70s Powerlifter

Free4.58 (26 reviews)
18 week old school powerlifting protocol to will leave you in a different solar system
Program Description

70s Powerlifter Program

  • 4 Days per week

  • Upper/Lower/Upper/Lower (1 lift each day)

  • 3 - 3 Week Volumizing Waves

  • 3 - 3 Week Intensifying Waves

  • Leans on both Variations of Main Lift and Bodybuilding Work

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

There’s a heavy influence of the prototypical 70’s lifter here. Many of the accounts of some of the monsters that populated meets at that time, such as Doug Young and Bill Kazmaier, cited high volume approaches with many compound variations and plenty of bodybuilding movements to top it off.

There was also an apparent lack of creativity in the progressions, something I see as a positive. If the main lift was done for 5 sets of 10, often times, so were the second and third. Turns out they all progressed just as well as if they had been done for 8s, 6s, 12s, or anything in between. Each lift doesn’t, in fact, need it’s own unique progression scheme. Just set a baseline of work for each lift and progress forward.

PROGRAM INSTRUCTIONS

Main movement %'s
The range in percentages (ex. 60-65-75%) is to give you flexibility depending on how you recover each week. If the weight moves well, do most of your sets at the top range. If you feel under-recovered, do all of them at the low end. Increases in weight is second priority; the important thing is that weight doesn't go down as you add a set each week.

Deload weeks
Deload weeks are not included in the written program. However, take deload weeks as needed.

Be warned
This is an abnormal amount of work. The point of programming is to adapt to amounts of work that you are not used to. If you commit to this, understand that success hinges on reasonable weight selection. You will be more and more fatigued for each successive compound movement, so be prepared to adjust the weights way down. If any set in the Base phase was within 3 reps of failure, it was too heavy.

Program Overview
Coach
Level
Equipment
Time Per Workout
Days Per Week
Program Length
Intermediate, Advanced
Full Gym
90 minutes
4 days
18 weeks
What People Are Saying
RJ Z. Man, 43
3 weeks complete
No modifications
21 hours ago
Matthew Wood Man, 21
1 week complete
10 years of prior experience
As expected strength gains
As expected muscle gains
Marginal modifications
Program is good, simple and to the point training, no fancy progressions or anything, it doesn’t feel as close to 70s style as it should lacked the arm and shoulder training that 70s powerlifters used.
a day ago
Anthony Man, 27
2 weeks complete
2 years of prior experience
More than expected strength gains
As expected muscle gains
Marginal modifications
The way I like to train. Want to perform and look like Kazmaier and Young, gotta train like them.
2 days ago
Drake C. Man, 32
3 weeks complete
15 years of prior experience
More than expected strength gains
Marginal modifications
My only lacking body part was read delts . Fantastic program !
2 days ago
Casey W. Man, 30
3 weeks complete
5 years of prior experience
As expected strength gains
More than expected muscle gains
Marginal modifications
3 days ago
Brett B. Man, 56
3 weeks complete
40 years of prior experience
As expected strength gains
As expected muscle gains
Marginal modifications
Enjoying the program. Had rotator cuff surgery last summer. Regular old man CrossFit-er. Getting back some strength lost in shoulder recovery
3 days ago
Mark C. Man, 22
2 weeks complete
5 years of prior experience
As expected strength gains
As expected muscle gains
Marginal modifications
Super awesome
4 days ago
Kane H. Man, 27
3 weeks complete
14 years of prior experience
As expected strength gains
As expected muscle gains
None modifications
K
4 days ago
Mitchell G. Man, 27
3 weeks complete
5 years of prior experience
As expected strength gains
More than expected muscle gains
Marginal modifications
5 days ago
Sraer S. Man, 33
3 weeks complete
1 year of prior experience
As expected strength gains
As expected muscle gains
None modifications
Very good structure
5 days ago
Base Phase
Mon
1. Bench Press (Barbell)
Main Movement
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
60% of 1RM
2
10 reps
60% of 1RM
3
10 reps
60% of 1RM
2. Bench Press (Wide Grip)
Variation 1
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
RPE 6-7
2
10 reps
RPE 6-7
3. Incline Bench Press (Barbell)
Variation 2
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
RPE 6-7
2
10 reps
RPE 6-7
4. Lat Pulldown
BB Accessory 1
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-
5. T-Bar Row
BB Accessory 2
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-
6. Bicep Curl (Barbell)
BB Accessory 3
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-
Tue
1. Squat (Barbell)
Main Movement
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
60% of 1RM
2
10 reps
60% of 1RM
3
10 reps
60% of 1RM
2. Wide Squat
Variation 1. Use Wide Stance
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
RPE 6-7
2
10 reps
RPE 6-7
3. Front Squat (Barbell)
Variation 2
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
RPE 6-7
2
10 reps
RPE 6-7
4. Leg Extension
BB Accessory 1
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-
5. Lunge (Barbell)
BB Accessory 2
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-
6. Sit Up
BB Accessory 3
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-
Thu
1. Overhead Press (Barbell)
Main Movement
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
60% of 1RM
2
10 reps
60% of 1RM
3
10 reps
60% of 1RM
2. Bench Press (Wide Grip)
Variation 1
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
RPE 6-7
2
10 reps
RPE 6-7
3. Behind-the-Neck Push Press
Variation 2
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
RPE 6-7
2
10 reps
RPE 6-7
4. Lateral Raise (Dumbbell)
BB Accessory 1
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-
5. Skull Crusher
BB Accessory 2
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-
6. Tricep Rope Push Down (Cable)
BB Accessory 3
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-
Fri
1. Deadlift (Barbell)
Main Movement
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
60% of 1RM
2
10 reps
60% of 1RM
3
10 reps
60% of 1RM
2. Romanian Deadlift (Barbell)
Variation 1
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
RPE 6-7
2
10 reps
RPE 6-7
3. Good Morning
Variation 2
SetsTargetIntensity
1
10 reps
RPE 6-7
2
10 reps
RPE 6-7
4. Bent Over Row (Barbell)
BB Accessory 1
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-
5. Hamstring Curl
BB Accessory 2
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-
6. Leg Raise
BB Accesory 3
SetsTargetIntensity
1
15 reps
-
2
15 reps
-
3
15 reps
-