BoxRec

Oiky wrote: ↑Yesterday, 11:52

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 09:30

Oiky wrote: ↑Yesterday, 08:46
What's your training like now Sean? do you still squat, bench or deadlift?

No compound movements for me, those days are long gone. I had a mess about with deadlift last week to see what it was like but went to 200kg and thought I’m not risking this malarkey. My training is very measured, I go at least once a day tho and twice at weekends.

That's it, nice, 200kg is still a good pull for a mess around. I haven't deadlifted for a few months now, been doing RDL's and back extensions instead.

Still squatting and benching, but I use a lot more machines as well nowadays than I've ever done, both the plate loaded and pin loaded Hammer Strength ones, do prefer free weights and probably always will but it's not one or the other for me, just do both, they all have their place.

Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 13:20

Oiky wrote: ↑Yesterday, 11:52

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 09:30

No compound movements for me, those days are long gone. I had a mess about with deadlift last week to see what it was like but went to 200kg and thought I’m not risking this malarkey. My training is very measured, I go at least once a day tho and twice at weekends.

That's it, nice, 200kg is still a good pull for a mess around. I haven't deadlifted for a few months now, been doing RDL's and back extensions instead.

Still squatting and benching, but I use a lot more machines as well nowadays than I've ever done, both the plate loaded and pin loaded Hammer Strength ones, do prefer free weights and probably always will but it's not one or the other for me, just do both, they all have their place.

Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!

Sean a 200kg deadlift as a mess around, how much do you weigh? I got 155kg last week and felt like heman . Il never get anywhere near 200kg

smiling assassin wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:11

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 13:20

Oiky wrote: ↑Yesterday, 11:52
That's it, nice, 200kg is still a good pull for a mess around. I haven't deadlifted for a few months now, been doing RDL's and back extensions instead.

Still squatting and benching, but I use a lot more machines as well nowadays than I've ever done, both the plate loaded and pin loaded Hammer Strength ones, do prefer free weights and probably always will but it's not one or the other for me, just do both, they all have their place.

Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!

Sean a 200kg deadlift as a mess around, how much do you weigh? I got 155kg last week and felt like heman . Il never get anywhere near 200kg

It’s muscle memory mate I used to pull 300kg plus. I paid Andy Bolton to coach my form when I competed so much of it is technique, most people deadlift without activating their glutes. It’s mainly form not strength mate so I won’t pretend I’m strong. I don’t know what I weigh as I stopped weighing myself in January. I’ve put some muscle back on by increasing my protein a little (I was always a hyper responder to training and protein. And gear but those days are long gone as I like being alive). I probably weigh 14 stone something. I used to weigh 23 stone when I competed.

And 155kg is an excellent deadlift. I only did it for a laugh as my mate Rudie is getting into strongman so I was helping him with pulling his hips through to get the weight up quickly and not wobble or injure himself. Happy to message on training advice just drop me a message buddy or email me [email protected]. My advice is rubbish but free

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:31

smiling assassin wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:11

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 13:20

Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!

Sean a 200kg deadlift as a mess around, how much do you weigh? I got 155kg last week and felt like heman . Il never get anywhere near 200kg

It’s muscle memory mate I used to pull 300kg plus. I paid Andy Bolton to coach my form when I competed so much of it is technique, most people deadlift without activating their glutes. It’s mainly form not strength mate so I won’t pretend I’m strong. I don’t know what I weigh as I stopped weighing myself in January. I’ve put some muscle back on by increasing my protein a little (I was always a hyper responder to training and protein. And gear but those days are long gone as I like being alive). I probably weigh 14 stone something. I used to weigh 23 stone when I competed.

And 155kg is an excellent deadlift. I only did it for a laugh as my mate Rudie is getting into strongman so I was helping him with pulling his hips through to get the weight up quickly and not wobble or injure himself. Happy to message on training advice just drop me a message buddy or email me [email protected]. My advice is rubbish but free

Top man Sean thanks very much mate much appreciate that. Don’t put yourself down, form or not lifting 200kg is a strong as an ox

smiling assassin wrote: ↑Yesterday, 15:11

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:31

smiling assassin wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:11
Sean a 200kg deadlift as a mess around, how much do you weigh? I got 155kg last week and felt like heman . Il never get anywhere near 200kg

It’s muscle memory mate I used to pull 300kg plus. I paid Andy Bolton to coach my form when I competed so much of it is technique, most people deadlift without activating their glutes. It’s mainly form not strength mate so I won’t pretend I’m strong. I don’t know what I weigh as I stopped weighing myself in January. I’ve put some muscle back on by increasing my protein a little (I was always a hyper responder to training and protein. And gear but those days are long gone as I like being alive). I probably weigh 14 stone something. I used to weigh 23 stone when I competed.

And 155kg is an excellent deadlift. I only did it for a laugh as my mate Rudie is getting into strongman so I was helping him with pulling his hips through to get the weight up quickly and not wobble or injure himself. Happy to message on training advice just drop me a message buddy or email me [email protected]. My advice is rubbish but free

Top man Sean thanks very much mate much appreciate that. Don’t put yourself down, form or not lifting 200kg is a strong as an ox

You’re welcome and thanks a lot mate.

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑06 Jun 2026, 04:44 I caused all this through abusing my body so I’m super grateful and felt embarrassed for using NHS resources after having multiple surgeries for damage caused by competing in strongman and powerlifting again all self inflicted. Let’s just say I never mind paying NI.

I feel the same. Riddled with injuries, had a few surgeries, will never complain about paying NI

NHS is an unreal service and I am sad to see it being slowly privatised

One of the many reasons Reform are a Trojan Horse from a working class perspective is that Reform are pure "unrestricted business" party and would privatise the NHS first chance they got.

johnmanchester wrote: ↑Today, 04:42

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑06 Jun 2026, 04:44 I caused all this through abusing my body so I’m super grateful and felt embarrassed for using NHS resources after having multiple surgeries for damage caused by competing in strongman and powerlifting again all self inflicted. Let’s just say I never mind paying NI.

I feel the same. Riddled with injuries, had a few surgeries, will never complain about paying NI

NHS is an unreal service and I am sad to see it being slowly privatised

One of the many reasons Reform are a Trojan Horse from a working class perspective is that Reform are pure "unrestricted business" party and would privatise the NHS first chance they got.

Whereas Labour and the Tories only outsource NHS services to the private sector.
We are just numbers on a calculator

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 13:20

Oiky wrote: ↑Yesterday, 11:52

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 09:30

No compound movements for me, those days are long gone. I had a mess about with deadlift last week to see what it was like but went to 200kg and thought I’m not risking this malarkey. My training is very measured, I go at least once a day tho and twice at weekends.

That's it, nice, 200kg is still a good pull for a mess around. I haven't deadlifted for a few months now, been doing RDL's and back extensions instead.

Still squatting and benching, but I use a lot more machines as well nowadays than I've ever done, both the plate loaded and pin loaded Hammer Strength ones, do prefer free weights and probably always will but it's not one or the other for me, just do both, they all have their place.

Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!

Yeah maxing too much is where a lot of people go wrong with strength training I feel? Especially amongst normal gym goers, I said to a pal of mine competitive powerlifters probably max out 3 times a year, and that's at meets and you're trying to max out every other week an wondering why youve hit a plateau.

Lot's of people struggle with flat bench don't they in the end, the plate loaded hammer strength flat press is a great alternative for benching imo ,much prefer it to a smith machine, always hated smith machines, people say about the bench being rigid and too much of a fixed path for the shoulders but for me that's the smith machine, feels horrible.

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:31

smiling assassin wrote: ↑Yesterday, 14:11

SeanBrennan wrote: ↑Yesterday, 13:20

Sounds like a good balance. I never enjoyed squatting even at my strongest as soon as it got to 260kg it just felt horrible, so I never maxed unless it was in contest prep. Loved benching, can’t free bar bench these days other than incline as my rotator cuff starts screaming. I use machines for main muscle groups but use dumbbells for shoulders, traps and biceps. And if it’s cold I change the machine bars so it’s a padded one not metal so I don’t get cold hands. I’ve definitely changed!

Sean a 200kg deadlift as a mess around, how much do you weigh? I got 155kg last week and felt like heman . Il never get anywhere near 200kg

It’s muscle memory mate I used to pull 300kg plus. I paid Andy Bolton to coach my form when I competed so much of it is technique, most people deadlift without activating their glutes. It’s mainly form not strength mate so I won’t pretend I’m strong. I don’t know what I weigh as I stopped weighing myself in January. I’ve put some muscle back on by increasing my protein a little (I was always a hyper responder to training and protein. And gear but those days are long gone as I like being alive). I probably weigh 14 stone something. I used to weigh 23 stone when I competed.

And 155kg is an excellent deadlift. I only did it for a laugh as my mate Rudie is getting into strongman so I was helping him with pulling his hips through to get the weight up quickly and not wobble or injure himself. Happy to message on training advice just drop me a message buddy or email me [email protected]. My advice is rubbish but free

Yes 200kg for a mess around and considering what you've been through is a great pull, and that's very true about technique, that's why you can see big lumps (which to be fair are probably more hypertrohpy based) with a terrible deadlift and then you can get someone who is a lot smaller and leaner but strong as f*ck, it's about manipulating your leverages and the CNS adjustment over time providing you dont burn it out. You can add KG's to any of the compound lifts by getting your technique better, the approach to building muscle and building strength are totally different for me imo, making a light, or lighter, weight feel heavy is key for building muscle but getting a weight from point A to point B that's about the best technique possible and you're CNS firing on all cyclinders

Oiky wrote: ↑Today, 05:20 making a light, or lighter, weight feel heavy is key for building muscle

That's an interesting concept. Never thought of it like that before.

johnmanchester wrote: ↑Today, 05:39

Oiky wrote: ↑Today, 05:20 making a light, or lighter, weight feel heavy is key for building muscle

That's an interesting concept. Never thought of it like that before.

yeah the thing is for strictly bodybuilding purposes it's not how much weight you're lifting it's how much you can actually feel the muscle you're targeting working, you want to be spreading the load as little as possible

for power and strength purposes it doesn't matter, it's a compound movement so every link in the chain needs to be working and strong

Oiky wrote: ↑Today, 05:52

johnmanchester wrote: ↑Today, 05:39

Oiky wrote: ↑Today, 05:20 making a light, or lighter, weight feel heavy is key for building muscle

That's an interesting concept. Never thought of it like that before.

yeah the thing is for strictly bodybuilding purposes it's not how much weight you're lifting it's how much you can actually feel the muscle you're targeting working, you want to be spreading the load as little as possible

for power and strength purposes it doesn't matter, it's a compound movement so every link in the chain needs to be working and strong

Is there any sort of middle ground where someone builds the body aesthetically as well as building power?

johnmanchester wrote: ↑Today, 11:28

Oiky wrote: ↑Today, 05:52

johnmanchester wrote: ↑Today, 05:39

That's an interesting concept. Never thought of it like that before.

yeah the thing is for strictly bodybuilding purposes it's not how much weight you're lifting it's how much you can actually feel the muscle you're targeting working, you want to be spreading the load as little as possible

for power and strength purposes it doesn't matter, it's a compound movement so every link in the chain needs to be working and strong

Is there any sort of middle ground where someone builds the body aesthetically as well as building power?

yes definitely, lot's of people do powerbuilding which is a mixture of the two, or structure their training into periods or blocks, which is where they'll work on outright raw strength and power, and other times is where they will be doing accessory work and trying to build muscle

it's a very good way to train because just like a boxer or athlete can't maintain peak fitness year round, neither can anyone remain their absolute strongest all the time either, so periodization is important, otherwise you'll just end up with bad joints , you won't recover properly and won't really get very strong.

not saying compound lifts don't build any muscle, because they do, but it's just for me compounds are for strength and performance, if i want to build my chest I wouldlnt prioritise flat barbell pressing, i'd priotise pec flies, incline dumbbell presses and dips, if i wanted to build my back i wouldlnt prioritise deadlifts, I'd pick a chest supported row variation, a vertical pull variation, like pull ups or lat pull downs, and a hip hinge movement like back extensions, same for legs I'd pick the hack squat for purely targeting the legs with no outside limiting factors. I love compound lifts but for a lot of people in terms of physique and aesthetics they can be quite limiting, some of the best physiques i've seen in gyms over the years are from people who train the compound lifts alongside all their accessory movements.