As far as I'm concerned, forget training for strength! I am trying solely to gain muscle tissue from this point on! I was doing 315 pound bench presses for reps and almost 400 for negatives at a body weight below 200 and did that do anything at all for my chest? Now that I am focusing more on the squeeze and the pump, my chest is finally starting to grow! And I could probably only bench 225 for 12-15 these days, compared to 18 before.
The only exercise I want to get strong on these days is the DEADLIFT. It's one exercise I find that lifting heavy does indeed most efficiently result in gaining muscle mass for the back. I will realistically hit a 475 deadlift this year, but I'm aiming for 500 anyway. I think in general, strength training is not the most efficient way to gain muscle. Even Cutler was only deadlifting 495 for reps in his videos at the most and look at his back - most muscular back on earth.
As for Dave...
Epic shit form.
My question would be: would training with better form really help Dave?
Truth of the matter is, ALL pro bodybuilders and top amateurs train a little differently and ALL of them are world class. Bodybuilding is not an exact science! Dave has found what works for him, so all the power to him. He is 42 and is responding better to bodybuilding than he ever has, and is huge. He's starting to make me think that extreme dedication can work for everyone since he claims he is not among the genetically elite. That is motivation for me - better than seeing some freak like Ronnie Coleman eating haphazardly at the steakhouse and still being huge and strong. I am more motivated seeing people maximize their genetic potential as Dave has. Just my opinion.
