Five Strength Loading Protocols Under the Microscope

Written on January 6, 2011 at 3:04 am, by Eric Cressey

There are loads of different ways to get stronger. Similarly, there are all sorts of different classifications of strength, whether you’re a powerlifter, strongman, Olympic lifter, manual laborer, or just some random dude who wears his hat like Sylvester Stallone in “Over the Top” and constantly seeks out arm wrestling matches in airports, bingo halls, or massage parlors.

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6 Responses to “Five Strength Loading Protocols Under the Microscope”

1. David V. Says:
   January 6th, 2011 at 10:34 am

   Very informative article, Eric. It is nice to see the rhyme and reason for various protocols. Too bad the arm-chair quarterbacks on the Livespill comments are so quick to bash you when they only halfway comprehend the content.

2. Daniel Says:
   January 6th, 2011 at 3:30 pm

   I really enjoyed this article. The pro’s and con’s of each protocol were really well explained. Too bad it caused so many readers to get all butt hurt. Thanks!

3. Howard Gray Says:
   January 6th, 2011 at 10:20 pm

   What is linear periodization? Periodization, by it’s very definition is undulating. This does not mean it has to vary day to day (daily undulating, but it does undulate. Heavy days, light days, shifting focus – less variation for beginners, more for more advanced athletes / inseason athletes.
   If, by “linear periodization” you mean more traditional periodization (Stone, Haff, etc.) – then I disagree with you about it sucking.
   The term linear periodization has been used badly in much of the literature.

4. Bob G Says:
   January 6th, 2011 at 10:42 pm

   I agree with Daniel above. Great post. Maybe next time you should look into just saying what everyone wants to hear.

   I especially hate going by percentages.

5. Louie G. Says:
   January 8th, 2011 at 8:10 am

   Eric,

   This was a fantastic article! Finally, someone who had the balls to say it! I have tried each, and then some, of the protocols mentioned and experienced the same conclusions that you wrote about. I congratulate you for stepping up and expressing yourself on the matter. I noticed that you took quite a beating from the members at T-Nation, however I have a suspicion that most of the opposition are just “group thinkers” anyway who do not venture out from their particular mindset.

6. Stephen Bergeron Says:
   January 8th, 2011 at 8:03 pm

   Do you think an intermediate-advanced lifter could benefit by at least trying all of these methods?