July 12th -18th Reverse Pyramid Microcycle #4 (Mesocycle #2)

Day 1 – Upper Body Push

Part A and B Repeat week to week. Track these metrics.



A. Flat DB Bench Press

1 x 5-8 Reps

1 x 8-12 Reps

1 x 12-18 Reps



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B. Alternate Movements x 3 sets each:

For Both Exercises, the 3 sets each decrease in weight:

1 x 5-8 Reps

1 x 8-12 Reps

1 x 12-18 Reps



Alternating DB Upright Rows

(Reps listed are “per arm”, so 5-8 Reps = 10-16 Reps total)

Rest 1-2 min

Close-Grip Incline Barbell Press

Rest 1-2 min



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C. Pre-Exhaust Chest Superset x 2 Rounds:

Warm-up/practice “Ring Flies” before starting work sets



Ring or TRX Flies (scale on knees or by elevating rings) x 8-15 Reps

Rest 10 seconds

Push-ups x Max Reps UNBROKEN (goal for 5-12 reps)

(ADV use Rings; elevate hands if needed to meet rep range)

Rest 2-3+ min between rounds



*In absence of Ring/TRX access, performing a Banded Crossover or DB Fly for the first movement is ok



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D. Pre-Exhaust Shoulder Superset x 2 Rounds:



Dead Stop DB Lateral Raise x 10-15 Reps

Rest 10 seconds

Strict Barbell Overhead Press x 6-12 Reps

Rest 2-3+ min between rounds



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E. Pre-Exhaust Tricep Superset x 2 Rounds:



Banded Pushdowns x 12-20 Reps

Seated Overhead EZ or Barbell Tricep Extensions x 8-12 Reps

(focus on deep stretch at bottom of each rep)

Rest 2-3+ min between rounds



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Day 2 – Lower Body + Core

Part A and B Repeat week to week. Track these metrics.



A. Stiff-Legged Deadlifts (@31X1)

31X1 tempo = 3-second descent, 1-sec pause bar on ground, EXPLDOE up, 1-sec pause at top)

(elevate barbell on a “riser” if you struggle to maintain a flat back at bottom)



1 x 4-7 Reps

1 x 7-10 Reps

1 x 10-15 Reps



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B. Back Rack Split Squats (no elevation)

1 x 5-8 Reps (per leg)

1 x 8-12 Reps (per leg)

1 x 12-18 Reps (per leg)



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C. Superset Movements x 3 sets each:

Warm-up and build Squat clean to top weight before starting supersets



Hang Squat Clean x Reps 3-5-7 (decreasing weight each set)

Heels-Elevated DB Front Squat x 8-15 Reps

Rest 2-3+ min between rounds



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D. Barbell Hip Thrusts

2 sets of 10-15 Reps (increasing weight)

+ Dropset after the FINAL SET ONLY:

Reduce weight approx. 30% as quickly as possible, and keep going to technical failure



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E. Climb as High as Possible in Rep Scheme in 6 Minutes:



GHD/Decline Sit-ups x Reps 5-10-15-20 etc… (add 5 reps each round)

Hanging Oblique Knee Raise x 10 Reps (5/side)



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Day 3 – Upper Body Pull

Part A and C Repeat week to week. Track these metrics.

Part B will change week to week but remain a “back focus” section



A. Strict Pull-ups (@21X0)

21X0 = 1-sec pause at bottom (full hang position)

***Choose neutral, pronated, supinated, or rings, and stay consistent week to week



1 x 3-6 Reps

1 x 6-10 Reps

1 x 10-15 Reps



Scaling if needed to ensure QUALITY sets in desired rep range

***You may be able to perform harder variation for lower reps and then scale for backoff sets



Band-Assisted Pull-ups

Rack Pull-ups (foot assisted)



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B. High Chest Supinated Barbell Rows

Reps 20-15-10 (increasing weight)

+ Superset the FINAL SET ONLY with:

DB Lat Sweeps x 15-25 Reps



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C. Standing EZ OR Barbell Curls

1 x 5-8 Reps

1 x 8-12 Reps

1 x 12-18 Reps



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D. Alternate Movements x 3 sets each:



DB Hammer Spider Curls x 2 sets of 8-12 Reps (heavy), then 1 set of 15-20 Reps

Rest 1-2 min

Bentover Rear Delt Raises (pinkies up) x 15-20 Reps

Rest 1-2 min



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E. Alternate Movements Each Minute x 9 Minutes (3 Rounds):



20-30 seconds Row (Rest 30-40s)

12-20 Reps Lying Banded Face Pulls (rest remainder of minute)

20-30 seconds Bike (Rest 30-40s)



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Day 4 – Upper Body Push

Part A and B Repeat week to week. Track these metrics.



A. Seated DB Overhead Press (@21X0)

21X0 = 1-sec pause at bottom (DB’s hovering at shoulder level)



1 x 5-8 Reps

1 x 8-12 Reps

1 x 12-18 Reps



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B. Weighted Push-ups (details and scaling below)

Reps also at 21X0 tempo (pause at “chest to bar” briefly)



1 x 5-8 Reps

1 x 8-12 Reps

1 x 12-18 Reps



***Weighted Push-ups performed with a Dip-Belt are the most effective way to load and progress the movement week to week. Make sure the barbell is at the same height week to week when you add load.



***If scaling the movement, this is also the OPTIMAL setup. You should manipulate the height of the bar, and adjust it down by 2-3’’ as you get stronger. Once you are performing quality reps at around parallel, you can begin to add weight slowly.



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C. Three-Part Shoulder Giant Set x 2 Rounds:



Dual Hang DB Snatch x 8-12 Reps

Rest 20-30 seconds

Pike Push-ups OR Strict Handstand Push-ups x 6-12 Reps

Rest 20-30 seconds

Seated DB Lateral Raises (strict) x 10-15 Reps

Rest 2-3+ min between rounds



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D. Flat DB Flies (Pause at stretch)

2 x 8-12 (heavy/challenging)

+ Dropset on the FINAL SET ONLY:

Reduce weight 30% and continue accruing reps to a tough set



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E. One Arm KB Tate Press

2 x 8-12 per arm (one lighter warmup set and one heavier work set)



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F. “Nose Breakers” Tricep Extension

Essentially bar path just goes to nose versus forehead or behind head

2 x 8-12 (one lighter warmup set and one heavier work set)



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Day 5 – Lower Body + Core

Part A and B Repeat week to week. Track these metrics.



A. Back Squat

(choose LOW BAR or HIGH BAR and stay consistent week to week)



1 x 4-7 Reps

1 x 7-10 Reps

1 x 10-15 Reps



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B. Single-Leg DB RDL (one in each hand)

*If really struggling with balance, perform as B-Stance RDL



3 sets of 4-8 Reps per leg

***Increasing weight each set, so there is ONE “TOP SET” that you attempt to exceed week to week

***Once you reach 7-8 Reps on the top set, you can increase weight slightly the following week.

***Example Progression set to set to optimize “top set” performance:

BW x 8 per leg

40# x 6-8 per leg

70# x 4-5 per leg

100# x Working set



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C. Superset Movements x 3 sets each:



Towel Leg Curls (or socks on rug, sliders etc…) x 10-20 Reps (tough set)

Immediately into…

AMRAP 1 min: Burpee DB Squat Cleans

Rest 2-3 min as needed for recovery



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D. 2 Rounds:



Barbell Ab Rollouts x 6-15 Reps

Rest 20-30 seconds

DB Walking Lunges (deep; quad stretch at bottom) x 10-16 Steps (5-8/leg)

Rest 20-30 seconds

Lying Leg Raises (with hip thrust) x 8-20 Reps

Rest 2-3+min between rounds



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Day 6 – Upper Body Pull

Part A and B Repeat week to week. Track these metrics.



A. Bentover DB Row (one DB per hand)

1 x 6-10 Reps

1 x 10-15 Reps

1 x 15-20 Reps



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B. DB PJR Pullovers

1 x 6-10 Reps

1 x 10-15 Reps

1 x 15-20 Reps



+ Rest 2 min after final Pullover set

Then 1 set of “Strict Pull-ups” (grip of choice)

Goal is to do a set of 8+ Reps with just Bodyweight (no added load)

Use scaling options from Day 3 if needed to ensure 8+ Reps

Each week, take the set to 1-2 RIR (reps shy of failure) and add a rep whenever feasible!



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C. Alternate “Light/Heavy” Lat-focus Row Movements x 2 Rounds:

The ”sweeping” motion of both exercises is meant to create a MMC with the lats!

Think about crunching the lat down into the waist at the contraction of each rep



Barbell Seal Row Sweeps x 15-20 Reps (much lighter than standard seal row)

Rest 2 min

One-Arm DB “Sweep” Rows x 8-12 reps per arm

(Rest 2 min between arms and between rounds)



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D. Seated DB Curls

3 sets of 8-12 Reps (heavy/challenging)

3 sets of 12-20 Reps (lighter, hold contraction briefly each rep)

Rest 1-2 min between all sets



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Day 7 – OPTIONAL Conditioning

This session can be added at any point throughout the 10-day microcycle

Optimally, it would be done on a day where you aren’t doing anything else



A. AMRAP 3 min (Rest 2 min) x 3 Rounds:



300/250m Row (male/female) OR 16 Shuttle Runs (30 feet each way)

12 DB Thrusters

8 Burpee Pull-ups (highest bar possible)

Max distance Row or Shuttle Runs in remaining time



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B. Hill Sprints

Find a hill that will take you 15-20 seconds of hard effort

**Can also use a longer hill and just stop short of the full length

***Any form of “incline” is better than a flat surface, even if it’s subtle



50% effort x 1 set

80% effort x 1 set

95-100% effort x 3 sets



+ Walk 10-20 min cooldown

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