The Importance of a Peak

When I get on Instagram I normally have one of two thoughts. Number one, everyone seems to be constantly hitting PRs and being the strongest they possibly can be all of the time. Number two, likes and followers are inversely proportionate to the amount of clothing worn. Seeing as how I am a man of humble means I will never be an Instagram mogul, but I do want to be crazy strong all of the time. Sadly, I’m educated enough to know that being relatively strong all of the time isn’t as good as being really strong when it counts.

Let me introduce you to the peak. No, it’s not the high point of your bicep, but a neurological supercompensation that comes from good training. As a weightlifter, you will have to struggle with the constant urge to lift as much as you can every workout. That style of lifting is unmethodological and will slow down overall strength gains in the long run. A good program is planned out weeks in advance to work you to be as strong as you possibly can for one single day. An event in time that requires you to be at your best. A competition. This means that you will not feel as strong as you should for a lot of the programming, but as you approach that crucial day your strength will slope up dramatically.

The peak is important because it prepares your body in a way that most training methods won’t. Your muscles aren’t growing bigger, your technique isn’t being perfected at lighter loads, but in fact you are training your nerves to make your muscles produce the max amount of force that they can. This type of training requires very precise and programmed intensities and reps. I like to use a supercompensation method that programs several sets of one with a linear progression model that allows for near 100% 1RM to be done for multiple sets of one. At that point a new 1RM exists and it can be achieved at a competition.

What the peak does is it schedules your PRs for a specific date in time that matters. Rather than be able to squat 500 pounds for 12 weeks and then try 510 at a competition, you would start off by being able to squat 475 and 12 weeks later you’d squat 525. Setting our egos aside can allow for much better end results. Just like it’s been said, the least will become the greatest.

If you'd like to have a coach who can help you peak and constantly get stronger you can email us at Endunamoox@gmail.com