Customer Reviews

Advanced Max Contraction Training

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This is the first bodybuilding book to actually take a critical and scientific look at the physiological and psychological mechanisms of the body that operate to preserve the status quo. This really explains why building muscle is so difficult for most people, particularly trainees that have already put on muscle and are looking to go to the final level (which, depending upon their genetics, may not ever be as great as they hope). John Little has done a masterful job of laying the obstacles out on the table and then applying science to overcoming them. The Omega Set is incredibly intense. I used Max Contraction with great success (gaining 14 pounds of muscle) in the past and am just starting to experiment with the Omega Set. It is definitely "the last word" (Omega) in high intensity training. The Nautilus North Study is must read material for all personal trainers.

As a bodybuilder becomes more advanced, progressively increasing resistance is not enough. Further progress towards one's genetic limits requires the use of even more demanding repetition methods. The Omega Set is about as demanding as they come.

Advanced Max Contraction Training explains the science behind muscle growth and the development of the Omega Set, how to overcome physiological and psychological barriers to progress, the results of the Nautilus North study and several case studies, how to combine Omega Sets with Heavy Duty training, and more. It is a must-read for advanced bodybuilders serious about maximizing their muscular potential.

All pertinent info could have been contained in the one chapter where Little
tells us what the "advanced" is. I guess to draw out a lot of useless info is
standard for the fitness books. Advanced = do max contractions with too much weight
and instead of holding 5 seconds, hold till failure at less than 1 second, then have a partner
help lift back to starting position and repeat 3-4 times. (Max contractions negatives)

The routines require TWO training partners. I have none and won't be getting any. So the book was useless to me. I may have liked the "Max Contraction" book but the "Advanced Max Contraction" book was a waste of time for me.

The issues raised in the book caused me to seriously re-evaluate the effectiveness of my training. Consequently, I began to apply the principles of Max Contraction, although I do not have the facilities or assistants to perform the exercises as demonstrated in the text.As a result I'm experiencing a slight gain in size and strength--something with which my ectomorphic physique is historically very reluctant to co-operate!
Thus, I highly recommend this book--and STATIC CONTRACTION by John Little-- to anyone who has a difficult time stimulating muscular gains with his current training. Finally, if unlike me,one is able to perform the exercises using Nautilus machines and with helpers, the exercise stimulus-- in my opinion-- would likely be even more effective.

A great deal of research has gone into this book and it's predecessor and it is the latest word on high intensity training for body building. It is not for the faint of heart, but for serious trainees interested in maximum muscle developement.

Is Mike Mentzer's High Intensity Training open end or closed end system?

Most bodybuilders make a single mistake, a fundamental mental error, which in turn is responsible for all their training mistakes; they fail to recognize that bodybuilding is a part of exercise science, which flows from medical science. And that science is a discipline that absolutely requires man to use a specific method of thought (logic) to gain precise knowledge of reality so that he can successfully achieve his goals....page 32 High Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way.


Question: doesn't medical science evolve?


A bodybuilder lifts progressively heavier weights in order progressively increase the stress (intensity) of his workout - a prerequisite for growing progressively larger muscle. For the bodybuilder, in other words, lifting weights is the means, not the end.
The science of productive bodybuilding excersise starts with a study and understanding of the nature of full, high-intemsity, muscular contractions (the principle of identity). And when we study the nature of muscle tissue, we learn that muscle perform work by contracting (reducing their length), and that muscles contract in an all or nothing fashion, which means that only the number of muscle fibers require to move a resistence are recruited, amd these contract 100% of their ability. Its not that all of the fibers of a given muscle contract a little bit. No, only that percentage of the muscle's total fibers that are required, and these contract with 100% of their momentary ability: all or none...p 97 High Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way.

Static Contraction - Page97 through page 100 - High Intensity training the Mike Mentzer Way....the source to Advanced Max Contraction Training by John Little


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