Powerlifting meets maintain a particular place in each lifter’s coronary heart. They’re thrilling, they’re difficult, and so they provide you with an opportunity to indicate off the onerous work you’ve put in. However right here’s the factor: powerlifting meets may be a bit overrated. Let me clarify why.
It’s not that meets aren’t vital—they completely are. However focusing too closely on the meet itself may cause you to lose sight of what actually drives progress within the sport: the method main as much as the platform.
Energy Is available in Seasons
As lifters, all of us need to hit these massive numbers at a meet. Perhaps you’ve labored as much as a 600-pound deadlift, and also you’re already planning for 620 subsequent time. However right here’s the truth: after that meet, your numbers might drop a bit. You’ll want time to rebuild your energy, refine your method, and tackle weaknesses earlier than you peak once more.
Powerlifting meet are lengthy. Not less than, they appear that method on the day of the occasion. However they’re nonetheless solely a day, and the coaching season for the meets themselves are just a few months of the 12 months.
That is the place the idea of energy coaching phases is available in. With my purchasers, I emphasize 4 distinct phases:
- Hypertrophy (Off-Season): Excessive reps, low depth. That is the place you construct muscle and strengthen weak factors.
- Energy: Transition again to heavier barbell work whereas mastering your kind.
- Energy: Concentrate on velocity and explosiveness to enhance fee of pressure growth.
- Championship: Peak for the massive day with decrease reps and better depth.
Every part is crucial to your success, and the hypertrophy part may simply be an important of all.
Why the Off-Season Issues Extra Than the Meet
Let’s break it down. A powerlifting meet is a snapshot of your progress, however the low season is the place the actual work occurs. Throughout this part, you deconstruct your lifts, analyze your method, and tackle weaknesses.
For instance, in case your deadlift struggles off the ground however you’ve gotten a powerful lockout, it’s time to include deficit deadlifts or different variations that concentrate on the underside vary. These workouts construct energy the place you want it most, guaranteeing that subsequent time you compete, your raise is stronger from begin to end.
With out this targeted, deliberate low season work, you’re merely chasing numbers with out constructing the muse wanted to maintain long-term progress.
The Entice of Meet-Centric Coaching
Too many lifters put all their power into meet preparation, neglecting the opposite phases of coaching. This results in burnout, stagnation, and frustration when progress inevitably slows. The meet turns into an all-or-nothing occasion, and if it doesn’t go as deliberate, it’s straightforward to really feel such as you’ve failed.
However success in powerlifting isn’t about one meet. It’s concerning the constant effort you place into each part of your coaching. By specializing in hypertrophy, energy, and energy earlier than you peak, you’re setting your self up for higher efficiency—not simply at your subsequent meet, however for years to come back.
Shifting the Focus
Don’t get me flawed—powerlifting meets are vital. They’re an opportunity to check your limits, compete, and rejoice the game you like. We even have recommendation on put together on your first powerlifting meet.
However they shouldn’t be your sole focus. As an alternative, consider them as milestones in your journey, not the vacation spot.
Take time to refine your craft in every part of coaching. Give your low season the eye it deserves. Construct a stronger basis, tackle your weaknesses, and let your subsequent meet replicate the work you’ve put in throughout all seasons of energy.
Do you agree? Disagree? I’d love to listen to your ideas. Drop a remark under or go to us at PowerliftingTechnique.com. Let’s focus on how we will all turn into smarter, stronger lifters. Don’t neglect to love, subscribe, and share this text with anybody who may want a recent perspective on powerlifting.
Till subsequent time, preserve coaching, keep targeted, and bear in mind: energy is available in seasons.
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