John,

I am currently looking at a few of your Power Athlete programs on Train Heroic. I have been looking at Jacked Street, Grindstone and Field Strong and was hoping to get your input on which program would be best for me. I am a police officer in Columbus, Ohio and work a very busy inner city precinct. At least once a week I am chasing someone through yards and over fences and need to remain a little athletic. I wrestled in College and have had a few orthopedic surgeries such as an ACL/Meniscus and both left and right shoulder labrum repairs being the major ones. I am looking to gain some mass do to me losing some over the years while recovering from surgeries as well as remain healthy and athletic so I can stay off of a operating table and active at work. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Christopher

BUT FYI, I HAVE BEAT WHOLESALE ASS FOR A WHOLE LOT LESS THAN THAT.#5

C- Money, I got you covered. And thanks for being specific as to “what are you training for. Normally, I get clandestine requests like, “I want to lean but strong, fast but with great endurance, good looking but not too good looking…” You know, the normal stuff.

In Science and Practice of Strength Training, Zatsiorsky references the end of the beginner window arriving at two paths. One training path focuses on CNS and neural efficiency to increase strength, speed and power. The other requires increasing cross-sectional size of the muscle, as a larger muscle theoretically should support more weight which will translate to increased strength and power.

For the first path, Field Strong is our most demanding program but the one that reaps the most benefits. It requires some time and focus to develop the skill, strength, and ability to execute the program correctly. I place a big premium on perfection of movement and seamless execution of complex tasks. Once you master the movements and build the tensile strength to maintain posture and position, you are ready to start cultivating athleticism and reap the program’s benefits.

Hamstring-Erectors-Field-Strong-John-Welbourn

Jacked Street is designed for path number two, the weight room warrior looking increase cross sectional muscle size and look good doing it. There is not a lot of cultivating athleticism and change of direction, as the goal is strength, power, and hypertrophy. Many periodize their own training by switching between programs – 6 weeks of JS, 6 weeks of FS, and so on.

Somewhat between the two lies Grindstone, designed for a Fortune 500 CEO with a large workload, a family, and the desire to be the first 40-year-old rookie in the NFL. The program is flexible. It consists of mandatory days, recommended days, and an optional day. The athlete will be pushed as hard as they are able with dedicated strength, plyo, bodybuilding, and conditioning days. I also dedicate a separate day to building an aerobic base as I have seen what that can do for our athletes in real time. We do a ton of upper body hypertrophy work as nothing is more intimidating than walking into the board room filling out your custom made dress shirts.

grind-stone_power-athlete

From the iron slayer to the corporate raider, each program fills a need.

Based on the information you provided, Field Strong would be your program.

However, what have you have been doing recently? You referenced some surgeries and trying to get back into shape, so take it slow.

Don’t let your ego spend what your body can’t afford.