Quote:
Originally Posted by lewdog
I'm not disagreeing but how come all the big strength/strongman athletes have so much mass and mostly train for strength? Are they working in more hypertrophy work somewhere or is it that anyone benching 400lbs is gonna be big because they are strong?
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Strength training puts a massive load on your CNS. Especially spine loading movements such as deadlift and squats. Because of this the reps are much fewer (1-5), rest times much longer between sets (3-6 minutes) and more days rest needed to recover.
Because the volume is so low for these there isn't enough muscle breakdown and rebuilding to reach hypertrophy and build mass.
Because of the recovery limitations on the CNS most will have either full days of hypertrophy training with no strength training or they wil have their one or two main strength builders and the rest will be accessories that are run hypertrophic.
Just an example. This was my push day...
Axel Overhead Press: 4 working sets of 3 reps. 205lbs 5 minutes rest between sets (this was my strength training movement for the day)
The rest is all hypertrophy. 60-90 seconds rest:
Incline Dumbbell Press: 3x12 95lbs dumbbells
Cable Chest Flies: 4x15 100lbs each stack
Rope Tricep pushdowns: 3x12 200lbs each stack
Reverse grip straight bar pushdowns 3x12 200lbs each stack
Standing overhead skull crushers 4x10 95lb dumbbell
Each day is this same basic principle. One or two strength ecercises and then finish with hypertrophic accessories.
Then add in a day of event specific lifts... Atlas stones, sandbags, yoke, etc...
Short answer... They are big from genetics plus they still do a considerable amout of hypertrophy training.