After that, you can either choose to repeat the sequence of two exercises after a short break, or you can do a sequence of two different exercises. Although you might have probably tried this method of training for different body parts, this training program applies it for every muscle group of your body over several weeks. The results in terms of muscle gains can be like nothing you’ve seen before.
Also, instead of exploiting this antagonistic method to train just your arms by pushing and pulling, the whole routine is based the push pull technique. The program is organized in such way that it alternates between days where you work with heavier weights, and days of short, intense training. This way you target all types of muscle fibers, recruiting more of them and creating the base for real gains.
STRENGTH IS KEY TO BUILDING SIZE
Once you start training, you’ll notice a much quicker rise in strength then in size. However, with greater strength you improve your ability for handling greater weighs, which results in greater ability to increase the volume of training. This, in turn helps in steady building of your muscle size. All things considered, the optimal building of thick muscles, requires a combination of styles that work both on your strength and size.
SETTING THE SUPERSET
However, this training protocol is focused on training antagonistic muscle groups, and alternating the different exercises that target different crucial muscles. However, as its aim is to increase the overall size of muscles, the program raises the stakes by targeting different muscles at different angles alternating between sequences of pushing and pulling. This way you’ll hit every muscle in your body, no matter how small and seemingly unimportant it may be.
As you have probably tried this method of antagonistic training for smaller muscle groups, you can probably get a clear picture how a continuous superset employing minimum rest, or no rest at all, can exhaust your muscles. By expanding the training method to target the larger muscle groups, fatigue is a factor that needs a lot of consideration. Having this in mind, this training program should be approached with great caution.
In this respect, each muscle group can be targeted using two different approaches. It is aimed at improving the blood flow and utilize the volumes necessary for serious muscle growth. One of the best aspects of the training program is that it alternates the workouts every week, thus stimulating the production of hormones that are involved in activation of muscle growth, and improving the ability for handling greater volumes. It also provides you with a great pump that helps you in building optimal muscle size.
NEW APPLICATION OF AN OLD METHODOLOGY
By using this approach of alternate workouts you can receive all the advantages of hormonal changes, increased testosterone production and sufficient time for recovery of the targeted muscle group
TRAINING PROTOCOL
ROUND ONE
-All the exercises are performed until reaching near failure, finishing all the sets and reps, after which you switch to exercising the other body part.
-After each set of two exercises take a short brake, and continue with working out the antagonistic muscles. The idea behind this protocol is to completely annihilate the muscles before switching to the antagonist partner.
ROUND TWO
-The focus is on traditional triset workouts, without any rest between exercises.
TRAINING SPLIT
DAY 1: Quads, hams, calves, abs
DAY 2: Chest, back, traps
DAY 3: Shoulders, triceps, biceps
DAY 4: Quads, hams, calves, abs
DAY 5: Chest, back, traps
DAY 6: Shoulders, triceps, biceps
DAY 7: Rest
WORKOUT – ROUND 1
Squat: 4 sets, 8 reps, 2 min. – 2 1/2 min. rest
Lying Leg Curl: 4 sets, 8 reps, 2 min. – 2 1/2 min. rest
Standing Calf Raise: 4 sets, 8 reps, 2 min. – 2 1/2 min. rest
Leg Press: 3 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. rest
Straight-leg Deadlift: 3 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. rest
Seated Calf Raise: 3 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. rest
Decline Weighted Crunch: 4 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. rest
Single-leg Extension: 4 sets, 12 reps, 1 1/2 min. – 2 min. rest
Seated Single-leg Curl: 4 sets, 12 reps, 1 1/2 min. – 2 min. rest
Hanging Leg Raise: 4 sets, 12 reps, 1 1/2 min. – 2 min. rest
*All the sets are completed before moving to next exercise.
DAY 2: CHEST/BACK/TRAPS
Bench Press: 4 sets, 8 reps 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
Lat Pulldown (wide grip): 4 sets, 8 reps, 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
Dumbbell Shrug: 4 sets, 8 reps, 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
Incline Dumbbell Press: 3 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. rest
Lat Pulldown (palms in): 3 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. rest
Upright Row: 3 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. rest
Machine Flye: 4 sets, 12 reps, 1.5 min. – 2 min. rest
Seated Cable Row: 4 sets, 12 reps, 1.5 min. – 2 min. rest
Barbell Shrug: 4 sets, 12 reps, 1.5 min. – 2 min. rest
Cable Crossover: 3 sets, 12 reps, 1.5 min. – 2 min. rest
Straight-arm Pulldown: 3 sets, 12 reps, 1.5 min. – 2 min. rest
Bentover Lateral Raise: 3 sets, 12 reps, 1.5 min – 2 min. rest
*All the sets are completed before moving to next exercise.
DAY 3: SHOULDERS/TRICEPS/BICEPS
Barbell Overhead Press: 4 sets, 8 reps, 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
Skull Crusher: 4 sets, 8 reps, 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
Barbell Curl: 4 sets, 8 reps, 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
Lateral Raise: 3 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. rest
Pushdown: 3 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. rest
Preacher Curl: 4 sets, 12 reps, 1.5 min. – 2 min. rest
Dumbbell Front Raise: 4 sets, 12 reps, 1.5 min. – 2 min. rest
Seated Overhead Extension: 4 sets, 12 reps, 1.5 min. – 2 min. rest
Seated Alternating Dumbbell Curl: 4 sets, 12 reps, 1.5 min. – 2 min. rest
*All the sets are completed before moving to next exercise.
WORKOUT – ROUND 2
1. Squat triset with
Leg Extension
Seated Leg Curl: 4 sets, 12 reps, 3 min. rest
2. Standing Calf Raise superset with
Decline Situp (weighted): 3 sets, 15 reps 2 min. rest
3. Leg Press triset with
Hack Squat
Lying Leg Curl: 3 sets, 10 reps, 3 min. rest
4. Seated Calf Raise superset with
Twisting Crunch: 4 sets, 15 rest, 2 min. rest
5. Front Squat (Smith Machine) triset with
Single-leg Standing Leg Curl
Rope Ab Crunch: 4 sets, 10 reps, 2.5 min. rest
* The grouped exercises should be performed in a sequence with minimal rest between the sets. Before continuing to the next set of exercises, take sufficient rest.
DAY 5: CHEST/BACK/TRAPS
1. Flat Dumbbell Press triset with
Seated Cable Wide-grip High Row
Dumbbell Shrug: 4 sets, 12 reps 3 min. rest
2. Incline Press triset with
Lat Pulldown
Bentover Lateral Raise: 3 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
3. Incline Flye triset with
Seated Cable Low Row
Dumbbell Shrug: 3 sets, 12 reps, 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
4. Decline Dumbbell Press triset with
Chinup (palmsfacing in)
Upright Row: 4 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
* The grouped exercises should be performed in a sequence with minimal rest between the sets. Before continuing to the next set of exercises, take sufficient rest.
DAY 6: SHOULDERS/TRICEPS/BICEPS
1. Dumbbell Press triset with
Dumbbell Skull Crusher
Barbell Curl: 4 sets, 12 reps, 3 min. rest
2. Cable Lateral Raise triset with
Rope Pushdown
Cable Curl: 3 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
3. Cable Front Raise triset with
Overhead Rope Extension
Single-arm Preacher Curl: 3 sets, 12 reps, 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
4. Bentover Lateral Raise triset with
Seated Dumbbell Extension
Seated Dumbbell Curl: 4 sets, 10 reps, 2 min. – 2.5 min. rest
* The grouped exercises should be performed in a sequence with minimal rest between the sets. Before continuing to the next set of exercises, take sufficient rest.
SUPPLEMENT SUPPORT SYSTEM
In order to make sure that you are capable of maintaining the hectic pace, you should consume a nutrition providing you with sufficient quantity of amino acids before and after workout. Also take creatine before and after workout and beta-alanine before hitting the gym. If you find it necessary, you can take additional protein during the day, thus providing support for this frenzied training method.