The wait is almost over. Since The elitefts Powerlifting Experience II and the publication of his Mistakes 101 article series, we have been bombarded with questions about Swede Burns and his 5th Set eBook. What is the secret behind all of the success at Keyhole Barbell, the private powerlifting gym Swede owns and operates?
For everything in 5th Set for Powerlifting, there is a reason. Swede didn't mix together various training concepts at random, just compiling programs until he found the right one. 5th Set was developed out of necessity, and polished through the willingness to question the correct place for intensity, volume, technique, and hypertrophy work in a training program. Your success with 5th Set doesn't rely on constantly pushing intensity, or increasing volume every week, or so much hypertrophy work that size increase takes care of strength increase. It uses all of these things, together, with intentional purpose and programming. It is even self-regulating.
Eat the meat, spit out the bone, as Swede says. That's what he does in this video. Swede talks about his experience in powerlifting, how he benched 400 pounds before graduating high school (that's not a typo), and how his success in bodybuilding couldn't make him forget where he really belonged: underneath a heavy bar.
This is the man behind 5th Set.
5th Set will be released exclusively on elitefts.com this Friday.
Typically at our gym we have 2 upper days and 2 lower days with a bodyweight/cardio circuit in between.
I am just trying to figure out a good template to use when implementing the program. If that means doing things differently then what I already do, that is fine. I want to stick to the 5th set concepts as much as possible.
1. Is there any deviation from the 4 session format or would that just throw everything off? Have you ever used the 5th set concepts with other programs?
2. what is your take on bands, chains, etc for programming them into 5th or is that a no go? Would that be integrated in to MSM lifts?
3. would you recommend conditioning after sessions or on off days only?