Cycle 1 (raw/shirted)

[joeaverage]

Joe is currently training for the raw bench exhibition at the Olympia which is being held on Sept. 29. So, we incorporated some raw work in addition to his normal shirted workouts.
Joe has to drop to 165 for the Olympia, then he'll be back up to 181 for a meet sometime in Oct or Nov.

6/10
rev bench 895 x 1, 945 x 0 + lg
ME bench 95 x 2 + lg,med,sm

6/13
2b 225 x 5 + med
3b 315 x 5
4b 365 x 6

6/17
rev bench 625 x 3, 715 x 0 + small
ME bench 135 x 3 + lg & med

6/21
2b 225 x 4 + large
3b 315 x 4
4b 345 x 4

6/24
bench 545 x 2, 600 x 0
(stopped, forearm tendonitis)

6/30
rev bench 645 x 2 (raw) 905 x 1 + lg
ME bench 275 x 1 + lg & sm

7/3
2b 405 x 5 + small
3b 495 x 3
4b 545 x 3

7/7
bench 315 x 8 (raw)
495 x 12 (shirt)
655 x touch (close to lock-out)
speed 225 8x2 + smalls

7/11
2b 425 x 5 + small
3b 515 x 2
4b (stopped, forearms)

7/19
rev bench 605 x 1 (raw) 785 x 2 + med
ME bench 165 x 1 + lg & med

7/21
2b 335 x 1 (raw) + med
2b 495 x 1
3b 565 x 1
4b 585 x 1

7/26
bench 355 x 8 (raw)
525 x 9
675 x touch (locked out)
speed 135 8x2 + med

8/1
2b 445 x 5 + small
3b 515 x 4
4b 565 x 3

8/7
2b 365 x 5 + med
3b 405 x 5
4b 495 x 3

8/12
bench 375 x 6 (raw)
545 x 5
600 x 1 690 x touch (1/2 way)

8/15
2b 315 x 3 + large
3b 345 x 3
4b 385 x 3

8/19
rev bench 605 x 1 625 x 0 (raw) + small & mm
835 x 1
ME bench 45 x 0 + lg,med,small (raw) 1/2 way
125 x 1 + lg,med,sm

8/25
rev bench 625 x 3 715 x 0 (raw) + med & mm
945 x 1
ME bench 95 x 0 + lg & sm (raw)
325 x 1

9/2
raw bench 395 x 3,4
shirt 565 x 7
705 x touch
speed 95 8x2 + small

9/6
2b raw 315 x 1, 345 x 0 + sm & mm
2b shirt 495 x 1
3b 545 x 0

9/9
rev bench 785 x 1 (raw) 1005 x 1 + lg&mm
ME bench 275 x 1 + lg& med

9/16
bench 415 x 3 raw
585 x 6 with shirt
725 x touch
speed 135 8x2 + small

9/22
rev bench 625 x 1 (raw) 855 x 1 + sm&mm
ME bench 95 x 0 + lg, med & sm
(shirt real loose)

10/6
bench 605 x 4,7
745 x touch
speed 135 8x2 + sm

10/13
rev bench 965 x 0 + med & mm
ME bench 335 x 1 + lg&sm

Olympia:
1st 400
2nd 420
3rd missed 435

IPA meet
1st 625
2nd and 3rd miss at 660

[joeaverage]

I'll get Joe's book next week and post the last 2 months

[Darracq]

Is he just benching once a week. no tri day? or is that all you could remember for now, This will be cool to watch his training.

[joeaverage]

he benches once a week and does board work every other week.
Because of the weight and tensions that Joe handles on a relatively small frame, he tends to get tendonitis in his forearms. When holding onto the bar he will get sharp pains throughout his forearms. So, I suggested he skip the board work following his ME bench workout. Not doing 2 band workouts within several days of each other has pretty much eliminated the pain in his arms. And this has not effected his strength at all, the additional rest has actually helped.

[joeaverage]

Joe's log is current

[joeaverage]

Joe had a great workout today. BW- 173. Joe is slowly losing weight for the Olympia and keeps getting stronger. His first raw set @ 395 he struggled to get 3 reps, just didn't feel right, came back and smoked 4 strong reps.
Most amazing, he locked out 705 with his right arm and was within an inch of lockout with his left. After the Olympia, he'll go back to 181 and will smoke 730 in a meet.

[joeaverage]

Joe was a little tentative with his 3b, he tweaked his neck during warm-ups and his forearms were on fire, so we stopped him at the 3b. He is done with board work until after the Olympia.

[traitor]

450-475 raw bench for Joe ay this meet?

[joeaverage]

I think that's a bit much. We anticipate 415 for 2-3 reps next week and a solid 430-440 max. Keep in mind, he still has to lose a few more pounds for weigh-ins.

[joeaverage]

Joe is having a great training cycle. His bar weight increases with the bands is unbelievable. I'm happy with a 10-15 pound gain, he's making 50-60 pound gains.

[drjbozzelle]

What are rev benches?

DrJBozzelle

[joeaverage]

Reverse band bench. Hang the bands at the top of the rack, slide the bar through the bands. The bands will help to lift the bar up. BUT, I had a ladder made and I slide the pins in the third hole from the top and lay the ladder across the pins, and hang the bands from the ladder. This way, the bands stop helping short of lock-out, the lifter is locking out all the weight.
rev band ladder presses, help to teach the lifter to be explosive off the chest.

[traitor]

Nice work Joe Mazza. Jim how's your raw bench coming along ;D?

[joeaverage]

I think I could barely bench your raw ass!
raw schmaw, who cares about raw!

[Darracq]

HOw can he lockout 1005 if the bands are loose at the top? Does he have that much momentum. Oh i guess that was shirted also.