"Learn how to train"

Working out, training, lifting, catching a pump.

There are many different names for what we do in the gym. Training is the one I use frequently, and frankly something I felt pretty comfortable doing. I could go into the gym, push myself, feel tired, come home, eat, rest, and get ready for the next session.

Boy was I wrong.

Training under Jon's "Bulgarian-ish" system brings a whole new meaning to the word "train". It's no longer a couple hours of snatches, clean and jerks, squats and some RDLs. Each workout requires unparalleled focus and effort. Something he had to beat into my head over the course of months. He has completely changed the way I approach my training, and my mentality in the gym.

For instance:

I no longer take long rests between sets. Snatches average 45-60 seconds between sets, clean and jerks average about 60-90 seconds. I used to take anywhere from two to five minutes between sets. Shortening my rests has helped me stay in rhythm during training. It took some getting used to at first, I had a lot of misses due to fatigue in the first few weeks, but slowly I have adapted to the faster paced training and can now get to about 90% of each lift in 7 minutes, when doing singles.

I am not allowed to walk around between sets. I used to pace back and forth in the gym between sets, kind of an anxious habit. This led to a lot of "Russell, where the fuck are you going?" and "Every time I look up you're on the other side of the gym walking around, sit down." Sitting and staying near the bar between sets has helped my focus tremendously. I was using my pacing as a way to start a conversation or check my phone, ways to mentally escape the workout.

My preparation has changed drastically. My pre gym ritual used to be nothing more than blasting some music in the car and chugging a Rockstar. Now it starts hours before the gym. Thinking about what I'm eating, making sure I'm rested, making sure I'm in the right mental state. Going over my goals for the session in my head.

I have learned to embrace the atmosphere no matter what it is. To me, atmosphere used to be loud music and yelling. But I have since learned to channel intensity in any form. Sometimes it's loud house music. Sometimes it's a joyful atmosphere with a lot of joking a shit talking. Sometimes it's silence. Some of the most intense lifts I've seen and done over the past few months have been in complete silence, no music, no talking.

Overall I realized that I had no idea how to train, and I had to learn. I had to learn how to train like a professional, I had to learn every training session was the most important session I've ever done.