The Powerbuilding System
Training Split
WHAT’S NEW?
Most bodybuilding programs focus too much on chasing a pump. The typical end result behind such an approach is a physique that may look muscular, but isn’t actually able to put that muscle to use! This Powerbuilding System blends the very best of bodybuilding and powerlifting training styles to create one of the most effective and motivating ways to train.
Low rep sets seem to signal for muscle growth mainly through mechanical tension, whereas high reps sets likely signal for growth primarily through metabolic stress. Because of this, if you only use one rep range in your training, you are seriously limiting your hypertrophic potential. Because this program blends rep ranges in the 1-5 zone, 6-12 zone and 12-20 zone, you will maximize muscle growth through each and every growth pathway.
Once beyond the newbie phase, a big problem that most people run into is lack of objective progress. Once linear gains are no longer possible, most lifters start spinning their wheels and relying on highly subjective factors like pump, soreness, etcetera. Let me be clear: NONE of these factors will drive progress like increases in strength. Because this program is so focused on increasing strength on heavy compound lifts, it provides a much more reliable way to ensure progress beyond the newbie gains stage.
Because this program includes more low rep, heavy strength work than a typical bodybuilding program, you will simply get much stronger in general. Once you apply that new found strength to the typical “bodybuilding movements” in moderate to high rep ranges, the potential for overload will be so much greater and plateaus can be completely busted.
Powerbuilding isn’t only valuable for bodybuilders, though. It also has merit for powerlifters. Remember, all else equal, a bigger muscle IS a stronger muscle. So, if your strength progress has slowed down, a powerbuilding approach will provide the muscle growth you need to make sure your numbers keep moving up.
TRAINING SPLIT BREAKDOWN
WHAT’S INCLUDED
A detailed description of exactly how to prepare for the program: Max testing? Training gear? What to do with your diet? Leave nothing up to chance.
Over 80 pages explaining EVERYTHING you need to know to master your technique on the squat, bench press, and deadlift. Bust through sticking points and fix the most common errors.
You’ve never seen a program like this! Week to week, it alternates between a full body split and an upper/lower split, uses high effort top sets to drive maximum strength, and a unique combination of RPE and %1RM based programming to ensure proper recovery. At the end of the program, you will test maxes to see all the gains you’ve made.
This program is NOT just an eBook. In addition to everything above, you also get a full excel sheet that auto-populates the exact weights you need to use for each of the main lifts, including boxes for tracking weights on every exercise.
- Over 70 video demos by Jeff, illustrating every exercise
- Volume analytics for each and every body part
- Exact warmups, sets, reps, rest periods, and RPE
- Exercise substitutions for individualization
- Science explained: why the program works (+ references)
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
No. If you are still in your first year or two of training, I’d recommend running my Fundamentals Program first. After that, I’d suggest running at least one of my Push Pull Legs or Upper/Lower Program before moving onto this routine. This program is designed for intermediate-advanced trainees who have seen a stall past the newbie phase.
Yes! Anyone who is looking to build BOTH muscular size and strength will benefit from this program. This program will build all the muscles of the entire body proportionally. If you’re looking for a little more focus on lower body or glutes, you can check out my Women’s Specialization Program or Glute Hypertrophy Program.
If you’re able to do two of the three lifts, it is possible for you to tweak the program to fit your needs. For example, if you can squat and deadlift but can’t bench press, you could replace the bench work in this program with dips, dumbbell press, smith-machine press or machine chest press and run the rest of the program as is. If you can squat and bench press but can’t deadlift, you could replace the deadlift work with hip thrusts and/or lower back extensions. If you can bench press and deadlift but can’t squat, you could replace the squat work with front squats, hack squats or leg press.
However, because one of the main objectives of this program is to increase strength on the Big Three lifts, if you’re unable to perform any of those lifts, this is not the best program for you at this time. I suggest you consider running one of my other programs instead.
Feel free to try my free program selector to find which program is best for you.
There are two different versions of the program. A four times per week option and a five-six times per week option. Simply choose the version that best suits your schedule and let the gains take care of themselves.
You only need a power rack, barbell, bench and (ideally) some dumbbells to run this program. Because there are exercise substitutions included for every exercise, you can run this program with basic lifting equipment and can tailor it to fit your situation. To run the program exactly as written (without any substitutions) however, you would need gym access as there are a few cable and machine exercises included as well.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to my coaching support team at any time.