Sophisticated Savagery

[JeremyT]

SO...let me get this straight Jeremy.

I will make you bigger and stronger...but you won't come lift here until you are bigger and stronger? My training partner is Kade Weber, and the guy I am chasing in Dan Green...so I often feel like the smallest and weakest... you can avoid it..or you can embrace it....
If you are the strongest guy in the room...you're in the wrong room.
I'll see you sooner than later.

So very true. I mainly center my workouts around the weekend. Any training groups then? I also had one question for you. I'm 6'2" and I have been reading to that to reach my strength potential people were recommending that I would have to be in like the 275/308 weight class. Seems crazy to me. Have you ever seen a pure ecto tall guy ever reliably weigh over 220? I would have like 60 pounds to add even to there. As an adendum to that should I try to out right dirty bulk to just add mass for strength or should I do something more moderate and stay a bit lean?

Thanks!

[Jay Nera]

So very true. I mainly center my workouts around the weekend. Any training groups then? I also had one question for you. I'm 6'2" and I have been reading to that to reach my strength potential people were recommending that I would have to be in like the 275/308 weight class. Seems crazy to me. Have you ever seen a pure ecto tall guy ever reliably weigh over 220? I would have like 60 pounds to add even to there. As an adendum to that should I try to out right dirty bulk to just add mass for strength or should I do something more moderate and stay a bit lean?

Thanks!

I think you need to stop focusing on the number on the scale and start focusing on progressively increasing the number of lbs lifted. Focusing on getting stronger and eating plenty should be where you mind is at. Set objective goals and start moving towards them.

I used to always be concerned with how much I weighed….then I started powerlifting where it matters more how much you lift IN RELATION to how much you weigh. You can gain garbage weight and not get stronger…is that what you want? Obviously not…but it is safe to say that if you keep getting stronger and are eating a proper aount of food under a proper macro nutrient template…that your body composition will shift along with the number on the scale… But, the number on the scale is a side effect, not the goal.

[Layhoo]

Hey Jay,

What's the first thing you do when you walk into a bar and see a girl you think is attractive?

On a real note if there was one thing you wish you could have known during your early lifting years what would it have been?

Can't wait to see how you do at RUM.

[Jay Nera]

Hey Jay,

What's the first thing you do when you walk into a bar and see a girl you think is attractive?

On a real note if there was one thing you wish you could have known during your early lifting years what would it have been?

Can't wait to see how you do at RUM.

LOLOLOLOL. SOme of the things in those podcasts will forever haunt me.

[Jay Nera]

Hey Jay,

What's the first thing you do when you walk into a bar and see a girl you think is attractive?

On a real note if there was one thing you wish you could have known during your early lifting years what would it have been?

Can't wait to see how you do at RUM.

There are so many things I wish I could have changed and its weird to think about.
For powerlifting, I wish I would have started much earlier. I didn't start powerlifting until i was about 27(I'm 31) so when I look at my training partner, Kade, who has been powerlifting for a couple years longer than I have and is still only 23 years old, I wonder how much better I could be had I started earlier and forced my body to adapt to this sport going through puberty etc….
I didn't start back squatting until i was around 21 or 22 years old (405lbs x 5 off balance high bar)…. but had I started earlier i would have never enjoyed other sports that I excelled at such as basketball, football, and bobsleigh…so its tough…. because if i were to change something…id have to change other things… and I like the path I've traveled….

I guess, I would have incorporated more mobility for sure because its crazy for me to think that I could probably clean 200kg now but can't prove it because I can't maintain a proper front rack position… and mobility would have aided in injuries as well. Let's just sum it up with if i could have learned something earlier…its that intensity doesn't cure injuries…
and working through pain only causes more pain in the long run… but even now I have a hard time accepting that.

its really a tough question for me….i wish I could answer it better.

[Layhoo]

LOLOLOLOL. SOme of the things in those podcasts will forever haunt me.

There are so many things I wish I could have changed and its weird to think about.
For powerlifting, I wish I would have started much earlier. I didn't start powerlifting until i was about 27(I'm 31) so when I look at my training partner, Kade, who has been powerlifting for a couple years longer than I have and is still only 23 years old, I wonder how much better I could be had I started earlier and forced my body to adapt to this sport going through puberty etc….
I didn't start back squatting until i was around 21 or 22 years old (405lbs x 5 off balance high bar)…. but had I started earlier i would have never enjoyed other sports that I excelled at such as basketball, football, and bobsleigh…so its tough…. because if i were to change something…id have to change other things… and I like the path I've traveled….

I guess, I would have incorporated more mobility for sure because its crazy for me to think that I could probably clean 200kg now but can't prove it because I can't maintain a proper front rack position… and mobility would have aided in injuries as well. Let's just sum it up with if i could have learned something earlier…its that intensity doesn't cure injuries…
and working through pain only causes more pain in the long run… but even now I have a hard time accepting that.

its really a tough question for me….i wish I could answer it better.

Probably haha but there certainly is benefit in it. It exposed me to some of the principles you train and live by. Before that I just new you were good at lifting heavy stuff. That led me to start reading your blog and your blog led me here. Now I have the opportunity to draw knowledge directly from the sports best. It is fucking awesome and I appreciate that answer because my front rack position blows too.

[shortstack]

I love music.... Bobby said it best when he said, " one good thing about music is when it hits you feel no pain." I listen to all types of different music depending on what I'm doing.

I'm going to assume you like the Keys. My favourite albums by them are Magic Potion and Chulahoma. Chulahoma is probably one of my favourite albums all together. I'm a big blues rock fan. Jimi Hendrix is huge to me. Little Wing is imo the best song and ends so abruptly at the climax which to me is what I call a samurai ending....a hara kiri after a beautiful battle. Any one who was influenced by Son House or Robert Johnson I will likely enjoy. I listen to them when I'm chilling. Jack White is brilliant.

Just when I didn't think you could get any "cooler" I my book, not that that matters for shit, you listen to one of my top 5 bands and pick Chulahoma as a favorite album. haha As a guitar player I can tell the level of musical understanding a person has by if they reference that album as a good Black Keys album. Dans ablility to capture Kimbough's mojo or Vaughns ability to mimic Albert Kings sound is something I try and capture but man it's tough!! Wouldn't be good if it wasn't.

Sorry to take over with all the music stuff but you kind of blew my mind for a second.

[Jay Nera]

Just when I didn't think you could get any "cooler" I my book, not that that matters for shit, you listen to one of my top 5 bands and pick Chulahoma as a favorite album. haha As a guitar player I can tell the level of musical understanding a person has by if they reference that album as a good Black Keys album. Dans ablility to capture Kimbough's mojo or Vaughns ability to mimic Albert Kings sound is something I try and capture but man it's tough!! Wouldn't be good if it wasn't.

Sorry to take over with all the music stuff but you kind of blew my mind for a second.

Its all good man. Music is like weather….can make or break your day sometimes because it sets a tone…and everyone likes to talk about the weather whether great or bad..same goes for music. :)

Learning to play some of that would be pretty cool. Or even the finger style like that of Robert Johnson, Son House, or Charlie Patton.

[shortstack]

Its all good man. Music is like weather….can make or break your day sometimes because it sets a tone…and everyone likes to talk about the weather whether great or bad..same goes for music. :)

Learning to play some of that would be pretty cool. Or even the finger style like that of Robert Johnson, Son House, or Charlie Patton.

Very Nice. That stuff is very difficult for me to follow along with but I'm getting better at it. All 3 were amazing players and when you have guys Like Clapton trying to recreate Robert Johnsons sound and still not quite getting it, it gives me hope to keep trying.

[JBaron]

Hey Jay,

I was wondering what your thoughts on front squats were? Do you ever do them as an accessory movement, or do you just stick to back squats? I see some strong squatters practice the front squat but I'm not sure how valid a movement it is if I'm solely training for powerlifting. Awesome to see you at the Cage last weekend, by the way.

[Jay Nera]

Hey Jay,

I was wondering what your thoughts on front squats were? Do you ever do them as an accessory movement, or do you just stick to back squats? I see some strong squatters practice the front squat but I'm not sure how valid a movement it is if I'm solely training for powerlifting. Awesome to see you at the Cage last weekend, by the way.

I think front squats are one of the most important lifts to aid in both the squat and the deadlift.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCwC4PaQvjI

[JTNT]

Q1) Can I pay a fee just to train at dynamo? or does it have to include coaching or something?
Q2) What does your current training look like? Meet plans?

[JBaron]

I think front squats are one of the most important lifts to aid in both the squat and the deadlift.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCwC4PaQvjI

Awesome! Thanks for the info!

[Jay Nera]

Q1) Can I pay a fee just to train at dynamo? or does it have to include coaching or something?
Q2) What does your current training look like? Meet plans?

1) Dynamo has two programs, a crossfit program and a barbell program. No you don't get to come in a do whatever you want. Yes, you have to be coached…but that doesn't mean if you want to try something I would say no…I am open minded…we just want what you want…for you to get stronger…to not get stronger training at Dynamo doesn't happen…unless you don't listen to us or train with intensity…its that simple.

2) I am taking it easy. Focusing on eating more and trying to gain weight. I like competing behind Dan Green so I want to gain weight and potential compete in the 242s and drop to the 220's when I have a challenge at that all-time…for now…bigger and stronger. Not really sure when the next meet will be.

[Theonidus]

Fan girling so hard over here.

[Jay Nera]

Probably haha but there certainly is benefit in it. It exposed me to some of the principles you train and live by. Before that I just new you were good at lifting heavy stuff. That led me to start reading your blog and your blog led me here. Now I have the opportunity to draw knowledge directly from the sports best. It is fucking awesome and I appreciate that answer because my front rack position blows too.

Very cool that you've read some of my stuff and will follow me on here. I wonder what else those podcasts have led people to do haha.

[Fry!]

Your style of lifting is really fashionable, but i recently saw you doing, some cleans and i would ask: is your main goal now powerlifting?

[BJ Whitehead]

Hey Jay. Wanted to say thanks! I watched your video on how you warmed up for back squats with front squats. I did that Wednesday and it helped a ton. I'm still not up to heavy weight but it felt really good once I got to my working sets. Thanks again!!

[freighttraindane]

I think front squats are one of the most important lifts to aid in both the squat and the deadlift.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCwC4PaQvjI

thanks for posting this again. i need to start to incorporate front squats into my training.

[Jay Nera]

DYNAMO BARBELL will be hosting it's first ANIMAL BARBELL CLUB meet up!! Kade 'Pale Rider' Weber and myself will be hang in and clanging weights.

The UNIVERSAL ROAD TRIP WILL BE JOINING!! ( Frank, Antoine, & Tony)

Will you be there?

WHEN:
Tuesday, June 3rd
7:30pm until 9:30pm

WHERE:
DYNAMO BARBELL
21 Grenfell Crescent Units 2 & 3
Ottawa, Ontario
K2G 0G3
(613)218-4335


WHO:
Anyone who's addicted to the iron.