Special Intensity Techniques I: MYOREP-MATCH
Tl;dr We’ll review how to introduce myorep-match-sets to add intensity to your workouts while making them more time efficient and less stressful on the joints and ligaments— something really ideal for someone that aims at STAYING ON THE IRON PATH for a long fucking time.
I know a lot of you SAVAGES absolutely LoOoOoVe some GRINDER workouts that utterly test your willpower like HIIT— today I want to introduce to you a special intensity technique that will make your workouts shorter, MORE HYPETROPHIC, and less stressful for your connective tissue so you can keep BANGING IRON, for a long, LOOOONG fucking time, BABAY!
The only caveat is that the sheer execution of this style of training will require you to do some SOUL SEARCHING— opening the gates of hell, and facing your inner demons— 'cause this shit will test your willpower LIKE NOTHING ELSE— also, this technique is better suited for isolation exercises or exercises that offer external stabilization— big compound movements like squats, and deadlifts, are in itself INTENSE AS HELL, there are little reasons to add intensity to them outside of refining execution and adding more weight.
The technique is called MYOREP-MATCH— and it's ridiculously simple to execute, just make sure the target muscles are properly warmed up before trying this:
Execute an AMRAP SET— as many reps as you possibly can, GO ALL OUT, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE INSANELY HARD, and take note of the number of reps you've managed to get.
Rest for your usual amount (2-3 minutes)
Execute a MYOREP-MATCH-SET— you do as many reps as you can until you hit the same number of reps as you did in your first AMRAP SET, but, as you fail to do so, you do rest-pauses of 3-5 seconds, and go again, until you match the number of reps you did in the AMRAP SET.
Here's an example, let's say you're doing leg extensions:
First AMRAP set you went BALLZ TO THE WALL and managed to get 18 repetitions.
Now on your MYOREP-MATCH-SET, you went there, conjured all your ability to produce force, but only managed to do 11 reps, then rest for 3-5 seconds, hit as many as you can, let's say you did 3, now rest for 2-5 seconds, hit more, keep doing this, until you matched your AMRAP set, in this case, as many pauses as it takes for you to hit 18 repetitions.
AMRAP SET: 18 reps.
Rest for 2-3min.
MYOREP-MATCH: 11 reps.
Rest for 3-5 seconds.
MYOREP-MATCH: 3 reps.
Rest for 3-5 seconds.
MYOREP-MATCH: 2 reps.
Rest for 3-5 seconds.
MYOREP-MATCH: 2 reps.
That's it, 2 sets, DONE!
The idea here is fairly simple, you know that the repetitions done when you're getting near failure (0-6 RIR) are the ones conducive to muscle growth, right?
Using the example above, this means that at least 12 out of those 18 initial reps were only leading to the real work— they're de facto called LEADING REPS in the sports science and physiology community— and by introducing myorep-matches you're getting rid of those leading reps, and executing only HIGH THRESHOLD repetitions— introducing comparable amounts of sheer work than regular straight sets, in a fraction of the time, and reducing the stress on your joints and ligaments due to sheer friction.
Please try this out, and let me know what you think, if you need any further instructions, just hit me up in the comments or on our chat.
Yo, this post is part of a series of articles on SCIENCE-BASED TRAINING that'll give you tools and concepts to optimize your training— each article will be available to free subscribers for 7 days after the post, then COMPILED into a logical sequence and become MY FIRST BOOK exclusively available to my paid subscribers, aiming at turning YOU into your very own expert coach, so you can tailor your training based on your individual needs and circumstances.
Here are the articles we have ready, and what is in the oven:
Special Intensity Techniques I: MYOREP-MATCH (this one)
We reviewed how to introduce myorep-match-sets to add intensity to your workouts while making them more time efficient and less stressful on the joints and ligaments.
SCIENCE-BASED MUSCLE BUILDING I
We reviewed the concepts of myofibrillar, sarcoplasmic, and stretch-mediated hypertrophy.
SCIENCE-BASED MUSCLE BUILDING II (in production)
We'll review which muscles are more susceptible to each style of training, and how you can identify which one is better for you.
SCIENCE-BASED MUSCLE BUILDING III (in production)
We'll review which exercises are AWESOME to Breally milk the most gainz out of every single mechanism for hypertrophy for each body part.
Future iterations will cover nutrition, hydration, sleep, supplementation, recovery, strength training, programming, periodization, longevity, and how to leverage your training for health in general — You guys know my style, I don't hold back, I assume you're smart motherfucker that'll be able to understand the science, I'll insert all the pertinent broscience as well and do my best to keep it logical and in a progressive sequence, but REST ASSURED this ain't gonna be a cookie-cutter money grabber bullshit— I'll unleash all that I've got.
If you want to fuel this project, please, consider upgrading to a paid subscription to this Substack, click the button below:
That’s it, MY BRUDDAHS!
Thank you so very goddamn much for reading this piece all the way down here, and for being here in my little corner of the interwebs absorbing a bit of what I’ve picked up along the way in my own journey through THE IRON PATH!
Your sheer presence here, and the fact you dedicate your attention to reading my shit absolutely means the world to me.
But remember, that learning new concepts, and getting hyped up to the gym is all fine and dandy, but it ain’t mean nothing if you don’t actually APPLIED!
SO GET TO THE GODDAMN GYM AND BANG SOME MOTHERFUCKING IRON, MY BRUDDAH!
STAY ON THE IRON PATH!
Big KISS
THE POTATO MAN