Dave Draper’s Musclebuilding Q&A

What do you think of German Volume Training (GVT) or the 8×8 or 10×10 programs?

That system is not bad, but a bit too much in some ways: Too much of the same exercise for too many reps for more than a very few workouts. It’s good once in awhile for a change and for muscle saturation, but not regularly. It’s too monotonous, too restricting and too muscle-specific.

Me?

I prefer five sets of 12, 10, 8, 8, 6 reps with weight increases every set, and then on to another closely associated or complementary exercise. I consider this more involving and thoughtful, with a better rep mixture and weight demand.

• less high-rep overload
• brings in low reps and decent heavy-weight exertion
• engages greater variety of exercises for more thorough muscle recruitment
• is a more inspiring and exciting training scheme, more creative and thus more intensely applied and more productive, while assuring training longevity

I suggest you pick up a copy of Brother Iron Sister Steel at your library (the librarian will order it for you from their book supplier) or you can get it from our online store (slightly scuffed copies for $15). Enjoyable, full of insight, training tips and hints, nutritional basics and routines — takes the confusion out of the wonderful experience of muscle building and motivates, inspires.

God’s speed… Dave