERLIFT MOVEMENTS in a very narrow rep range. He considers that the defibition of strength, period. It isn't of course ut that is why you come up with that sort of bizarre statement. And for the record, you cannot POSSIBLY claim that Rip's methods are "the best". Based on what criteria? Almost any program works on beginners. And SS is extremely co troversial for intermediates and advanced. The main team split over it when the BArbell Medicine guys quit because Rip refused to budge on his dogma.
Barbell medicine split because another starting strength coach was using the starting strength name for his own online coaching business. @@fabioq6916
Sir, this is a hypertrophy channel. Recommending training movements instead of muscle groups is antithetical to bodybuilding. Texas Method is for strength training for athletes and powerliftes, not people who want bigger muscles.
As always, excellent! It's crazy how much simplification these types of training plans use. As with, e.g., volume, imagine how someone's recovery differs with more stress, a lower sleep quality, and a level of advancement exercise to exercise. Thanks for making the fitness industry better!
The world record for weighted dips is 195Kg by Mathew Zlat, he also does 120Kg Pull-ups and 125Kg+ chin-ups. He ONLY trains pull-ups, chin-ups and dips for strenght (4-6 reps max, usually he does 1-3 reps) and he's massive. He doesn't do any bicep work, tricep work, shoulders work... he says it is all a waste of time. He doesn't do accessory work. People need to just train strenght and be simple about it. He tried the benchpress once for a video and he could do 200Kg without ever working for it lol.
Thanks Menno!🙂👍 Can you analyze the Max OT Training method. This was done by Jeff Willet and Skip La Cour, who were said to be Natural bodybuilders. A lot of people have gotten big from this program.
Great vid. Consider getting some microphone that can filter out that echo of your room, or doing some post-editing (idk if possible). Also maybe some more vibrant lighting so you don't look faded out?
Working on it! I hired a graphics designer, bought a studio light and a new mic, so the quality should improve. It's tricky to set up optimally considering how often I move.
I think you misunderstand the program and it's context. It is only meant for people coming out of the NLP that can recover from high intensity training and want to get brutally strong at the powerlifts and OHP. That being said, It's structure makes sense for people acostumed to the NLP. It must also be said that this isn't a true structured program but more of a way of programing (volume work, recovery work and intensity work) that is explored through several pages in "Practical Programing of Strength Training". Almost every single critique you have for the "program" is adressed in the book and a solution is given. So i understand your critiques but i think you don't give the proper context it deserves (besides in the ending). Besides that, good video.
Another excellent video. Thank you very much for your extremely informative and useful content. Looking forward to more stuff from you. You never disappoint.
Thanks for the review. I began with the SS NLP in June 2020 at 57 and moved to The Texas Method 5A after a period of time. TM 5A as outlined in The Barbell Prescription. For me, I am pleased with how I have progressed, even with some recurring injuries to my hams. I will continue with the program for now and see if I can reach my goal of 1200lbs on the 3 lifts during my 60th year. Take care. Edit: I should add, the program has done nothing outwardly noticeable in regards to my size. Nobody who knows me is even aware I strength train and I still wear the same size shirt and jeans.
I feel that some of the criticism could be refuted stating that it is not a bodybuilding program, but rather a "general strength" program, whatever that means. So, bicep volume might not be a huge concern. Your other points are very well put, thanks for the video!
Very good and objective review. I actually had this one on my radar as a possible future option and now I think I will be able to find much better. Almost has shades of HIT Jedi in it. Thank you again!
Texas method, is more a metode then a program , Use 80-90 % off 5RM on volum day, I use 85%, You can modified it to your need, for pull I train deadliftRow 5x5 on volum day , chins on the light day, and deadlift on the heavy day
Menno's perspective is driven much more by "physique" goals (note his emphasis on "muscle groups," whereas Rip specifically talks about strength training and movement patterns). Personally I put more stock in Rip's nearly 5 decades of clinical experience than random ex phys studies, usually done for short periods in untrained (or incorrectly trained) individuals, the results of which are seldom, if ever repeated.
Health illiterate will believe the bs mirror muscles over performance any day all day. People that are into performance will be able to weed out aesthetic bs opinions as it doesn’t relate to their performance. Its just posing muscles nothing more. To simplify strength and power training just listen to andy galpin. Case closed.
Strength defined as what? The powerlifts only. That is precisely the problem with Rip. His definition is narrow, Menno's isnt. There is a reason none of Rip's acolyte look well rounded and are athletic. They are strong in the powerlifts at low reps. Period. The guys who were actually pretty decent and science based quit to form Barbell Medicine, precisely because the intermediate to advanced SS programs sucked
And I'd put more stock in well-designed, carefully controlled studies. Coaching and real world experience are great, but the problem is that they don't let you unpick what's causing the desired change (e.g. Strength, hypertrophy) from what isn't. Received wisdom from coaching has given us lots of good stuff, but lots of myths and wasted time too; it's a lot like pre-scientific medicine. The point about badly trained beginners is a good one, but many studies have long since moved past those. As for repeatability, nothing Menno says in here is based on one study - it's the accumulated weight of evidence that counts.
I quickly found out that this kind of programming does not suit my body at all, it's way too heavy and fatiguing. For people that have strength in their DNA i guess this kind of programming would make sense
Overhead press targets front delts and somewhat upper pecs and very little side delts. Bench press targets pecs and somewhat front delts. Whole review is mostly BS.
Doesn't look like you understand enough about this program or strength training to make such a review, there is so much misinformation and wrong assumptions here. At the end you also say "scientifically" this program makes no sense, you should read the book, maybe you will learn something. He actually dives quite a bit into the science.
Youve completely missed the point of the program. The program is designed to be adaptable to the individual. Also you say theres no bicep work. How about the chins? You say the press and bench don't use the same muscle groups. The ss press requires you to lean back and present your chest to the ceiling, engaging the chest. You say there is no rear delt work. Deadlifts, power cleans, power snatches and chins all use rear delts. Also if you wanted to add rows or other assistance work you can, but just doing the basic exercises are enough. There are loads more flaws in your Criticism, i could go on and on. Oly lifting not effective for muscle growth? In combination with strength work they absolutely develop you. Also this program is not designed for muscle growth its to increase strength. The oly lifts help you maintain the ability to display the newly acquired strength.
Agree. Been doing TM cycles for more than a year, muscle mass is increased but my focus is strength, so to me muscle gain is a side effect of my strength training. numbers obviously increased. I have no muscle imbalances noticeable , my traps delts rotator cuffs are defined and balanced, and don't do anything outside the program. Not even bicep work :) I don't do snatch tho, only cleans and sometimes jerk if I have any fucking energy left !!
I wasted a few weeks on this program years back. I threw all my Rippletoe books in the recycling bin. Nothing about the program makes any sense, it's merely ancient dogma.
Points for input there, champ. 25 mins of in depth, high quality information, and the only thing you have to say is about the production quality.. Do u even lift bro?
I did 5x5 for years a long time ago and if you want a balanced strength hypertrophy program it works.
I love the new approach. Hopefully 10*10 German volume training and Gironda's 8*8 programs will be reviewed soon. Thank you, Menno.
I think 8 is a sweet spot, I agree with Vince 👍
Amazing video. What would be great would be you reviewing renaissance periodization's male physique templates. People say they have their best results on them.
I'd rather have him review the latest Custom templates by RP. The MPT is known to have a lot of volume.
Sounds like it's been reviewed? Are you after someone breaking the science on why it may work or not?
Just wrapping up peak week five here on another successful RP cycle. Two more sessions to survive before deload. I find these work wonderfully. I do favor their bodybuilding ones however over their strength plans.
Rippetoe says and does a lot of stupid things.
However, he is often unfairly taken out of context and his words get misrepresented which is exactly what you are doing at the beginning of this video in your criticism of Mark's statements about size being a byproduct of strength.
The problem is that you are making your criticism of that statement within the context of his Texas Method for intermediate lifters when those comments are, in fact, made within the context of his Novice Linear Progression program -- the training method for beginning strength training --- i.e., Starting Strength.
Next, when you get to the recovery day, you make up the hypothetical of a guy only squatting sets of 80K! This example makes it clear that you are not, in fact, critiquing Rippetoe's program. In his books, Rippetoe makes it pretty clear that an intermediate is able to squat three plates for 5 reps. If all you can squat is 80k then you are barely halfway to Rippetoe's definition of an intermediate and should not be doing the Texas Method!
I would say in general , the stronger you get you’re going to gain some size. Yes, bodybuilders use a lot of other techniques to get big, but most of them are DAMN strong. Arnold, Yates, Coleman, and on and on.
If Rip ever sees this, these will be his comments (or something to their effect):
1: You're not even American; what do you know?
2: You don't even look like you can pull 500; What do you know?
3: I've been doing this shit for 50 years; I know more than you.
4: Your accent is funny.
Menno, read your articles for a long time now. Apologies if you've created others; but I love the idea of you debunking common fitness theories in video form as well. Keep it up!
This comes across as a kid who confidently & critically gives a book report based only the Cliff Notes, hoping the teacher hasn't read the book herself. A lot of your confusion & criticisms of this method are addressed in his book (co-authored by Andy Baker): Practical Programming for Strength Training. It teaches very useful concepts for programming that I've not seen well explained in more bodybuilding oriented literature.
As others have said, this method (not template) of programming is only relevant to those who've completed their novice linear progression in strength (see starting strength) and are unable to attempt higher amounts of weight on the movements more than once per week. That assumes the person wasn't prevented by inadequate recovery (sleep and lots of food). The method is the fastest way to continue gaining strength and requires only minor modifications to their previous programming: starting strength. This is for people who want to be stronger as quickly as possible and have the resources/hormones necessary to recover. Almost exclusively a subset of men between 20-35. It's not a powerlifting program because its not explicitly meant for peaking the athlete, although you can modify it to do so. It born under the American weightlifting coach Glenn Pendlay, who had his athletes perform it.
If you think about this program in terms of muscle groups you're going to have a hard time. You need to think of it in terms of human movements that can be strengthened: pushing (BP, OHP), squatting, pulling (deadlift, power snatch/clean). Everything else is just assistance movements to those.
The statement about not thibking in terms of muscle groups and instead thibking in terms of human movements that can be strengthened is, clearly, a nonsense. What do you think muscles are for? Movement! So if you negkect a muscle you are neglecting a movement oattern that can be strengthened. Obviously. I thibk what you mean to say is that Rip is concerned with POWERLIFT MOVEMENTS in a very narrow rep range. He considers that the defibition of strength, period. It isn't of course ut that is why you come up with that sort of bizarre statement. And for the record, you cannot POSSIBLY claim that Rip's methods are "the best". Based on what criteria? Almost any program works on beginners. And SS is extremely co troversial for intermediates and advanced. The main team split over it when the BArbell Medicine guys quit because Rip refused to budge on his dogma.
Barbell medicine split because another starting strength coach was using the starting strength name for his own online coaching business. @@fabioq6916
Sir, this is a hypertrophy channel. Recommending training movements instead of muscle groups is antithetical to bodybuilding. Texas Method is for strength training for athletes and powerliftes, not people who want bigger muscles.
Excellent critic, Menno! Thanks
As always, excellent! It's crazy how much simplification these types of training plans use. As with, e.g., volume, imagine how someone's recovery differs with more stress, a lower sleep quality, and a level of advancement exercise to exercise. Thanks for making the fitness industry better!
The world record for weighted dips is 195Kg by Mathew Zlat, he also does 120Kg Pull-ups and 125Kg+ chin-ups. He ONLY trains pull-ups, chin-ups and dips for strenght (4-6 reps max, usually he does 1-3 reps) and he's massive. He doesn't do any bicep work, tricep work, shoulders work... he says it is all a waste of time. He doesn't do accessory work. People need to just train strenght and be simple about it. He tried the benchpress once for a video and he could do 200Kg without ever working for it lol.
Massive？ i just looked at his IG. He would get destroyed by natural bodybuilders with remotely optimized and balanced training...
Thanks Menno!🙂👍 Can you analyze the Max OT Training method. This was done by Jeff Willet and Skip La Cour, who were said to be Natural bodybuilders. A lot of people have gotten big from this program.
I love your input because you have both the experience and scientific knowledge.
Too many “experts” these days.
Great vid. Consider getting some microphone that can filter out that echo of your room, or doing some post-editing (idk if possible). Also maybe some more vibrant lighting so you don't look faded out?
Working on it! I hired a graphics designer, bought a studio light and a new mic, so the quality should improve. It's tricky to set up optimally considering how often I move.
Great breakdown and dispels a lot of the myths that beginners believe when starting hypertrophy training.
I think you misunderstand the program and it's context. It is only meant for people coming out of the NLP that can recover from high intensity training and want to get brutally strong at the powerlifts and OHP. That being said, It's structure makes sense for people acostumed to the NLP. It must also be said that this isn't a true structured program but more of a way of programing (volume work, recovery work and intensity work) that is explored through several pages in "Practical Programing of Strength Training". Almost every single critique you have for the "program" is adressed in the book and a solution is given. So i understand your critiques but i think you don't give the proper context it deserves (besides in the ending). Besides that, good video.
Another excellent video. Thank you very much for your extremely informative and useful content. Looking forward to more stuff from you. You never disappoint.
Thanks for the review. I began with the SS NLP in June 2020 at 57 and moved to The Texas Method 5A after a period of time. TM 5A as outlined in The Barbell Prescription. For me, I am pleased with how I have progressed, even with some recurring injuries to my hams.
I will continue with the program for now and see if I can reach my goal of 1200lbs on the 3 lifts during my 60th year.
Take care.
Edit: I should add, the program has done nothing outwardly noticeable in regards to my size. Nobody who knows me is even aware I strength train and I still wear the same size shirt and jeans.
So you have not put on weight?
Get on TRT
I feel that some of the criticism could be refuted stating that it is not a bodybuilding program, but rather a "general strength" program, whatever that means. So, bicep volume might not be a huge concern. Your other points are very well put, thanks for the video!
Great episode! I enjoy your program breakdowns.
Very good and objective review. I actually had this one on my radar as a possible future option and now I think I will be able to find much better. Almost has shades of HIT Jedi in it. Thank you again!
And yet.... it works. Perfectly fine bridge on your way to 4 day per week intermediate block programming
Excellent review, your knowledge on this subject is pretty amazing. Wish you had more views and followers because you definitely deserve a lot more.
Just figured out that I'm not subscribed to you. WTH? I've been following your content for more than 5 years. Good that I have found you!
Have you even done the 5x5 program ?
I've done it, and more than once. I'd mostly agree with his summary of its strengths and weaknesses.
Thanks for these reviews Menno!
How about Andy Baker's 4 days split Texas Method?
Great analysis
Texas method, is more a metode then a program , Use 80-90 % off 5RM on volum day, I use 85%, You can modified it to your need, for pull I train deadliftRow 5x5 on volum day , chins on the light day, and deadlift on the heavy day
You're very patient with this ridiculous program!
Amazing video, as always.
Enjoyed this, thanks Menno. U did so well in your analysis- by not laughing I mean*
great vid,thank you. Please,review Neurotype training /Thibarmy/ and nrurotypes idea at all . will be interesting
Thankss
Would you say that absolute load doesn‘t matter that much for recovery and advanced athletes should train as much as beginners/intermediates?
Wish I had seen this video 5 years ago.
Menno's perspective is driven much more by "physique" goals (note his emphasis on "muscle groups," whereas Rip specifically talks about strength training and movement patterns). Personally I put more stock in Rip's nearly 5 decades of clinical experience than random ex phys studies, usually done for short periods in untrained (or incorrectly trained) individuals, the results of which are seldom, if ever repeated.
Health illiterate will believe the bs mirror muscles over performance any day all day. People that are into performance will be able to weed out aesthetic bs opinions as it doesn’t relate to their performance. Its just posing muscles nothing more. To simplify strength and power training just listen to andy galpin. Case closed.
Strength defined as what? The powerlifts only. That is precisely the problem with Rip. His definition is narrow, Menno's isnt. There is a reason none of Rip's acolyte look well rounded and are athletic. They are strong in the powerlifts at low reps. Period. The guys who were actually pretty decent and science based quit to form Barbell Medicine, precisely because the intermediate to advanced SS programs sucked
Define "clinical experience".
@@fabioq6916 watch yourself, he does tai chi
And I'd put more stock in well-designed, carefully controlled studies. Coaching and real world experience are great, but the problem is that they don't let you unpick what's causing the desired change (e.g. Strength, hypertrophy) from what isn't. Received wisdom from coaching has given us lots of good stuff, but lots of myths and wasted time too; it's a lot like pre-scientific medicine. The point about badly trained beginners is a good one, but many studies have long since moved past those. As for repeatability, nothing Menno says in here is based on one study - it's the accumulated weight of evidence that counts.
I quickly found out that this kind of programming does not suit my body at all, it's way too heavy and fatiguing. For people that have strength in their DNA i guess this kind of programming would make sense
It is towards intermediate lifters ,maybe a programm oriented towards beginners will be more sutied for you
Overhead press targets front delts and somewhat upper pecs and very little side delts. Bench press targets pecs and somewhat front delts.
Whole review is mostly BS.
You said - "let's say your not very strong yet, ypu squat with 100 kilos".
So this video is not for average Joe then 😅
90% - LOL... on any given day this might be your actual max or even too heavy. No shit this will overtrain you fast.
It is 90% of your 5 rep max, not 1 rep max
The echo in the background makes it very difficult for me to take the information in.
Critisim is far too nuanced for me. Perhaps reading the book might have been a good idea before this video.
Where is the science. I hear just his opinions. Where are the research and not his opinion.
Facts
Doesn't look like you understand enough about this program or strength training to make such a review, there is so much misinformation and wrong assumptions here. At the end you also say "scientifically" this program makes no sense, you should read the book, maybe you will learn something. He actually dives quite a bit into the science.
Youve completely missed the point of the program. The program is designed to be adaptable to the individual.
Also you say theres no bicep work. How about the chins?
You say the press and bench don't use the same muscle groups. The ss press requires you to lean back and present your chest to the ceiling, engaging the chest.
You say there is no rear delt work. Deadlifts, power cleans, power snatches and chins all use rear delts.
Also if you wanted to add rows or other assistance work you can, but just doing the basic exercises are enough.
There are loads more flaws in your
Criticism, i could go on and on.
Oly lifting not effective for muscle growth? In combination with strength work they absolutely develop you. Also this program is not designed for muscle growth its to increase strength. The oly lifts help you maintain the ability to display the newly acquired strength.
Agree. Been doing TM cycles for more than a year, muscle mass is increased but my focus is strength, so to me muscle gain is a side effect of my strength training. numbers obviously increased. I have no muscle imbalances noticeable , my traps delts rotator cuffs are defined and balanced, and don't do anything outside the program. Not even bicep work :)
I don't do snatch tho, only cleans and sometimes jerk if I have any fucking energy left !!
I wasted a few weeks on this program years back. I threw all my Rippletoe books in the recycling bin. Nothing about the program makes any sense, it's merely ancient dogma.
You didn't do the program and this guy intentionally misrepresented the program.
@@rickyparrish2570 I did the program. A great way to have sore joints and no back whatsoever.
@@canadianrs3128 you didnt do the program
@@rickyparrish2570 He just said he did, you're proving his point about dogma
@@drno62 oh he said he did. That must mean that he is correct.
Get a better mike and a room with at least minimum sound isolation.
Points for input there, champ.
25 mins of in depth, high quality information, and the only thing you have to say is about the production quality..
Do u even lift bro?
He’s right , I’m trying to build rear delts and it’s not happening on this program 🥹