Bullmastiff
Pack on serious strength and size with this 3-week wave structure with a base and a peak phase
Professional strongman and powerlifter, YouTuber with 75K subs
Overview
Bullmastiff is Alex Bromley's popular intermediate program from his book, BASE STRENGTH: Program Design Blueprint.
Bullmastiff uses all 4 big movements and follows them up with a developmental variation for the opposite movement and then general bodybuilding work. The program has a base phase (9 weeks) and peak phase (9 weeks) based on a 3-week wave progression.
Read more about the program below for an overview and progression guidelines.
Overview of the weekly split
Day 1
Main lift: Squat
Variation: Deadlift variation
Accessories: Back, ham/quads, abs
Day 2
Main lift: Bench Press
Variation: Overhead Press variation
Accessories: Triceps, biceps, rear delts, rotator cuffs
Day 3
Main lift: Deadlift
Variation: Squat variation
Accessories: Back, ham/quads, abs
Day 4
Main lift: Overhead Press
Variation: Bench Press variation
Accessories: Triceps, biceps, rear delts, rotator cuffs
Mechanics of the Program
Low frequency
High Volume and High Effort
Main lift features sub-max volume followed by an AMRAP set
Variation and accessory "volumize" with high rep work
Medium Amount of Exercise Variability
Less variation than Conjugate, more than Texas Method
Autoregulated
Performance on AMRAP determines weight jump next week
3 week wave structure
Weight increases over 3 weeks
Sets increase over 3 weeks
Weight and volume resets every 4th week
Progression Structure
Bullmastiff operates off of a 3 week wave structure, meaning stress increases each session over a 3 week period before dropping back and building back up. The last set of the main exercise is performed for an AMRAP and that number is used to estimate a weight jump for the following week. This is a method of auto-regulation made famous by Doug Young.
To determine your weight jumps each week for the main lift, add 1% of your 1 rep max for every extra rep you did on last week's AMRAP. For example, If you are working through sets of 6 and performed 10 on the AMRAP, that is 4 extra reps so your weight jump would be 4% of your 1 rep max. If I’m operating off of a 1 rep max of 400lbs, that’s 16lbs (we can safely round down to 15) added to last week's working weight. You'll need to calculate this manually, but it's not hard. This is called autoregulation.
Who it's for
Reviews
At first sight, it looks weird to start as easy but stick to the program don't over do and the results are amazing. Before starting bullmastiff Squat PR was plateaus at 298 lbs for more than 15 years and now 386lbs.
I’ve run this program twice now. Got back into lifting weights in 2022 and ran this program Jul - Nov 2024. My 1 rpm prior to the program were a 365 squat, a 550 deadlift, and a 275 bench. After 18 weeks I performed a 415 squat, a 600 deadlift, and a 295 bench. In 2025 I stopped lifting heavy and focused on losing 30 lbs while doing less weight more reps in the gym. In 2026 I ran the program again from Mar - Jul. I put the 30 lbs back on and was able to get back to previous maxes after about 2 years and then hit new PRs. After 18 weeks my 1 rpm was a 305 bench, a 445 squat, a 610 deadlift which I felt I had more in the tank for 615 or 620, and this time I attempted my overhead press max which was 215. All weights lifted above are in Lbs. This program may not be for everyone but it sure works for me. The only changes I made were replacing Tricep extensions on a cable machine for rolling Tricep extensions with dumbbells and cutting out doing abs. I felt I got enough core work doing deadlifts and RDL’s. Beginning the program is always horrible especially on leg days. It was normal for me to feel like shit and power through while trying not to throw up for the first 3 weeks while your body adapts to the volume. I tried push the weight on the accessories and never go lighter just because it was RPE 6 or 7 and I was supposed to have 3-4 reps left in the tank. Last thing I changed my second time running the program was increasing the 1 rpm weight every 3 weeks by 10 lbs until the end. My first time I only changed the 1 rpm at the start of the peak phase.
6 weeks in and I really enjoy this program so far
I was doing the usuals. 5x5 and 531. Was stuck on my ohp and progressed slowly overall. I feel confident that Bullmastiff will bust plateaus. My on paper 1rms across the board have jumped big time. I'm almost there. Feeling Strong.
Muscle engagement
| # | Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squat (Barbell) | 3 | 6 reps | 65% |
| 1 | 6+ reps | 65% | ||
| 2 | Romanian Deadlift (Barbell) | 3 | 12 reps | @6 |
| 3 | Bent Over Row (Barbell) | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| 4 | Leg Curl | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| 5 | Leg Extension | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| 6 | Cable Crunch | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| # | Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bench Press (Barbell) | 3 | 6 reps | 65% |
| 1 | 6+ reps | 65% | ||
| 2 | Tempo Overhead Press | 3 | 12 reps | @6 |
| 3 | Tricep Extension (Cable) | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| 4 | Bicep Curl (Dumbbell) | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| 5 | Rear Delt Fly (Dumbbell) | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| # | Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deadlift (Barbell) | 3 | 6 reps | 65% |
| 1 | 6+ reps | 65% | ||
| 2 | Front Squat (Barbell) | 3 | 12 reps | @6 |
| 3 | Lat Pulldown | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| 4 | Leg Curl | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| 5 | Leg Extension | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| 6 | Cable Crunch | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| # | Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overhead Press (Barbell) | 3 | 6 reps | 65% |
| 1 | 6+ reps | 65% | ||
| 2 | Spoto Press | 3 | 12 reps | @6 |
| 3 | Tricep Extension (Cable) | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| 4 | Bicep Curl (Dumbbell) | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
| 5 | Rear Delt Fly (Dumbbell) | 2 | 12–15 reps | — |
Weeks 2–19 are in the app
Download Boostcamp to follow the full program with auto-progression and built-in coaching notes.
The coach
How Bullmastiff works
Bullmastiff is a long, 19-week, 4-day-per-week strength program written for intermediate lifters. Each session takes around 75 minutes to complete. It was created by Alex Bromley and is published on Boostcamp with full week-by-week structure built in.
The program runs as a 19-week block with the same training-day structure throughout. It's built around a full gym setup. Inside the Boostcamp app, working weights and targets auto-progress between sessions based on what you actually lifted, so you don't manage the math by hand.
Bullmastiff is best suited to lifters who already have 6–18 months of consistent training and know their working weights for the main lifts. Over 17,636 Boostcamp athletes have run it. It's fully free on Boostcamp. Every week is unlocked from day one on iOS and Android.
Common questions
Yes, Bullmastiff is completely free to follow on Boostcamp. There's no subscription or payment required. Download the app on iOS or Android, search for the program, and you can start your first workout immediately. All 19 weeks are fully unlocked.
This program is built around a full gym. Make sure you have consistent access before starting, since the progression model assumes you can perform the same movements week over week. If you're missing something, the Boostcamp app includes substitution suggestions inside each workout.
Each session typically takes around 75 minutes to complete. That estimate covers your working sets but doesn't account for warm-up or rest between sets, so budget a little extra time when you're first learning the movements. As you get familiar with the program, sessions tend to move faster.
Bullmastiff is structured around 4 training days per week, with rest days built in to allow for recovery. Consistent rest is as important as the training itself. Skipping rest days can stall your progress. The app lets you reschedule sessions if your week doesn't go to plan.
The program runs for 19 weeks. The structure is designed so that each week builds on the last, with weights, volume, or intensity progressively increasing as you go. Many athletes choose to repeat the program after finishing, either at a higher starting weight or with a different variation.
Bullmastiff is available inside the Boostcamp app, free on iOS and Android. Once you download the app, you can search for the program by name or find it on the coach's profile. The app tracks all your sets and weights automatically, so you always know exactly what to do next session.
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