Power-Bodybuilding

Ask many bodybuilders what they think about powerlifters, and they'll probably tell you they're a bunch of overweight slobs that don't even look like they workout. Ask many powerlifters what they think about bodybuilders, and they'll probably tell you they're a bunch of oiled up pre-madonna pretty boys. Ask Cygen Athlete Steve Doucette what he thinks, and he'll ask you why you can't have the best of both worlds? Steve definitely has a physique that gets attention when he steps on stage, but make no mistake - the man is CRAZY STRONG. Here's Steve's take on the Muscle Strength vs Muscle Size debate:

By Steve Doucette

In a fast paced society, people want results and they want it fast. Have a headache? Pop a pill, feeling a little blue? Pop another…So what happens in the world of bodybuilding when there isn’t a magic pill (and no, steroids aren’t the answer) that will turn you into a pro champion in a matter of months? Well, eventually, most smart individuals learn that the key to making progress is through proper nutrition and training. This article focuses on one aspect of training that many people ignore.

Have you ever heard someone say “I am training like a bodybuilder” vs. “training like a powerlifter”? While the two have very different training styles, this concept seems to have exaggerated itself over the years. You will often hear someone say “the judges don’t care how much I can squat”…while very true, the fact is, if you can’t squat double your bodyweight for a single deep rep (or for a set of 10 for that matter), you probably don’t have the legs it takes to place at an elite level on stage. So how is one going to get the muscle size necessary if they are only lifting half of the weight that could realistically handle? Yes, it’s great to ‘feel the burn’ and work each contraction slowly, and so on…But wouldn’t you get those results even quicker by feeling the contraction/burn AND lifting the heavy weight at the same time??!

So how does a powerlifter train? A competitive powerlifter only requires to bench, squat, or deadlift the maximum amount of weight for 1 rep. So leading up to a meet, a powerlifter might reduce the number of reps they train with while increasing the weight (simple stuff right?!). Keeping it simple, if they did not do this, and focused solely on reps, their central nervous system would not be accustomed to the heavy weight, and not all muscle fibers would be able to work in a simultaneous fashion in order to maximize the amount of effort they can put into 1 burst of energy.

And a bodybuilder? Typically, a bodybuilder is only focused on gaining muscle size. They aren’t concerned about how much power they have for a single rep, as this is not relevant to their goals. Often, this is where the unsuccessful bodybuilder goes wrong. Because they know the amount of weight they push isn’t important, they fail to challenge their bodies into doing more weight. But without challenging your body, how will muscle growth occur? In the simplest explanation, muscles need to be overloaded, which stimulates a natural adaptive process in the body. Without a need for adaptation, what would cause muscles to grow? This is why the body needs to be challenged. And the easiest way to do so is progressively work toward an increase in weight at a given rep range.



So while a bodybuilder does not need to worry about how much weight he can lift, it is clear that in order to gain muscle one must put the effort in the gym. Squatting, deadlifting, and benching are the 3 most important exercises I believe any bodybuilder should focus as their primary lifts if they wish to succeed. This does not imply that the stronger one is, the better bodybuilder they must be….but the correlation is easily there. You will never find a 150 pound bodybuilder out benching a 300 pound pro bodybuilder! I am sure many of you reading this may think this sounds like common sense, and while it should be, it is surprisingly common for newcomers to the sport to get tangled in the confusion. The sport does have many scientific properties to it, no doubt…But when it comes down to it, those who look strong, typically are strong.