Starting out...

[Commander_Zigg]

Hey, folks! Although I've been interested in tricking for a while, I just recently really got started. However, my physical condition isn't exactly astounding, so I've been trying to figure out ways to improve. For the past year or so I've been enrolled in a traditional goju-ryu karate school, which has really helped me pack on some muscle, but I need extra help outside of just karate. I've also been jogging recently to try to shave off some extra fat. I have several friends at school who do weight training, and I asked them about how the whole rep/set/failure/calling upon Thor thing works, and they basically told me about the high-weight/low-rep thing being for mass, and the low-weight/high-rep thing being for toning. After reading the sticky guide, I realize they were pretty much full of shit. My family has a membership to our local gym, so I have access to weight training equipment, and I would appreciate it if you people could maybe tell me how I should start out and progress from there. Just for some general information, I'm approximately 6', and about 185-190 pounds. Thanks for the help!

[jackenloper]

Yea the toning information with low weights/high reps is the worst myth that has hit the strength training world.

I am there with you my friend, i trained for kickboxing before but started serious weightlifting for strength about 2 months ago. I really recommend reading Pavel's "Power to the people". That book is freaking awesome.

The low reps/relatively high weights is the key program to follow. Do 2-3 sets and 3-5 reps of each excercise in the gym. Use relatively high weight of 70% to 80% of your 1 Rep Maximum. Now, it depends if you wanna bulk up, or do you want strength without much bulk growth. If strength do what i said above. Also, stick with core compound excercises such as Deadlifts, Squats, Bench, Dips (weighted perhaps too), pullups, pistols (A.K.A one legged squats), one-arm pushups (awesome excercise).

The benefit of doing low reps in each set is the satisfaction of not feeling sore as shit in the morning and not having your muscle fibers ripped every time you work out. Your strength will increase fast.

I wish i could write all i know here, but that would take a crap load of time. I can recommend you to read my post 2 posts below yours. You have to CYCLE your weight as well if you wanna advance to higher weight. You WILL plateau at a certain point if you don't. For now, don't worry about that... for the first two months you will increase strength like crazy.

I hope someone else here will provide input as well.

Also, use the search button to search the archives for this forum for answer to questions like this that have been asked b-4.

Good luck buddy.

[Surge]

Revived <3