Open Gym Strength and Conditioning – Bodybuilding
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Bodybuilding RPE Scale
RPE 1-3 || This should be a weight that an athlete can move with ease throughout the intended rep range.
RPE 4-5 || This is a weight that provides a moderate amount of resistance but the athlete feels like they could double the intended rep range with the weight they chose
RPE 6-7 || This is a moderate-moderate/heavy weight for the athletes. This should provide a challenge for the intended rep range but should not be something that they are worried of failing. The rest needed between sets should be minimal.
RPE 8-9 || This is a near maximal effort for the intended rep range. Athletes should need and want adequate amount of rest between the sets at this RPE.
RPE 10 || This is a max effort for the intended rep range. The athlete should be fully taxed at the end of each set.
Mayhem Bodybuilding Goals
What?
Bodybuilding is a tool that Mayhem Athletes can use to increase strength, muscular endurance and hypertrophy to better themselves in whatever their fitness goals are. It can also be used as a tool to give the muscles and joints a break from the high intensity that comes with CrossFit day in and day out.
How?
Mayhem Bodybuilding is a stand-alone hypertrophy focused program that includes elements of strength training. You may layer this on top of some of the other Mayhem Athlete Program, but it is not designed to be performed on top of all other tracks each day. We will include pieces of some days in other programs as “ACCESSORY”
Goals?
The goals are to stay focused and rest just long enough so that you can perform the next set with quality and control unless stated otherwise.
Keep your attention of each set and keep your phone in your bag. Sessions are not done “for time” but treat them like you are limited on time. Keep a visible clock running to keep you accountable. Lastly, the goal is all the gainzzzzz!!!!!
Progression
This cycle moves to the traditional upper body push, upper body pull, lower body push/pull seen previously in this programming (earlier in 2022) which is also seen in classical bodybuilding programming.
This cycle will have athletes increasing in weight and decreasing in volume across 8 weeks, followed by a de-load week, and then a max week. The cycle also introduces the concept of mechanical drop sets. The MDS will rotate across days through the cycle to add new variety and fun challenges to athletes’ weekly routines.
See below for an outline of how each year is laid out
4 Yearly Cycles
Cycle 1 (January – March: Mechanical Drop Sets)
Monday: Chest & Triceps
Tuesday: Back & Biceps
Wednesday: Legs
Thursday: Monostructural
Friday: Arms & Shoulders
Saturday: Glutes & Core
Cycle 2 (April – June: Shock Method)
Monday: Anterior
Tuesday: Posterior
Wednesday: Lower Body Push/Pull
Thursday: Monostructural
Friday: Shoulders & Core
Saturday: Glutes & Arms
Cycle 3 (July – September: Traditional)
Monday: Chest & Triceps
Tuesday: Back & Biceps
Wednesday: Legs
Thursday: Monostructural
Friday: Arms & Shoulders
Saturday: Glutes & Core
Cycle 4 (October – December: Coming Soon)
Monday: Anterior
Tuesday: Posterior
Wednesday: Lower Body Push/Pull
Thursday: Monostructural
Friday: Shoulders & Core
Saturday: Glutes & Arms
Chest & Tricep Warm-up (Checkmark)
Crossover Symmetry Warm-up
-into-
3 rounds
10 Perfect Pushups (controlled form)
15 Band Pull-A-Parts
5 PVC Around the Worlds (each way)
10 Wall Angels
5 Scorpions (each side)
Focus: Effort should be easy building into moderate. Get yourself moving and opened up for upcoming work.
Bench Press (4 sets: 4 reps @ Challenging Weight for 4 reps – RPE 8-9
)
*Rest 2:00-2:30 b/t sets
Focus: Control should be shown with each rep on the way down and on the way up. Bar should be lowered to just below the sternum. Keep elbows at a 45 degree angle to the body and avoid flaring out. Shoulders should be loaded back against the bench throughout reps.
Double DB Incline Bench Press (4 sets: 10 Reps – RPE 8)
*Rest 1:00-1:30 b/t sets
*Build to a moderate weight and stay the same or build across all sets.
Focus: Set a bench up at an incline that will allow for a 45 degree angle of the torso. Select a weight that you can control when sitting back to start and sitting up to finishing set. Do not drop the dumbbells. To avoid injury, bring the knees up to meet the dumbbells and sit up with them. If you have to drop them to deload, you’ve gone too heavy.
Hex Press (4 sets: 10 reps – RPE 8)
*Rest 1:00-1:30 b/t sets
Focus: Sitting back on a flat bench with a dumbbell in each hand, assume a neutral grip position and press the dumbbells to the ceiling and together. Perform a DB bench while maintain a neutral grip and dumbbells pushed together throughout the pressing motion.
Hex Press
https://youtu.be/6isV3VjZhjY
Flat Bench DB Chest Fly (4 sets: 12 reps – RPE 8)
*Rest 1:00-1:30 b/t sets
*Build to a light/moderate weight. Stay the same and focus on strict control throughout
Focus: Lying on a bench, extend two dumbbells towards the ceiling. Keeping a slight bend in the elbows, lower the dumbbells out to the sides. Dumbbells should be kept in line with the sternum or slightly lower. Shoulders should be loaded back against the bench through the entire movement. Refrain from going deeper than the level of the bench at end range. Movement can also be performed while lying on the floor.
Flat Bench DB Chest Fly
https://youtu.be/gasK_1fNVdk
Double DB Skull Crushers (4 sets: 10 reps – RPE 7)
*Rest 1:00-1:30 b/t sets
*Build to a moderate weight, stay the same or build across sets
Focus: Lay on bench or floor. Both arms are extended in front with DB’s held in a neutral grip. Elbow should stay tucked (avoid flaring) and pointed towards the ceiling. Lower dumbbells by bending at the elbow and allow them to pass by the sides of the head. Show control throughout.
Double DB Skull Crushers
https://youtu.be/_wwR9IPFQJk
Single Arm Standing Tricep Extension w/ band (4 sets: 10 reps (each side) – RPE 7)
*Rest 1:00-1:30 b/t sets
*Build to a moderate weight, stay the same or build across sets
Focus: Resistance should allow for control throughout the extension. ALWAYS INSPECT BANDS FOR SIGNS OF POTENTIAL BREAKAGE BEFORE USING. Avoid going to complete lockout at the bottom: focusing on stopping just before full extension. Focus on engagement of triceps with each rep and stop before failure is reached. Keep free hand behind tricep to stabilize arm and minimize swing.
Cooldown/Mobility (Checkmark)
1 min Pec Stretch against Door/Rig
1 min Lacrosse Ball Pec Smash (each side)
1 min Overhead Elbow Grab Tricep stretch (each side)
1 min Tricep Lacrosse Ball Smash (each side)
Focus: Do your mobility work to keep range of motion. Pec Stretch consists of raising bent arm to the side to make an “L”, raise arm so that upper arm is at a 45 degree angle to the neck and place forearm against rig/door frame. Slowly lean into stretch.
Mayhem Mini-Pump
Mini-Pump Sessions are used as a supplement to another Mayhem Athlete track or on days when you are pressed for time and cannot complete the full day’s bodybuilding session as programmed. You should NOT complete today’s bodybuilding program AND the mini-pump session. Choose one or the other.
Chest and Triceps (Time)
4 Rounds
10 Barbell Bench Press @ moderate weight – maintain quality
10 Double DB Incline Bench Press @ Moderate weight – maintain control and quality
12 Flat Bench DB Chest Fly @ moderate weight – maintain quality
10 Double DB Skull Crushers @ moderate weight – maintain quality
-Rest 3 min b/t rounds-
Scoring: Time
Demo Videos
Flat Bench DB Chest Fly
Double DB Skull Crushers
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