GERMAN VOLUME TRAINING ADVANCE

[align=justify]Advanced German Volume Training
by Charles Poliquin


When I introduced German Volume Training in the now defunct Muscle Media 2000, it was the most popular article they had ever published. Since then, it has been reprinted, translated, copied, attacked, "modified" or "improved," pirated, you name it.

Why? Because it works; because it works very well.

I get feedback about it to this day, even though it was written over ten years ago. I still get asked at least three questions a week about it on my own website. Last year, I was visiting Boston and decided to grab a workout at the Needham's Gold Gym. As I showed the attendant my Gold's gym card, he said, "Oh, the German Volume article author! I'm pleased to meet you. That's the only program that put 15 lbs of muscle on me in one month."

I have heard this type of report countless times.

However, the most common question I hear concerns how it might be adapted for an advanced trainee–someone with a good 5-years training experience.

Before I get into that, let us recap the most important points regarding German Volume training:

1. You do ten sets of a single "most bang for your buck" exercise.

2. You strive to do a pre-determined number of reps on each set, i.e. ten sets of ten reps.

3. You preferably alternate with the antagonist "most bang for your buck" exercise.

4. You only increase the weight once all ten sets are completed with the pre-determined starting weight. The load used is submaximal, you do not try to reach failure on all sets, but only the last three should be hard. Basically you get the training effect from the law of repeated efforts.

A typical workout might look like this:

A. Bench press (the goal is to do 10 sets of 10 with 200 pounds):

Set 1: 10 reps
Set 2: 10 reps
Set 3: 10 reps
Set 4: 10 reps
Set 5: 9 reps
Set 6: 7 reps
Set 7: 7 reps
Set 8: 8 reps
Set 9: 7 reps
Set 10: 6 reps
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B. Barbell Row (the goal is to do 10 sets of 10 with 200 pounds):

Set 1: 10 reps
Set 2: 10 reps
Set 3: 10 reps
Set 4: 9 reps
Set 5: 8 reps
Set 6: 7 reps
Set 7: 7 reps
Set 8: 7 reps
Set 9: 6 reps
Set 10: 6 reps

Once you were able to do complete 10 sets of 10 reps, you would increase the weight by 2 1/2 to 5%.


Pseudo-improvements for GVT

A lot of people claim to have improved the German Volume Training, but failed miserably because they did not understand the physiology behind it.

I do not care to bore you with details, but let's say that German Volume Training is the best apple pie recipe. One author might say you should use bananas instead of apples for an apple pie. And he would argue that the crust ruins it, and that it should instead be made into a loaf, or a mousse, or whatever.

Unfortunately, it is not apple pie anymore.

For example, performing 5 sets of 2 exercises done to failure does not equal the training effect of 10 sets of a single exercise using a load that causes fatigue on the later sets. The volume-intensity equations are completely different for the two different training systems.


Goals and Guidelines for the Advanced Trainee

Training Frequency: Because this is such a demanding program, it will take you longer to recover. I recommend working each body part every 5 days, BUT ONLY DOING THE SAME EXERCISE EVERY 10 DAYS. The routine outlined in the end will make things clearer. The exercises done in the two different workouts for the same body part should be similar, yet different enough to tap into a different motor unit pool.

Reps: For the advanced trainee, doing more than 5 reps is a waste of time, as the average intensity will be too low. The reps should vary for each one of the six workouts (German Volume Training, like any other training, is only effective for so long). Reps are the loading parameter to which one adapts the quickest.

Therefore, for an advanced trainee, one should apply a 6-9% increase in load with each successive rep reduction as outlined in the example below. In other words, each week, you'll do fewer reps per set, but increase the weight.


Workout 1

The goal of the Advanced German Volume Training method is to complete 10 sets of 5 reps with the same weight for each exercise. You want to begin with a weight you could lift for 10 reps to failure (10RM), if you had to push it. For most people, on most exercises, that would represent 75% of their 1 R.M. load. Therefore, if you can bench press 300 pounds for one rep, you would use 225 pounds for this exercise.

So your workout may look like this:

Set 1: 225 x 5
Set 2: 225 x 5
Set 3: 225 x 5
Set 4: 225 x 5
Set 5: 225 x 5
Set 6: 225 x 5
Set 7: 225 x 4
Set 8: 225 x 4
Set 9: 225 x 3
Set 10: 225 x 3

When using this—or for that matter, any program—you should keep a detailed journal of the exact sets/reps, load, and rest intervals performed, and only count the repetitions completed in strict form.

Additional tips will follow after the description of the remaining workouts.


Workout 2

Increase the weight by 6-7% and strive to do 10 sets of 4 reps with that weight. So workout 2 would look like this:

Set 1: 235 x 4
Set 2: 235 x 4
Set 3: 235 x 4
Set 4: 235 x 4
Set 5: 235 x 4
Set 6: 235 x 4
Set 7: 235 x 4
Set 8: 235 x 4
Set 9: 235 x 4
Set 10: 235 x 4

NOTE: It is not uncommon on the second workout to be able to complete all sets of 4, as your work capacity will have improved from the first GVT workout.


Workout 3

Increase weight of Workout 1 by 8-9% and strive to do 10 sets of 3 reps with that weight. Yes, you are reading it correctly—8-9%, not 6-7%.

So Workout 3 might look like this:

Set 1 255 x 3
Set 2 255 x 3
Set 3 255 x 3
Set 4 255 x 3
Set 5 255 x 3
Set 6 255 x 3
Set 7 255 x 3
Set 8 255 x 3
Set 9 255 x 3
Set 10 255 x 3

NOTE: During sets 6-7-8, you will think your spleen wants to come out of your right eye, but stick with it as sets 9 and 10 will be the easiest.


Workout 4

Use the weights you used in Workout 2 and go for 10 sets of 5, which you should do easily. If not, you have the Testosterone count of a castrated field mouse who consumes xeno-estrogens by the barrel.


Workout 5

Use the weights in workout 3 and go for 10 sets of 4, which again you should do easily. Otherwise, you are one of those Americans who eats an average of 60 dozen donuts a year (no kidding, that is what the average American eats, and if you take out the average tofu-eating Oregonian, the average Ohio resident probably eats 79 dozen).


Workout 6

By now you should be able to do 10 sets of 3 at 275 pounds with no problem. If not, your training background is probably slow tempo Kettlebell power snatches performed on the Bosu Ball.

Rest Intervals: When trainees start with this method, they often question its value during the first several sets simply because the weight will not feel heavy. However, there is minimal rest between sets (about 90 seconds when performed in sequence and 90-120 seconds when performed as a superset), which gives you a process of accumulative fatigue. Because of the importance of the rest intervals, you should use a stopwatch or a watch equipped with one to keep the rest intervals constant. This is very important, as it becomes tempting to lengthen the rest time as you fatigue.

Tempo: For long range movements such as squats, dips, and chins, use a 40X0 tempo; this means you would lower the weight in four seconds and immediately change direction and lift explosively for the concentric portion. For movements such as curls and triceps extensions, use a 30X0 tempo.

Advanced trainees, because of their enhanced neurological efficiency, should only use explosive concentric tempos.

Number of Exercises: One, and only one, exercise per body part should be performed. Therefore, select exercises that recruit a lot of muscle mass. Triceps kickbacks and leg extensions are definitely out—squats and bench presses are definitely in. For supplementary work for individual body parts (like triceps and biceps), you can do 3 sets of 6-8 reps.

Overload Mechanism: Once you are able to do 10 sets of x reps with constant rest intervals, increase the weight on the bar by the percentage outlined in the article and repeat the process. Refrain from using forced reps, negatives, or burns, as the volume of the work will take care of the hypertrophy. Expect to have some deep muscle soreness without having to resort to set prolongation techniques. In fact, after doing a quad and hams session with this method, it takes the average bodybuilder about five days to stop limping.

Following are some sample routines:

Day 1: Chest and Back

A-1: Incline Barbell Presses
10 sets of 5 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

A-2: Lean-away Chin-ups
10 sets of 5 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

B-1: Parallel Bar Dips
3 sets of 6-8 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 90 seconds

B-2: One-Arm Arc Dumbbell Rows
3 sets of 6-8 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 90 seconds

Day 2: Legs

A-1: Back Squats
10 sets of 5 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

A-2: Lying Leg Curls, feet pointing away from the body
10 sets of 5 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

B-1: Dumbbell Lunges
3 sets of 6-8 on a 30X0 tempo, rest 90 seconds

B-2: Romanian Deadlifts
3 sets of 6-8 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 90 seconds

Day 3: Off

Day 4: Arms

A-1: Incline Off-Set Dumbbell Curls
10 sets of 5 on a 30X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

A-2: Close Grip Bench Press
10 sets of 5 on a 30X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

B-1: Thick Bar Reverse Curls
3 sets of 6-8 on a 30X0 tempo, rest 90 seconds

B-2: Seated EZ Bar French presses
3 sets of 6-8 on a 30X0 tempo, rest 90 seconds

Day 5: Off

Day 6: Chest and Back

A-1: 30-degree Incline Barbell Presses
10 sets of 5 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

A-2: Close Parallel Grip chin-ups
10 sets of 5 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

B-1: Flat Dumbbell Presses
3 sets of 6-8 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 90 seconds

B-2: One-Arm Elbowing Rows (the elbow comes out to the side, as if you were elbowing someone in the chops)
3 sets of 6-8 on a 30X0 tempo, rest 90 seconds

Day 7: Legs

A-1: Heels Elevated Front Squats
10 sets of 5 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

A-2: Lying Leg curls feet inward
10 sets of 5 on a 30X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

B-1: Farmer's Walks
3 times 50 yards, rest 90 seconds

B-2: Glute-ham Raises
3 sets of 6-8 on a 40X0 tempo, rest 90 seconds
image002.jpg

Day 8: Off

Day 9: Arms

A-1: Seated Zottmann Curls
10 sets of 5 on a 30X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

A-2: Low decline close grip bench presses
10 sets of 5 on a 30X0 tempo, rest 100 seconds

B-1: Scott Bench Close-Grip Reverse Curls
3 sets of 6-8 on a 30X0 tempo, rest 90 seconds

B-2: Low Pulley French presses
3 sets of 6-8 on a 30X0 tempo, rest 90 seconds

Day 10: Off

Day 11: Do the Day 1 routine using Workout 2 pattern

Continue for 55 days, making the rep adjustments as outlined.

As you can see, there is no direct work for the popliteus or tibialis anterior, nor is there use of a Swiss Ball, Bosu Ball, or Bodyblade—just straight, hard, rewarding work.

For those of you, who have access to bands or bungie cords, please feel free to add them to the squatting and pressing exercises for increased overload. They are not a must, so don't think you are missing out if do not have access to them. The program will still have impressive anabolic properties without them.

It will take you 60 days to go through the cycle, but you should gain 8-10 lbs. of lean tissue by the end of those two months. It is not a program for the faint of heart, but it is a very rewarding program (in size and strength) if one has the guts to complete it.
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Comments

  • lastresortlastresort Posts: 1,116
    buh eto na ung hinahanap natin hehehe... nice read toh!!!
  • monching11monching11 Posts: 7,273
    Nice find sir, thanks for sharing!

    So compounds pa rin focus nya right?
  • ^ aight
  • bardagulbardagul Posts: 658
    great post! i-sticky na ito! :)
  • zanezane Posts: 963
    cool!!!!
  • donbuhdonbuh Posts: 3,164
    nabrowse ko lang muna sir last..paglalaanan ko ng oras to kapag mabilis na net ko..gvt wait ka lang..hindi ako papahuli syo...
  • allen101allen101 Posts: 5,102
    Buti nahanap ko tong thread na to.
    Patulong naman mga master.
    Medyo maalanganin kasi ako dun sa 5 day cycle niya.
    Tinatapat ko kasi sanang weekday lang ang workout days.

    Confused ako kung mag 5x5 ba ulit ako or itong GVT.
    Kung GVT Pwede bang ganito gawen?

    Monday - Chest + Back
    Bench press 10x10
    Rows 10x10
    Dumbell press 3x10
    One arm dumbell press 3x10

    Tue - REST

    Wed - Legs + Abs
    Squat 10x10
    Deadlift / SLDL 10x10
    Lying Curls 3x10
    Leg extension 3x10
    Some core workouts

    Thur - REST

    Fri - Shoulder + Arms
    Military press 10x10
    Side delt raise / Upright row 10x10
    Standing tricep press 3x10
    Barbell curls 3x10

    At yung sa leg day ko ano bas mas ok, Conventional deadlift o SLDeadlift?
    Yung sa shoulders naman po, ano mas ok instead of side delts raise mag upright rows na lang ako for traps?

    Help please.
    Paki adjust na lang po mga exercises ko if needed.
    *Free weights lang po gamit ko.
  • DSmallDivideDSmallDivide Posts: 4,565
    Hmmm... kung ako mag vovolume training it will look like this: given you follow the 60-90 sec rest per set ha

    Back/chest
    flat BB press - chest 10x10
    BB rows - Back 10x10

    Legs
    BB Squats (ATG) or "Romanian" DLs 10x10
    (you can do some ab training here)

    Shoulders/arms
    BB Mill press/DB press (front) 7-10x10
    Standing Side lateral Raise (side) 7-10x10
    Seated bent-over rear delt raise (rear) 7-10x10
    Skull Curshers/JM Press (triceps) 7-10x10
    BB Curls/Incline DB curls (biceps) 7-10x10

    if you'll notice dun sa small muscle groups may option to 7-10 so kaw na lang bahala mag tweak kung ilang sets, in case you are wondering why mas madami ung sa shoulders, isolation kasi majority ng exercises sa shoulders and napapabayaan madalas ang ibang heads nung delts. about sa overtraining as long sufficient ung "nutrient intake" mo i don't think you'll have to worry about that, i have trained my shoulders like this for a long time and never naman ako naovertrain (but again to each his own). eto ay pawang opinion ko lamang hehehe


  • DonzJYEDonzJYE Posts: 173
    Hmmm... kung ako mag vovolume training it will look like this: given you follow the 60-90 sec rest per set ha

    Back/chest
    flat BB press - chest 10x10
    BB rows - Back 10x10

    Legs
    BB Squats (ATG) or "Romanian" DLs 10x10
    (you can do some ab training here)

    Shoulders/arms
    BB Mill press/DB press (front) 7-10x10
    Standing Side lateral Raise (side) 7-10x10
    Seated bent-over rear delt raise (rear) 7-10x10
    Skull Curshers/JM Press (triceps) 7-10x10
    BB Curls/Incline DB curls (biceps) 7-10x10

    if you'll notice dun sa small muscle groups may option to 7-10 so kaw na lang bahala mag tweak kung ilang sets, in case you are wondering why mas madami ung sa shoulders, isolation kasi majority ng exercises sa shoulders and napapabayaan madalas ang ibang heads nung delts. about sa overtraining as long sufficient ung "nutrient intake" mo i don't think you'll have to worry about that, i have trained my shoulders like this for a long time and never naman ako naovertrain (but again to each his own). eto ay pawang opinion ko lamang hehehe



    ayun... swakto to sa routine, bukod yung shoulder exercises, tska ihiwalay ko nlng dn cguro ang back exercises, since gusto ko tlga ma develop ang back muscles ko... nice one TS.. good job po...
  • DSmallDivideDSmallDivide Posts: 4,565
    ang malupit sa volume training ay DOMS, while volume training has its place in training certain people (like me) nde sya "be-all end-all" na klase ng program. some actually get overtrained easily w/ this lalo na pag di tama ang nutrition and rest, i just want to be clear on that hehehe. figure out nyu pa din what works better for you, though IMHO i wouldn't ditch strength and hypertrophy oriented kind of training. This actually is good on some peeps when they plateau on their lifts :smile:
  • rotrot78rotrot78 Posts: 1,147
    im not really a fan of volume training sa simula pa.. na try ko ang volume pero yun nga DOMS lang bibigay sayo at konting pump sa muscle pero for short term plan lang, tama si sir Ds pag medyo nakakaramdam ng plateau medyo tweak nang konti for 2 weeks then go again for PR lifts. sa gym namin dami nag volume pa cute training pero hindi ko na pakikialamanan malay mo lumaki katawan nya sa volume kay sa lifting heavy.. its only my opinion para may preference pa rin kayo.
  • DonzJYEDonzJYE Posts: 173
    waha!
    1st time mag try ng volume training, 10x10 wew,
    eto DOMS na nga....:twitcy:
    kahit may 2:1:1 recovery di tumalab...
    todo kain pa...
  • allen101allen101 Posts: 5,102
    Salamat mga boss.
    Balak ko lang ito sana gawen mga 3-4 weeks parang refresher lang.
    Nabasa ko din sa link sa baba yung parang 5x5 din ang set up ng routine niya. Ano din po ang masasabi niyo sa routine na to?


    http://www.eclipsegym.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=57

    So what is German Volume Training?

    Basically it was a program designed many years ago for weightlifters who wished to move up a weight class. It is very brutal in nature and requires a great deal of focus while doing the training. The basic German Volume Training is known as the "10x10" or where you'll do 10 sets of 10 reps of 60% of your 1 rep maximum per exercise, with an arbitrary, but fixed, rest period in-between sets. As you progress, you'll later do a "6x10" or 10 sets of 6 reps with 70% of your 1 rep maximum with a similar rest period. Already I've deviated from the "original" 10x10, but what many will argue that there are many hybrid versions that are more effective than the original.

    For example, you might try:

    Monday - 60% of your 1RM:

    Bench press: 10x10

    Squat: 10x10

    Dynamic Row: 10x10

    Each set is seperated by a 90 second rest, and they are done in tri-set format, meaning that once you do bench, you'll then jump to squat, then to row, and then back to bench again, etc. It's important to observe a 90 second rest in-between each set. At first you might find 90 seconds too mind-blowingly difficult and will need to extend it to 2 or even 3 minutes. That's fine, considering some who are reading this have not run for 10 or more years. Over time, however, you'll need to reduce the rest interval if you wish to reap the anaerobic and aerobic energy system benefits. Many guys who were throwing up during their first bout of 10x10 later found it "easy and fun" and didn't want to quit. Go figure. Even I have a "love-hate" relationship with the 10x10. It is painful at first, but as you go on, you'll get an endorphin rush that is better than any buzz I've known.

    What we also do is what we've dubbed the "Tiro Wave Method" in honor of our Assistant Coach James Tiro from Cebu who discovered that it's more effective to pace yourself by dropping down to 7 reps once you find the 10 rep goal next to impossible. After the 8th set, you'll try to complete the last 2 sets with 9 or 10 reps if at all possible. If you can complete more than 8 sets of the 10x10 for at least 7 reps, you'll add 5-10lbs to your weights, depending on how heavy you are training. If you are an advanced lifter using over 200lbs, you'll add 10lbs per increment, especially if you get all 10 sets. If you are using weights of less than 200lbs, you'll obviously add only 5lbs.

    On Friday, for example, instead of doing 10x10, you'll do 6x10 with a 90 second rest interval. This time you'll wave down to 4 reps as your lower limit.

    It's important to note that if you go below 7 reps for a 10x10 or 4 reps for a 6x10, you should stop the set. It's also important that you should avoid going to the point of failure or severe struggle with these sets. Always strive to save something for the last 1-2 sets. "Pacing yourself" is the key to surviving this style of training.

    On Wednesday, you can apply the 10x10 and 6x10 to deadlifts, military press, and pullups. Another variation of the 10x10/6x10 is the Vince Gironda 8x8. We'll "Tiro Wave" down to 5 reps for this one. Many other strength coaches are now recommending 5x10, 4x10, and even 3x10. You'll need to experiment which one works best for you since there is no such thing as a "cookie cutter" program. One size does not fit all in the world of strength coaching, and it is why experience is so important. My own trainees have learned to trust my instincts instead of their own, even after they have trained with me for 6-12 months. This is why I am very distrustful of certifications, even the ones I respect like the CSCS. While I respect what they teach, they still lack the most fundamental aspect of legendary strength coaches - experience.

    I hope what I've written here has expanded your mind and taught you to think critically with respect to designing strength training programs for mass, speed, and power. This program is what was done in the era before rampant steroid/growth hormone use and is a true "back to basics" look at what the old-timers used to get big and strong before Dr. Ziegler even dreamed about Dianabol.

    Split routines suck, and I've never produced world-class athletes using them. Again, they were born in a "post-steroid" athletic world. The rest of those who remain drug-free need a little extra help in the scientific training department. I have produced a number of drug-free national and international contenders using the above total body style workouts, however. So you might benefit to take a page from my own Coaches Playbook. You probably have no aspirations to be "world-class", but even 50% of their abilities isn't bad now is it?

    The purpose of this 5x5 primer was to show everyone that the information to achieve your goals is available. You just need to take a critical look at your fitness facility and demand excellence if inadequacy is an issue. When you have out-grown your current facility, the Coaches at Eclipse will welcome you with open arms so that we might help you reach even greater heights.
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