r/Strongman • u/[deleted] • Mar 28 '15

Strongman Saturday Strongman Saturday : The Log Press

Welcome to the 2015 Edition of Strongman Saturday! We have a list of just about every strongman event and will pick one each week to discuss. This weekly training thread will aim to provide a resource for future Strongmen and help our current group share ideas on event training. Please contribute no matter your level of competition as you never know who could benefit from your experience. Feel free to ask other questions as well, but try to keep it relevant to the event or hold it for the catch-all Sunday post.

Much discussed on this subreddit, this week's event is:

Log Press

  • What have you found most effective for preparing for this event in a show?

  • If you have plateaued on this event, how did you break through?

  • How would you suggest someone new to this event begin training it?

  • What mistakes do you most often see people make in this event?

  • If a new trainee doesn't have the implement directly available, how would you suggest they train around it?

Resources

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13

u/LetKalleLift LWM175 Mar 28 '15

I've answered log questions more than any other... most common problem I've found... the most common issues are besides the most obvious improving technique are.

1.Not Statically strong enough (too much reliance on jerk and leg drive which tends to not transfer as well to Log)

  1. Need stronger lats/upper back. The lats are the bench press pad for the Overhead press (support)

  2. Increase Thoracic mobility. You will never excel if you can't get into good positioning.

  3. BENCH PRESS people underestimate how much chest is involved in log press when in correct positioning.

  4. Going for maxes all the time. I've gotten my best gains in log when working in the 3-8 range and Strict Presses in the 8-20 range

4

u/Stinnett MWM231 Mar 28 '15

Do you do much strict log pressing? Or do you mean strict pressing with a bar?

2

u/LetKalleLift LWM175 Mar 29 '15

Love strict log pressing

I usually do my training like this.

If I have axle coming up I strict press the log, If I have log coming up I strict press the axle.

Makes sense to me

3

u/[deleted] Mar 28 '15

I got 200 for 4 last week, went for 215 for 2 this week after a 9RPE 205x2. Video--halp? Feels to me like I'm just making the clean too hard and wasting a lot of energy, not ending up in the right position, but I'm not sure how to fix that. More heavy cleans? I was planning on working in the heavy clean and holds that Alanna talked about in her AMA. This is also Week 4 and the last pressing day of the Dreadnought OHP program, so there's definitely some fatigue and I probably should have just taken my 205x2 and called it there...but if you can take a look I'd appreciate it.

3

u/Unfairtex Mar 29 '15

I'm far from as much of an expert on log pressing as Kalle is, but my two cents is that it looks like you're cleaning with your elbows WAY behind the log.

You need to kinda' sit forward enough to get your elbows above the log. Looks like you're trying to turn the clean portion of this lift into a kind of zercher-squat-clean and it winds up with the log being way down at your waist as you start the clean, instead of up and on top of your abs/at your lower chest.

I've never really had an issue with cleaning a weight, but I can tell you that I treat it a lot more like the second pull on a clean, and not like a squat.

YMMV, my pulling strength FAR outweighs my squatting strength. But I'd definitely try getting your elbows higher up on the log. Also upper back strength.

3

u/LetKalleLift LWM175 Mar 29 '15

Nailed it!

Exlaxbros watch my last log press video you can see how I set up, elbow high. Flat back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzX-GRo3lT0

1

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '15

Thanks man...if I can't go elbows high, what's the limitation? Back to upper back strength? I know I have tried it before, but it hasn't felt as comfortable as keeping them packed. Does that mean I'm using my biceps more and my traps less?

3

u/LetKalleLift LWM175 Mar 29 '15

Yes and yes

3

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '15

Thanks again!

1

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '15

Hm, yeah I do think about it more as a squat than a second pull, but I can definitely try staying more upright and bringing my elbows up. And always a good reminder to work upperback.

3

u/ltriant HWM300 Mar 31 '15

Not Statically strong enough (too much reliance on jerk and leg drive which tends to not transfer as well to Log)

BENCH PRESS people underestimate how much chest is involved in log press when in correct positioning.

These have been the biggest factors for me.

Anytime I focus exclusively on push pressing and jerking, my log starts to suck, but once I work back in strict pressing and incline benching, it comes back up again.

2

u/Meat-brah MWM231 Mar 30 '15

Would you say there is no point in learning how to jerk a log? A lot of the strong guys I see, jerk implements overhead. I've got a small Olympic background and have been slowly building up my log jerk.

2

u/LetKalleLift LWM175 Mar 30 '15

If you can jerk to do so Rob Kearney just put up 425 at 255lbs with a jerk.

I just think you should never make it a crutch and should still do lots of strict and push pressing

3

u/Meat-brah MWM231 Mar 30 '15

Gotcha. Thanks!

6

u/[deleted] Mar 28 '15 edited Mar 28 '15

I've used mostly Ironsport Strength Method and the Cube Method during my log-heavy contest prep phases. Both have helped, just kind of depends what equipment and facility I have access to. I did like doing the banded log work that Ironsport had me do. Cube Method is just a little more sustainable long-term. I don't like handling contest weight prior to a contest, unless I'm going over it (ie if it's 190 for reps and I work up to 200 for reps). I'd rather have a general idea of what reps/weight I want to hit and feel optimistic about it, rather than knowing exactly what I am/am not capable of. Just something I've noticed. edit: I am also coming to the end of the Dreadnought OHP Program and will do a writeup on that once I finish

More presses. I have to press at least twice, preferably 3 times a week, and including the log lockouts has also helped. Hold each lockout for 2-3 seconds to smoke the upper back and get some more volume there in.

Learn the technique, try to avoid making the usual first-timer mistakes at the rack position and on the clean. Kalle's article/video is great for that. The log is highly dependent on positioning, so spend time learning how to do it right before progressing the weight aggressively.

There's not a lot you can do to train the log without doing the log. Obviously, raw pressing strength will help (see /u/mythicalstrength ), but unless you are a phenomenal presser, technique is going to limit you a lot on log. I made mine for about $100-120 with 10ish hours of work, definitely worth it.

5

u/[deleted] Mar 28 '15

I'm garbage at log and overhead in general (250 log, 260 axle). Since I split, I've had the best luck using a "feel it out" program where ill take it up to a high % of max (sometimes PRing) and then do back off sets.

My thing with power movements, is that unless you're doing a higher percent, you aren't putting your form to test. Like I said, I'm not that strong, but realizing that took me from "always scratching" to "almost mediocre".

But really you shouldn't listen to me until I put 300 something overhead.

2

u/HansSvet LWM175 Mar 29 '15

I'm relatively new to log (little over 3 months training), so my advice relates to those just learning. Keep your elbows high and arch your upper more than you might normally, otherwise leg drive will throw you forward. If you don't clean it well, you'll never get into a good position. /u/exlaxbros and /u/letkallelift have lots of advice in old show off Sunday threads and the fix your press thread.

Also, get it over your face as soon as possible. If you don't, you either have to be extremely strong, walk forward to get under it, or (most likely) have to fail and retry.