Thread: Mike Mentzer - 1 set to failure

I think it's a good change. You could try a HIT program and see if you like it, but I wouldn't recommend using it all year round.

If you train 48 weeks a year, integrate such a change for 4-6 weeks. Other variations of HIT have the potential for longer term use (8 weeks). Mentzer advocated rest times that were way, way, way to long. Arthur Jones HIT is far superior (however, AJ HIT is mind-numbingly hard. there is not a training practice on the world harder, in my opinion. doing it for a month will be more productive result wise than anything else you can compare it to)

Originally Posted by Duncans Donuts

If you train 48 weeks a year, integrate such a change for 4-6 weeks. Other variations of HIT have the potential for longer term use (8 weeks). Mentzer advocated rest times that were way, way, way to long. Arthur Jones HIT is far superior (however, AJ HIT is mind-numbingly hard. there is not a training practice on the world harder, in my opinion. doing it for a month will be more productive result wise than anything else you can compare it to)

What kind of RI's did Mentzer recommend?

It takes A LOT of mental fortitude though!!!

Mike Mentzer's HIT also recommends training each body part once every 3 weeks or so.

Originally Posted by fufu

What kind of RI's did Mentzer recommend?

Don't quite remember - something ludicrous, 9-21 days or so.

Alternate what you do. Interweave periods of volume with periods of intensity. While I think Mentzer's views are a bit extreme, the more and more I look at it, so are the views of the opposing camp. I think for most peeps, the most important thing is to realize what you are trying to do and implement techniques that will get you there. For everything you do, ask yourself how it is getting you to where you need to be. Plan for more than the immediate future, and start where you need the most work. If you are weak for your size, hypertrophy should be the last thing on your mind. If you are very strong for your size but weigh 135lbs, hypertrophy may be the way to go. Look at where you are, where you want to be, and the rest kind of falls in to place.

Originally Posted by Duncans Donuts

If you train 48 weeks a year, integrate such a change for 4-6 weeks. Other variations of HIT have the potential for longer term use (8 weeks). Mentzer advocated rest times that were way, way, way to long. Arthur Jones HIT is far superior (however, AJ HIT is mind-numbingly hard. there is not a training practice on the world harder, in my opinion. doing it for a month will be more productive result wise than anything else you can compare it to)

Hey, long time no see, DD! I hope all is going well for you!

Could you post a link that explains "Arthur Jones HIT"?

Originally Posted by DOMS

Hey, long time no see, DD! I hope all is going well for you!

Could you post a link that explains "Arthur Jones HIT"?

check this thread out:

click me

Good to see ya'll

Arthur Jones HIT is full bodyworkouts done 1-2 times per week to absolute failure one after another. No rest in between sets. 1 month of AJ Hit will give you the most impressive gains in the shortest period of time of any routine possible; at least if done right. Especially if you are accustomed to high volume training done frequently (4-5 days/week)

The key to adaptation is, generally speaking, screwing with your bodies desire to create a level of homeostasis. AJ HIT is closer to physical shock than anything else, which explains its pronounced effect.

The way it is designed, utilizing different exercises and rep schemes every few weeks makes it affective long term, too. You need to have balls of steel and a different level of mental focus (or a really good trainer) to get its full benefit.

Especially if you are accustomed to high volume training done frequently (4-5 days/week)

most important sentence in the post.

Originally Posted by Duncans Donuts

Especially if you are accustomed to high volume training done frequently (4-5 days/week)

I use to workout 4 or 5 days a week, twice a day, for 45-75 minutes per workout.

Me likey the volume.

Originally Posted by P-funk

check this thread out:

click me

And Bingo was his name-o.

Thanks, P-funk. This routine sounds painful and difficult. So after my current core/strength routine, I'm in.

Yes, it defitently works for people who are accustomed to the opposite end of the scale (2 hour workouts in contrast to 8 minute workouts).

I did a few AJ routines once, and had tears running down my face. I can't do them.

They are, in my opinion, as effective as workouts that are 20 times more volumous in terms of workload and time. I've had a few people use them to great affect in short periods. As a personal trainer, the key to a succesful business is bringing the client back , with results. Results or not, Jones HIT won't bring back clients. Sad, because such work takes about 20 minutes including warm-up and cool-down. People are usually unable to stretch (much less stand) after a properly conducted workout.

I'm talking about the classic 1970s HIT; Sergio Olivia & Casey Viator. Not the sugary Darden version.

Frankly, the mental fatigue will get you as badly as the physical fatigue will. As brilliant as Jones was, he had little regard for the general public's work ethic and ability to produce what he considered "real effort". He was too damn tough for his own good, and his methods are way to brutal for the average person.

Mentzer HIT is, sadly, not going to work as well or for as long a period of time before your body shrugs it off as the usual. It is very difficult, too, but after a year of it I had trouble progressing or getting excited about my workouts.

Originally Posted by P-funk

check this thread out:

click me

I always wondered why I stopped posting here. Then I remembered: nobody likes me.

God...now I'm really looking forward to doing that routine.

Thanks for bringing it up, DD.

Originally Posted by Duncans Donuts

I always wondered why I stopped posting here. Then I remembered: nobody likes me.

That doesn't stop DOMS...

Bump to the shitty work ethic of humans.

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

That doesn't stop DOMS...

Bump to the shitty work ethic of humans.

After reading my own posts, I've decided that I wouldn't like me either. DD, he's pretentious jack-ass who sounds like he uses too much thesaurus.

I didn't say I'm wrong, though. I'm basically right 99 percent of the time. I'm as effective as a condom.

I'd go with whatever P-Funk and Mabry say. What they lack in handsome, they more than make up for with knowledge. And they know how to convey it. What a combo.

I'd go with whatever P-Funk and Mabry say. What they lack in handsome, they more than make up for with knowledge. And they know how to convey it. What a combo.

Funny, my girlfriend tells me the same thing.

Your website looks better than mine :[

Originally Posted by Duncans Donuts

Your website looks better than mine :[

that is because my girlfriend did it.

That is kiind of on the side now.

The company that I work for now is www.corclinic.com. She did that site too.

What is your webiste? I will link it on my blog page.

Thanks guys for the great input back on this - I shall read up and learn more.

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

That doesn't stop DOMS...

Bump to the shitty work ethic of humans.

Taken from http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/shannon5.htm

Do the following each session:

1. Squats
2. Stiff-legged deadlifts
3. Close supinated grip chins/pull down
4. Standing press
5. Parallel bar dips
6. Barbell curls
7. Barbell wrist curls
8. One-legged calf raise

Basically, after you warmup, you're supposed to just do 1 set of each exercise to absolute failure without any rest in between?