Bulgarian Training Methods?

[Guest guest]

Mel wrote:

<If you have the time and willingness to comment on this article (by Angel

Spassov & Terry Todd) and which often is sent around claiming to represent

genuine Bulgarian training methods, our Supertraining list would be most

grateful to hear what you have to say. Someone sent this letter to our list

earlier today.......>

Dear Mel,

Happy New Year and all the best wishes for 2003.

It is a really long article about a small argument. Nothing is about the

real thing. All the supplementary movements are useful to a certain level

and they can be great development exercises. Some sports, using weights in

their programs to supplement the general fitness level or increase specific

strength, will benefit a lot by all of the exercises discussed. However, for

the sport of weightlifting, they are questionable. The early stages of

preparation and very young lifters may find some use for such supplementary

exercises.

One fact that I can stand by is the higher the level, the less the use of non

specific movements (like step-ups). The philosophy behind the great Bulgarian

weightlifters has always been to train " as close as possible to the

competition. "

If you go back some years and remember Asen Zlatev -- 225 kg C & J is not too

bad at 82.5 kg bodyweight. In my 8-9 years of training with him from

platform to platform I have never seen this man doing even back squats. As

close as you can get to the C & J - he only did front squats. We do not all

have to go to that extreme but... that's the way.

Of course, some opposition may say that these were the times of Blagoev and

Zlatev and that generation has gone. Maybe not -- Just have a look at the

last Year World Weightlifting Championships results and then go back to

1982. Than anyone will be less confident arguing on that basis.

Regards

Blagoi Blagoev

Australia

[Guest guest]

Hi Blagoi!

The paper by Todd and Spassov is about 15 years old and was

criticized for its inaccuracies. Taranenko was subsequently

interviewed and denied the step-up figure. He also stated that he

could easily back squat with 380 kg..

I would agree with you that, with few exceptions ( Mutlu,

Sulemanaglou, Boeski) the lifters of your era would still be the

champs today.

Best wishes!

Dan Wathen,

Youngstown (OH) State University

----------

Mel Siff wrote:

> If you have the time and willingness to comment on this article (by Angel

> Spassov & Terry Todd) and which often is sent around claiming to represent

> genuine Bulgarian training methods, our Supertraining list would be most

> grateful to hear what you have to say. Someone sent this letter to our list

> earlier today.......>

Blagoi Blagoev wrote:

Dear Mel,

> Happy New Year and all the best wishes for 2003.

>

> It is a really long article about a small argument. Nothing is about the

> real thing. All the supplementary movements are useful to a certain level

> and they can be great development exercises. Some sports, using weights in

> their programs to supplement the general fitness level or increase specific

> strength, will benefit a lot by all of the exercises discussed. However, for

> the sport of weightlifting, they are questionable. The early stages of

> preparation and very young lifters may find some use for such supplementary

> exercises.

>

> One fact that I can stand by is the higher the level, the less the use of non

> specific movements (like step-ups). The philosophy behind the great Bulgarian

> weightlifters has always been to train " as close as possible to the

competition. "

>

> If you go back some years and remember Asen Zlatev -- 225 kg C & J is not too

> bad at 82.5 kg bodyweight. In my 8-9 years of training with him from

> platform to platform I have never seen this man doing even back squats. As

> close as you can get to the C & J - he only did front squats. We do not all

> have to go to that extreme but... that's the way.

>

> Of course, some opposition may say that these were the times of Blagoev and

> Zlatev and that generation has gone. Maybe not -- Just have a look at the

> last Year World Weightlifting Championships results and then go back to

> 1982. Than anyone will be less confident arguing on that basis.

[Guest azhar]

what about krastev doing his version of pulls ?