Strong Man Training in a Fitness First

**tobyweston88** · 20-02-2011 06:39 PM

Hello,

I'm looking to compete in Uk Strength and Power Series strongman event in June. The events are here:
Strength and Power Meet 2010: The Results

My training is currently 5/3/1 which is as good as any for strength, I am adding supplementary Farmers Walks, Cleans and Sled Drags - any other ideas as to how you can prepare for this, both in exercise selection and programme structure?

Thanks

**MJ.23** · 20-02-2011 08:03 PM

Im training for strongman as well and most strongmen seperate the event training onto its own day.

Just as long as you base training around the deadlift/squat and overhead with log/axle/big DB you will be aces.

If you want to prepare leave fitness first. Find yourself a serious gym with strongman stuff. Stones, farmers, frame, yoke etc...

*Edit* You are in sevenoaks which means you are ~ 30 mins from where I train at the ministry of muscle. You could do your regular gym stuff at fitness first and then make 1 pilgrimage a week to the ministry (fully strongman equipped)

Im not sure of any other strongman gyms in the area.

**tobyweston88** · 20-02-2011 08:32 PM

I'm actually in Clapham now and am at Fitness First as there are 2 near my house and 1 near work (convenient working 8-7).

I think Ministry of Muscle is too far away for a regular weekly trip, but are those the sorts of places that you can pay a few quid to work out on Saturdays?

Edit: Train Journey is 2 hours with 3 changes, but it does look awesome for £4 a go!

**MJ.23** · 20-02-2011 09:05 PM

Fair play mate; its really worth the travel imo. We have strongmen come from further afield as its a great gym to train in. Im lucky I live 5 minutes away. Its not just for the training but the expertise available. Competitive strongmen/powerlifters/bbers and its run by Britains former strongest man.

*edit*

There are signs up in the gym for a few other similar gyms and i just checked them out:

Theres hulk gym in gravesend (bit closer)

Then theres zeus gym; however im not sure on where it is exactly. On saturday a few guys from there came over to the ministry for a little comp session. Im assuming they have strongman stuff there as well.

**SpiderDan** · 21-02-2011 08:57 AM

lol

Im competing in that one. What weight category you looking at?

Are you a member of the Crossfit community or FuncKey?

Qualifying is in June and the comp is in October. Im not sure how many people outside the associated gyms its going to be open to as it was a very popular event last year.

In terms of prep im doing one events day/week with three days strength training. I'll shift that to two event days and two regular days about 6 weeks out.

Grip and lower back strength is hugely important.

Train with yoke if you havent before. Learning to seat the bar correctly and hold tightness through the upperback and keeping it stable whilst moving is difficult for anyone who is not used to it.

If you have access to a log use it, as learning the one motion technique is very important. Im training with the one thats possibly going to be used in the comp but any type of log training will help.

Beyond that make sure your deadlift is up to scratch, you can see the results from last year for an idea of where you need to be

If your in the under 75kg category you'll want to be looking at 200kg minimum.

**tobyweston88** · 21-02-2011 09:05 PM

Will probably be in the medium men - last year's DL was 155 - 235 range.

Will look into crossfit/funckey memberships.

Are you doing anything specific for grip? and where are you doing events days/what equipment do you have access to?

**SpiderDan** · 22-02-2011 08:14 AM

The field is a lot bigger this year. There are three regional qualifiers and alot of good people didnt get in last year.

The medium mens competition is the biggest competed field and there are some absolute beasts in it, which is precisely why im dropping weight to get into the light weight category. I intend to qualify for the finals and do well.

Im not exactly sure how much they are going to open it out to the general public but I think Crossfit gym members and Funckey gym members will get first priority as we will be told when the registrations will be available before it goes on line.

Farmers walks with the frame that we have at Crossfit Reading (it was used in the comp last year) I've done a couple of sets for 30m with over 200kg. Fortunately grip isnt really a weak point for me. If you dont have access to anything like that the best I can suggest is work on double overhand deadlift, that should bring your grip up.

I train at Crossfit reading, we have a Yoke, Farmers frame, prowler, sleds, log, fat bar, kegs, tyres and a couple of sandbags. Execept for the heavy odd objects (like stones and anvils) its pretty much everything I need.