Westside/Louie Simmons VS SS/Mark Rippetoe

on Thu Jul 29, 1:04 am

I was reading this

http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance_interviews/the_mad_monk_of_power_lifting_an_interview_with_louie_simmons

and some how I got confused cause that's totally not even close to Mark's style, Mark is all about adding weight each time I hit the gym if possible while Louie is all about doing it 60% of the Max and work on speed.

Mark's style is not about speed, adding weight means at some point which will happen sooner or later, the movement slowes

wish some one would clarify all this

on 16 Mar 2008

You've got to realize, Mark is more about training beginners and intermediate lifters. His methods work for them because they CAN add weight quickly. Louie deals exclusively with monsters. If you're squatting 700, you're not going to be able to add weight all the time. Maybe once a month if you're lucky. Everyone can't train the same. Westside routines will not work for beginners, and starting strength will not work for beasts.

on Thu Jul 29, 6:45 am

@Jguy2

Well, that's not what they 're saying :P

Mark says "stay on SS's beginners as long as you're making a progress *makes sense*

Louie says

"NM: What are the basic principles of your strength-training methods?

LS: I'm a speed/strength expert. It's all about speed. If you're fast, I can make you strong."

There got to be something else, are they just a different methods that happened to be working and that's it?

on 06 Jun 2009

Vieq, are you confused becasue there are two programs which are very different yet both claim to 'work'?

You must take everything you hear in this industry with a pinch of salt. The reality of it is that both these guys and others are just trying to make a living. Mark & Louie have found a niche market and cater for it quite well. There is nothing new in Westside, it is taken from the old Russian Weighlifting methods. People have talked about the silly bodybuilding era where muscle magazines sold watered down bodybuilding routines but we have only moved onto the silly powerlifting era. But this is not to say these routines dont work. Anything works as long as you are not overdoing anything and going beyond the point of deminishing returns. Understand that point becasue you'll need to learn how to overcome it in the future.

SS will take you a decent point in your lifts but workouts will become too heavy for you to be able to go at it at the same weight and frequency. When this happens you have to admit it to yourself and drop the weight. Most people find it helps to continue gaining strength by using undulating methods which alternate heavy, medium and light workouts in the same week or month. This helps you recover after intensive workouts. Texas Method and 5/3/1 are such programs. I think 5/3/1 is better becasue it deliberately keeps you far away from working too heavy. Dont ever be fooled into working too heavy - it will be a waste of your time. Machines were the disease of the bodbuilding era; working near or at maximum for long periods is the disease of the powerlifting era.

If you are going to read anything on the web it should be Caged Animal but Eric Cressey and dan John speak a lot of sense too. Get the 5/3/1 e-book becasue Wendler gives a good philosophy to follow.

on 23 Nov 2006

Splendid post Spenny!

on Thu Jul 29, 11:34 pm

@Spenny

man this is great post, I was going to ask you about Wendler's 5/3/1 book, I have it now.

so there got to be a basic thing every one follows *have not read PP yet, perhaps there is something in it*

I mean, the local gyms around me have both kinds Body Builders & Power Lifters

they train, they compete, they succeed, conclusion is {if it worked for them, then they are doing it right}

damn it man, I can not make this post look great as yours ::toothless::

on Fri Jul 30, 5:00 pm

*updates*

Today there have been a bench press meet at the local gym I used to train in.

Bottom line I ranked the third in my class cause I am stupid, my Max was 70kg, I opened with 50kg and failed 2nd attempt '80kg' and told the judge I wont be doing my 3rd.

now I really tempted to compete in power lifting and do not think SS is helping me over here, is it any good to start all over again as a power lifter this time or should I wait tell I hit 150kg squat's and 100kg bench press as @Blaze_108 suggested? http://cagedanimal.net/viewtopic.php?t=3830

on 06 Jun 2009

Nice, you did a small comp and put up a weight. Carry on with SS (it is helping) as Blaze suggested and aim to better your previous lift by a little in the next competition. Even if you lift 55 kg it is still an improvement. Do this over and over again for the next 10 years or so. Dont get too carried away with it, its just a hobby.

on Fri Jul 30, 6:36 pm

@Spenny

Thanks man for replying me, well do my best