Beyond-Brawn-2nd-Edition

3. All-Time #1
Practical Priorities
3.1 Here is a summary of the practical priorities I wish I had riveted myself to
during my early years of training. Had these priorities been implemented
I would not have wasted years of my life following unproductive training
methods. Of course I am not you. But any drug-free trainee of typical
genetic potential will have much in common with me. Learning from the
major lessons I picked up over the years will help you to get in control of your
training.
3.2 I wish I could have had a wise and uncompromising mentor to have watched
over me. Someone to have given me hell if I dared even to think of anything
other than the abbreviated and basics-first approach. I should have been
forced to have committed the essence of this training to memory. Such mentors
are very rare. Use this book as the best alternative.
Focus and progression
3.3 If I had chosen the squat, deadlift (both the bent-legged and stiff-legged
variations, though not both in the same cycle), bench press, seated press,
and the pulldown (or a row with my torso supported), and dedicated myself
for five years to progressive poundages on those five core movements as the
linchpin of my training, I would have gotten near to realizing my full size
and strength potential before I was but 20 years old. I would have been better
off if I had never heard of any other exercises. (A different fivesome of core
exercises may be more appropriate for you.)
3.4 Of these big movements the deadlift is by far the least popular in gyms
today. ough over recent years the deadlift has been getting some respect
and publicity, it is still not getting anywhere near enough. e deadlift,
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