The next 170 days - musings

My plan for 2025 was always two competitions.

Now the first of those has passed, its time to think of the preparations for the next one.  

I have now applied for the Oceania Regional Powerlifting & Bench Press Championships, Christchurch, New Zealand.  I aim to represent New Zealand Internationally, in the M2 120kg class.  

This will hopefully be the first time I represent New Zealand.  

Will see how the application goes.  But I think I did all I could to get there.

Now, the last meet was successful.  New all-time PB squat, new M2 Bench PB, new PB deadlift and almost getting an even higher one.

So, what to do.

Some positives.  The squat and bench felt stronger than ever.  Deadlift improved, but didn't get to really show it.  

Negatives.  Still feel a bit wobbly on squats., with load.  The bench, shoulder still feels a bit worse for wear.  And then really, the big deadlift issue is grip.  

So I am doing a short offseason.

The goal is to increase muscle size again.  But, with more strength focus, and realistically, more attempt at the concept of task-specific hypertrophy, rather than more generalistic hypertrophy.  

I am slightly reducing the workload I am exposed to with the lower body.  So instead of squat, deadlift, 2nd squat, and 2nd deadlift over the course of 4 days, I will do squat/2nd deadlift on the first day, and then deadlift/2nd squat on the next.  Bench will go to two times per week. 

So, top sets will be moderately heavy, triples, but with good volume of downsets that are not low RIR.  They will focus on areas that need additional work.  So for squat, paused/tempo low bar.  For bench, pin press.  and for deadlifts, either paused or 1&1/2 deadlift, sorta like paused deadlift on steroids.  But.  Grip will be worked.  Mostly, this will be overloaded holds.  220-250-300kg deadlift grip holds.  Plus normal grip work and rice work, plate holds etc.  Grip will become a strength.  I do not want to drop anything I can stand up with.