Rip's Suggestions for the TM

[Jeffo]

I've noticed there are a few guys on here who are using, have used, or are looking to use Rip's Texas Method from Practical Programming. While lurking at another website, I came across a guy who trains at Rip's gym. He posted the following and I thought it would be of interest to a few people. I hope he doesn't mind me reposting it here. I haven't edited it.

Cheers,
Jeff

___________________


Monday night, I asked Rip to write a couple of generic programs for someone coming off of SS and interested in the Texas Method. It's not an easy thing to write a generic program because different people will be interested in bringing up different lifts. I said "just write something" and he came up with the following:

Routine 1

Monday
Squat 5X5
Heavy Press (5X5)
Bench Press Assistance
Power Clean (5X3)or Row

Wednesday
Front Squat 3X3
Back Extensions or GHR
Chin ups

Friday
Squat 1X5
Heavy Bench Press
Press Assistance
Dead Lift 1X5

Routine 2

Monday
Squat 5X5
Bench Press 5X5
Power Clean (5X3)or Row

Wednesday
Front Squat 3X3
Press 5X5
Back Extension/GHR
Chin ups

Friday
Squat 1X5
Bench Press
1X5
or 5X3
or 5X2
or 5X1
Dead Lift 1X5

Where I don't list sets/reps, he didn't write them down. I can surmise the sets/reps by looking at my current program. I didn't want to throw that information in here because I wanted you guys to see it exactly as it was written. The second workout was written at my urging. I said, "what if I want to get strong at the bench since that's what a lot of guys want to do".

Just throwing this out as a couple of workout suggestions.

[Eric3237]

Cool.

Would you mind reposting this also in this thread:

http://www.bodybuilding.net/powerlif...thod-5247.html

Like you said it's hard to write generic stuff but people need more examples like this. I like the first one. I don't see why someone couldn't reverse the priority on that also if they wanted to do bench. Although I would encourage most who were able to emphasize the press.

[marv]

Nice!
I like the first one also.

[Jeffo]

No problem Eric.

Glad you guys found it interesting. It's a bit of a toss up for me. I like the first one, as it's ballanced well and one could probably make a longer run at it before needing a break. On the other hand, I like the second one because I'm more of a Bench fan than a Press fan. There's a bit more work involved in the second one, so one would probably have to back off more often.

My limited Texas Method experience was closer to the second example and I found it worked great. I had to take a break every now and then, but I could usually set PR's on about everything for 6 weeks or so before needing an easy week or two. That said, if I ever need to go back to a 3 day set-up as an intermediate, I'd try something closer to the first one with a Bench emphasis over the Press.

Later,
Jeff

[Eric3237]

Yeah, you know there are many ways to skin a cat. My thoughts on individual lifts, usually, is that there are better ways to empahasize a lift then a fullbody in general. When it comes to these types of routines I will usually take a longer term balanced approach aimed at consistent progress across the board and once I find something lagging or establish a weak point I will do something like an upper/lower to get past that. At least that has been my approach in the past. However, my schedule allows me to do this and that is not always the case with most people.

[Darkhorse]

Yeah, I don't know if I could do full body work like that anymore w/ what I'm pushing compared to a few years back when I did something similiar. My legs are KILLING me and I only did 2 heavy sets yesterday. I can't imagine doing more tomorrow. Then again, I'd probably do ok with a controlled buildup and drop the front squats..

[widdoes2504]

Interesting stuff. Like 311 I don't know if I could handle a full-body workout with the weight I am moving (maybe if I adjusted some things), but I definitely like what I see in the program.