has anyone tried the 3 week Bulgarian peaking cycle?

[Charlie Stone]

What are peoples experiences? Suitable for a beginner/intermediate (85kg 95/112.5kg)It doesnt seem a million miles away from Pendlay's "Tapering for the intermidiate"

[Charlie Stone]

Ok, well I have 7 sessions left and am enjoying the cycle. I hit 115kg clean and jerk yesterday (not pretty) for a new pb. That might be my opener if I can hit it again tomorrow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrBuR...ature=youtu.be

Any major issues?

Gregg, I was wondering about the lack of hamstring work? Does it assume that lots was done before the 3 week taper? Would throwing 3 sets of 5 SLDL/RDLs be sensible? (nothing in the final week).

[Greg Everett]

Do you need direct hamstring work? I generally don't do much direct back work in he last couple weeks going into a meet. And with that 3-week cycle, you're doing plenty of heavy classic lifts, so there really isn't a lack of hs and back work. if you need a lot of work in that area, trying to cram it in 2 weeks before a meet isn't the most effective approach - get it in during prep cycles.

[Charlie Stone]

Thanks Gregg.

[Charlie Stone]

Gregg, would you expect the maximums reached on the last Wednesday before competition to be the openers at least?

I wanted to open with 90kg/110kg, which i've hit a few times through the 3 weeks (maxes in the taper 92.5/115). But yesterday the (penultimate max day) I only managed 85/105.

[Greg Everett]

Not necessarily. In fact I would suggest sticking to 90% or so at the most.

[Charlie Stone]

Did the London spring opens at the weekend, got 85/115kg at 81.29kg bw.

Disappointed with my snatches, here is the miss at 90kg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py9bgip9DdA

Any suggested drills? Seems like I rushed onto my toes for the second pull.

Thanks for looking.

[Greg Everett]

Could have stayed over it a bit longer and stayed back more; also could have been more aggressive w the arms pulling down.

You can try tall snatches for the pull under and slow first pull snatches for the timing/position (do a 2-3 second pull to high thigh before you explode - no pause).

[Charlie Stone]

Thanks for the advice.
I'm a bit confused about "staying over the bar".
I thought I should start lifting my chest (by pivoting at the hips) as the bar passes my knees, bringing the bar up my thigh. At what point should I not be over the bar, mid thigh?

[Greg Everett]

I'd prefer you wait longer before you initiate the explosion. So continuing thinking of pushing w the legs until the bar is higher, rather than starting to extend the hips as the bar passes the knees. You'll get a more explosive hip extension and find you're able to maintain your balance better.