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I have a NEW e-book out now, The Juggernaut Method. This method grew out of some simple training cycles I had my athletes doing. They were doing something to the effect of:
- Week 1 – 5×5 at 70-75%
- Week 2 - 3×5 at 80%
- Week 3 – Work to a 5RM
Now, I normally intend for a 5RM to be done around 85% and my athletes would complete their set of five with 85% and then often another with 5-15 pounds more. They would then either perform another wave of fives with a new exercise or move onto a similar program of threes in the same lift. This program worked very well.
During a break from my track competitions, I decided to give this plan a try myself. In the squat the first week, I did 455 for 5 x 5, the next week I built up to 495 for 3 x 5 and in the third week, I did 545 for 5 reps. Immediately upon racking the last rep, I had a realization: I should have kept going.
Five reps wasn’t hard, I could have done eight, and should have. That began the process of me critically thinking about this simple program, fine tuning it and making it grow into what you see here.
The Juggernaut Method has grown out of three main influences: Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1, the training of the great Doug Young and Block Periodization. From 5/3/1 it takes the idea of a progressive overload system of percentages, making small incremental gains, setting rep maxes and simplicity.
Doug Young, a tremendous physical specimen and top bench presser from the 1970’s, utilized rep records to influence his training weights on a weekly basis. Young’s training would focus on a final limit set each session. For example, he would perform 4 x 6 for a few weeks, but instead of performing only six reps on the last set, he would perform as many as possible and for every rep beyond six completed, he would adjust the next week’s weights accordingly. The Juggernaut Method borrows this idea of adjusting the athlete’s training weights based on their performance, instead of just a standardized number.
When I say that the Juggernaut Method has been influenced by Block Periodization, it is more in spirit than in practice. Block Periodization is broken into three phases:
- Accumulation – a high volume general phase.
- Intensification – intensity now increases along with specificity, while volume decreases.
- Realization – in which intensity reaches a peak during the competitive season.
I have borrowed this language in the form of an Accumulation, Intensification and Realization week within each training wave. I will discuss the idea behind each week a bit later.














Sounds great. Are there plan to print this or will it only be an e-book?
Hey, i purchased it today, but never came to my email.. how long does it take.. anxious to read it!
Nick, the last few ebooks I bought were in my email with in a few minutes of purchase. Id contact customer service if you have nt got it yet
How many training days a week is this set up for?
Bought it Friday, read it the same night. Great Book!
@B Rob
There are no plans for a print version yet
@Matt
It has 2, 3 and 4 day templates outlined.
@Carl
Thanks for the support
Sounds interesting. I bet this would be a good method to build size and strength.
Have been doing 5-3-1 for most of the past year. Just started your program last night! Made some pretty sweet calculating spreadsheets to use.
Just confirming that after each “wave”, we re-adjust our 1RM’s. For example, I just started the 10′s wave last night. After I do all 16 workouts, I adjust my 1RM’s for the next “wave”, which will be the 8′s.
Disregard above post. I re-read the section on how to re-calculate our working maxes and totally get it now. Thanks!
Looks pretty awesome! Can’t wait to check it out!!
Is there anything about conditioning in this program?
BTW, never knew you were so young Chad, your a beast.
@fumbi
Thanks and yes conditioning is covered
The book is excellent. It is worth every cent.
@Chad – How would you incorporate strongman training into this template?