The Rapid Ascent Program . . . a Short & Sweet Beginner Program!

[Protobuilder]

Here's an excellent little workout that would work great for beginners and probably for some intermediates as well. Heck, tinker with it a bit and it'd work well for anyone. It comes from Dan John's pdf, which is excellent if you haven't read it. http://www.danjohn.org/bp.pdf

The program is short and sweet and hits the big stuff that matters. It's similar to other effective beginner programs (5x5 anyone? LoL) but the rep range is a bit different. It's got a built-in idiot-proof scheme for progression (18 reps, then add weight), and is a no-nonsense program. Throw in some ab work, maybe back squat one or two days instead of fronts and you've got one helluva' good little program, IMO!

The "Rapid Ascent" Program
Three Days a Week:
Power Clean
· 8-6-4 reps
Military Press
· 8-6-4 reps
Front Squat
· 8-6-4 reps
Increase weight when you get all the reps!

Other "musts:"
Begin each morning with a good breakfast including protein.
Try to eat five to nine servings of fruit and vegetables a day.
Sleep for more than eight hours a day (Eight hours and one minute is more!)
Wear your seatbelt.
Don't smoke.
Drink water as your major beverage.

 

[Protobuilder]

C'mon now you bunch of bastards! Somebody's gotta' have something to say here. LoL Am I the only one who thinks this is one hell of an elegant little workout that'd work for most? It's better than 99% of the crap in magazines and would work for 99% of the lifters out there, IMO.

I guess there's just too much ADD out there to get people interested in a solid little 3-4 movement program w/ a logical (read, boring) plan for progession. LoL

 

[Cynical Simian]

While it's better than getting something out of Flex as a first program, I'd recommend the Rippetoe program to a beginner rather than this one without hesitation.

 

[chicknlegs]

This is for beginners? I'd rather deadlifts, traditional squats, military press and bench... these are the basic compound movements that beginners need to focus on.

 

[carlsuen]

While it's better than getting something out of Flex as a first program, I'd recommend the Rippetoe program to a beginner rather than this one without hesitation.

seconded..

 

[Guinness5.0]

I like it. Covers all the bases nicely and efficiently.

 

[silver_shadow]

yep, looks good.... i like this.

 

[djeclipse]

So you use the same weight and whn you can get 8, 6 and 4 reps with that weight you up the weight?

 

[Protobuilder]

Yup. When you get all 18 reps, you add weight next time 'round.

I didn't quote the entire thing from Dan, but when he discussed this program, he stated that it wasn't the perfect program or anything. He said it's a darn good program, simple and better than most. Just didn't want people thinking this was the best he could come up with. LoL It was the program that his old coach used, I believe.

I could see how it'd be "better" for a total noob to do deads rather than cleans, assuming they don't have a coach teaching them the lifts. But I think if you just hammered away at cleans, OHP, and front squats, you could build a solid foundation.

 

[djeclipse]

Yup. When you get all 18 reps, you add weight next time 'round.

I didn't quote the entire thing from Dan, but when he discussed this program, he stated that it wasn't the perfect program or anything. He said it's a darn good program, simple and better than most. Just didn't want people thinking this was the best he could come up with. LoL It was the program that his old coach used, I believe.

I could see how it'd be "better" for a total noob to do deads rather than cleans, assuming they don't have a coach teaching them the lifts. But I think if you just hammered away at cleans, OHP, and front squats, you could build a solid foundation.

The only problem is that 99.9% of the people would want to add bench press in there.

 

[Protobuilder]

Yeah, well . . .

Note that it has more in common w/ Ripp's program than differences. It's not rocket science -- squat, push, pull, repeat; add weight progressivly and eat right = growth. Either program works better than the garbage in teh magazines or some new kid starting out w/ Westside or something equally ridiculous for a beginner.

 

[Guinness5.0]

One of the points he made about the program was that all you'd need is a barbell - nothing else.

 

[BiggT]

I like it a lot.....what you guys need to take into account is that Dan John is a throwing coach, so his programs will be geared towards a thrower. Cleans are much more important for his athletes than deadlifts, and front squats help train the clean, so the choices make sense there.

Dan John probably isn't thinking in terms of what will be easier for most people in the gym to learn.

 

[xblitz44x]

I wouldn't recommend this program to beginners simply because 2 out of the 3 exercises are actually pretty complex and not all that easy to execute.

If the program is designed for throwers, that's one thing, but for basic strength for beginners I'd substitute deads instead of cleans, and traditional back squats instead of front squats.

 

[silver_shadow]

I like it a lot.....what you guys need to take into account is that Dan John is a throwing coach, so his programs will be geared towards a thrower. Cleans are much more important for his athletes than deadlifts, and front squats help train the clean, so the choices make sense there.

Dan John probably isn't thinking in terms of what will be easier for most people in the gym to learn.

well, this just makes the program seem alot better, if one were training a sportsman (not just a thrower).

 

[djeclipse]

One of the points he made about the program was that all you'd need is a barbell - nothing else.

That is true, if you can't afford a gym membership and don't ahve a lot of room for equipment at home, this program would be good.

 

[Protobuilder]

And how long do you think this workout takes, realistically? Short and sweet. I like it. But I'm lazy too, so there you go. LoL

I agree -- it's definitely a program for an athelete more so than the self-professed "bodybuilder" who's "training" but never going to step onto a stage. Those guys need lots of seated calf raises and such. LoL

 

[Imb4ne1]

I have been doing this workout for 6 weeks now. I would like to lose more fat I'm 42 years old I'm 5'10 and 195lbs I am thinking about trying Clenbuterol to help any input would help.

 

[burnthiscorpse]

I have been doing this workout for 6 weeks now. I would like to lose more fat I'm 42 years old I'm 5'10 and 195lbs I am thinking about trying Clenbuterol to help any input would help.

Try learning how to diet correctly to lose fat along with the right cardio instead of taking a drug that will destroy your heart muscle.