Strength Training Articles

Conjugate Method Articles

Articles Tagged with Conjugate Method
Base Building: Max Effort Training Explained

Base Building: Max Effort Training Explained

The fear of max effort is rooted in the old training belief that “maxing out” should only be done once every so often to test strength gained over the course of a training block; otherwise, injury is guaranteed. This belief treats max effort training as a testing method, not a training method. 

Wed Jun 12, 2024
Base Building: Basic Training Template

Base Building: Basic Training Template

Why should an athlete use the Conjugate Method when a beginner-level trainee can make gains using a linear-based plan? The answer is efficiency. It has been our experience that athletes new to barbell training who utilize Conjugate-based training make gains in strength and performance at a faster rate than those using a phase-based approach. 

Thu Jun 06, 2024
Executing a Repeated Effort Training Wave

Executing a Repeated Effort Training Wave

While we encourage all those new to the Conjugate Method to master the basic template first, we also want to encourage those familiar with Conjugate to use the methods as efficiently as possible. If an athlete needs lower or upper body hypertrophy training at higher intensities than usual, replacing dynamic effort with repeated effort work for a few waves is a great option. 

Fri May 31, 2024
Four Week Max Effort PR Plan

Four Week Max Effort PR Plan

Whether it be a sudden burden that causes fatigue-related issues to noticeably occur, or gradual wear and tear leading to decreased performance over a period of time, we must have options to go to so we can get training back on track. One option is what I refer to as the 3/speed/5/1 max effort plan.

Thu May 23, 2024
Basic Conjugate Training Advice VII

Basic Conjugate Training Advice VII

The Conjugate Method is the most beneficial training method an athlete can use to improve strength, explosive power, speed, and conditioning. Similar to the multifaceted demands of sport, the Conjugate Method exposes an athlete to various training stimuli to build a complete athlete. Our training not only enhances an athlete's special strengths but also enhances their sports skills. 

Fri May 17, 2024
Starting Conjugate: Max Effort Myths

Starting Conjugate: Max Effort Myths

By training max effort, an athlete can improve their squat, bench press, deadlift, and overhead press strength, as well as their ability to run faster, jump higher, and generate significant amounts of force rapidly. Aside from these benefits, max effort training also helps to enhance intra- and intermuscular coordination and increase bone and tissue density. This leads to improvements in sports skill execution, along with higher levels of durability and resilience. 

Fri May 10, 2024
Improving Work Capacity

Improving Work Capacity

At Westside Barbell, we have long understood the benefit of building our athletes' work capacity. By using repeated effort and various conditioning methods, we have consistently developed athletes capable of performing sport-related tasks at a high level over an extended period of time. 

Tue Apr 23, 2024
Starting Conjugate: Adjusting DE Lower Training Percentages

Starting Conjugate: Adjusting DE Lower Training Percentages

Dynamic effort lower training days feature both a squat and deadlift main exercise. First, we execute the squat workout, then follow up with the deadlift. When performing a dynamic effort lower workout, there are specific training percentages and velocity requirements that must be met.

Wed Apr 17, 2024
Basic Conjugate Training Advice VI

Basic Conjugate Training Advice VI

The Conjugate Method opens up a whole new world of possibilities for athletes. Whether an athlete seeks to improve absolute strength, explosive power, speed, or conditioning, the Conjugate Method will deliver. However, a coach or athlete's success with the Conjugate Method will always depend on their overall understanding of strength training theory and application.

Thu Apr 11, 2024
Base Building: Accessory Exercise Programming

Base Building: Accessory Exercise Programming

By using basic accessory exercises, athletes can acclimate to the technical demands of each exercise, allowing them to raise the accessory training intensity a bit each week. Doing so will provide optimal stimulus in the same manner an experienced athlete would with increased levels of exercise variation.

Thu Apr 04, 2024
How to Start Powerlifting: Your First Steps Towards Strength

How to Start Powerlifting: Your First Steps Towards Strength

Powerlifting is not an easy sport, but it is rewarding. You will significantly improve your strength and body composition, develop a strong work ethic and discipline, and have some of the best times of your life. All it takes is a bit of grit, determination, and strict discipline.

Sat Mar 30, 2024
Basic Conjugate Training Advice V

Basic Conjugate Training Advice V

While some coaches cling to old methods and outdated approaches to sports preparation, the intelligent coach realizes the Conjugate Method is the way. Over the years, our gym has produced countless athletes with world-class strength, and we have worked and consulted with athletes at the highest level of conventional sports. The Conjugate Method has been successfully used to improve performance in football, basketball, baseball, track and field, rugby, lacrosse, and martial arts.

Wed Mar 27, 2024
Base Building: Conditioning

Base Building: Conditioning

At Westside, we have long understood the importance of improving conditioning to allow athletes to escalate training. For many years, Lou stressed the importance of GPP and conditioning work, which has become as much a part of the Conjugate Method as the max, dynamic, and repeated effort methods. Not only will a high level of conditioning allow an athlete to escalate training continuously, but it will also allow an athlete to recover properly each training week.

Wed Mar 20, 2024
The Basic Template Breakdown

The Basic Template Breakdown

The Westside Barbell basic training template represents the base level of Conjugate Method training. While there may be many ways to design a Conjugate training plan, the basic template is the starting point where all individuals should begin when learning our training methods. By gaining a solid understanding of the basic template and its associated programming strategies, coaches and athletes will become capable of writing proper Conjugate Method programming. 

Tue Mar 12, 2024
Starting Conjugate: Developing the Mid and Upper Back

Starting Conjugate: Developing the Mid and Upper Back

The development of a strong posterior chain is a necessity for all athletes. Whether an athlete is focused on strength or conventional sports, a strong posterior chain will increase force output, improve stability, and enhance durability. A critical aspect of posterior chain development is strengthening the muscle groups responsible for supporting the spine.

Tue Mar 05, 2024
Applying the Conjugate Method

Applying the Conjugate Method

Westside Barbell has successfully trained strength and conventional sports athletes using the Conjugate Method for many years. The use of the Conjugate Method has led to success in raw and geared powerlifting, strongman, CrossFit, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, rugby, track and field, mixed martial arts, boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and judo. Today, the methods continue to be used to train athletes at Westside Barbell successfully.

Tue Feb 27, 2024
Base Building: Utilizing Repeated Effort

Base Building: Utilizing Repeated Effort

When working with individuals new to barbell training, it is most important to improve absolute strength while using repeated effort training to build a foundation of training volume and enhancing movement skills. Combining max and repeated effort training can improve absolute strength, intra and intermuscular coordination, bone and tissue density, work capacity, and physical composition. 

Tue Feb 20, 2024
Exercise Selection: Off-Season vs. Competition

Exercise Selection: Off-Season vs. Competition

Exercise selection is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Conjugate Method programming. Many wrongfully believe we choose random variations using random bars while attaching as many bands and chains as possible. This belief is always the sign of someone who has no clue about the Westside Barbell training style or philosophy. 

Wed Feb 14, 2024
Powerlifting Preparation: Off-Season vs. Competition

Powerlifting Preparation: Off-Season vs. Competition

When training powerlifters, we utilize off-season and competition training cycles. These training cycles have many similarities but will differ to some extent. For example, off-season training will use various exercises to address as many identified weaknesses as possible. However, a competition-focused training cycle will become more specific, with many main exercises being competition-relevant. 

Thu Feb 08, 2024
Starting Conjugate: Fatigue Management

Starting Conjugate: Fatigue Management

The level of success an athlete achieves with their strength training program is dictated by a few key things: exercise selection, intensity regulation, volume regulation, training frequency, and fatigue management. Fortunately, a well-written training plan should be able to dial in the first four aspects of training. Still, it can be difficult to predict how fatigued an athlete will become when progressing through a training program. 

Fri Feb 02, 2024