I’m currently in meet prep for the 2015 IPA Grand Prix Nationals at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on October 24th, in Columbus, Ohio. I will be competing at 132 pounds, raw with knee wraps.

For programming and coaching inquires, please email SmitleyPerformanceSystems@gmail.com


Sunday after deadlifting I got in my heaviest bench press session of meet prep. I was feeling rather good despite not having the best deadlift session, which I was rather perplexed by, but I rolled with the punches. I'm truly undecided on how I will treat my third attempt at the meet (as anything can happen), but it will likely depend on how squats go. I worked up to my opener for a double, then took my second attempt for a single. Things were feeling really good, so I went with 325 as a projected third, and this felt REALLY good. I contemplated about giving 330 a run, but I decided that it wasn't really worth it. In hindsight, I probably should have just jumped from 315 to 330, but that's part of the training. Mentally, I know I'm good for 330 now, so meet day will just boil down to how I'm feeling. I went ahead and overloaded with 335 with the Shoulder Saver so I could get a grasp of how the weight would feel and basically called it a wrap there. Given that I can maintain my tightness and positioning on meet day, I think things will be looking good (especially after some rest). Speaking of which, my body is just totally ready for a good week of rest before the meet. I've now just got one more weekend of openers to go, and I'm pretty much home free.


[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCbt17FzwVI]


Items Used in this Training Session Chains EZ Loaders Mini Band Shoulder Saver

Warm Up DB Bench Press - 55's x3x15 Mini Band Face Pulls - 4x25 Mini Band Side Bends - 3x15/side

A1) Bench Press 45x10 95x5 135x5 185x3 225x2 255x1 275x2 295x2 315x1 325x1 335x1 - Shoulder Saver

B1) Close Grip Shoulder Saver vs 2 Chains/Side 225x3 245x3 260x3

C1) JM Press vs 2 Chains/Side with Shoulder Saver 115x10 135x10 155x10

D1) V Bar Pressdowns 50 total reps

E1) DB Lateral Raises 2x15 E2) DB Front Raises 2x12

F1) SA Rear Delt Band Fly 3x20 per arm F2) SA Band Fly 50 total reps per arm


Brandon Smitley
Tagged: Training Log

EliteFTS Table Talk— Where strength meets truth. Hosted byDave Tate, Table Talk cuts through the noise to bring raw, unfiltered conversations about training, coaching, business, and life under the bar. No fluff. No hype. Just decades of experience — shared to make you stronger in and out of the gym.

Join the Crew!

Support us and access premium content monthly!