ExRx.net

This is a book I just ordered today based on an outstanding review. I'll give a further personal review once the book arrives.

Who’s Eric Cressey? Eric Cressey, MS, CSCS is a strength coach and owner of Cressey Performance in Boston, MA. He’s also a competitive powerlifter: 400lbs Bench Press, 500lbs Squat and 650lbs Deadlift in the 180lbs category.

Here is a review of the book.

I am very familiar with the name. The name alone would have me at least going to the library and skimming through.
Tim

Very nice review. I'd already ordered it, I'm really looking forward to it. Not sure if I'd be able to try the routine, I don't have 16 weeks where I can be sure I can work out 4 times a week. But I'm looking forward to reading it nonetheless.

This book is getting a lot of attention on JPFitness:
http://forums.jpfitness.com/training-di ... ength.html

Eric actually talks about the program a bit in this thread.

Good link.

I'm wondering how "adjustment friendly" the program is. Not because I want to tweak, but because I see mentions of box squats (nothing to sit back on in the gym, not that'll fit in the rack), pull-throughs and other cable work (no cables), and so on. I'm willing to make every effort to try a program and stick to it. But it's really hard to find a "cookie cutter" program that'll actually fit my gym. It's not well-equipped, my schedule isn't anywhere near flexible enough to do 4 days a week lifting unless I basically stop doing any MMA training.
That's partly why I like tight workout frameworks with lots of exercise choices, because I'll be damned if I can't get strong with just a rack, flat bench, a few dumbells and a couple barbells!

Maybe I should register over on JP Fitness and ask in that thread.

(Editing later - nevermind. Eric Cressey had some suggestions for swapping in replacements on his blog. So I guess it doesn't offer too many alternatives, but the program isn't "do this or you're not going to get results." http://ericcressey.blogspot.com/2008/05 ... round.html
)

I got this book, finally. I'll post a real review when I get a chance. The short version is - it's an excellent book. It's aimed primarily at folks coming from a bodybuilding-approach but who are stalled there. It's more of an intermediate program than a beginner program, and it shows - 4 days a week, 2 upper and 2 lower, lots of exercise variety but centered on the big lifts - bench, squat, deadlift, chinup, rows. Lots of unilateral work, mobility warmups and foam roller work warmups. It's a 16-week program broken into 4 phases, heavy/medium/very heavy/deload volume, bracketed by two testing days. It includes "energy work" - cardio or HIT or technique circuits - on your off days.

It's well written, organized well, and well illustrated.

If want a program to follow, a look at how Eric Cressey would set up a program, or some guideance on mobility warmups and foam rolling, it's useful. It's low on theory and more focused on practical work, with a concrete program to follow. That said I learned a lot from it, and the reasoning behind the program and its execution is all there. You never feel like something was just tossed in. Good stuff, I feel like it was worth buying. If I'm ever able to train on the schedule he suggests I'll give it a go.