Bodybuilding or Power Training ?

[DarkLord]

I'm a natural ectomorph as many of you know and I have now for a good while been questioning if power training is better for building mass than bodybuilding, any advice please?

[Dan C]

Power has a speed component to it. The ability to jump high, snatch a heavy barbell in a split second, etc. are examples of power. A powerful athlete is not always the biggest one. And most bodybuilders are far from powerful, same thing goes with "powerlifters".

How are you defining "power training"?

[DarkLord]

I suppose " Power Training " is defined as none of the basic Powerlifting moves such as squat, bench press and deadlift, where as power training is more related to body building but the number of reps differs more as they are less.

This is an interesting article on power training and hypertrophy. The reading is a bit dry but might give some insight. Do you find this helpful?

Power is Strength plus Speed
Or, fast AND forceful contractions

Power training attempts to train the body to explode synergisticly. Typical exercises and their purpose are:
Squat..............Vertical Jump (VJ) Height
Power Cleans....VJ and Lifting
Hang Cleans......Lifting and Ball Blocking Ability
Snatch.............Ball Blocking Ability

[.V.]

Seen some little dudes moving some really heavy weight and some pretty big guys who could move much less.

Size doesn't always equal strength and strength doesn't always give size.

If you've got a specific goal, then you should train specifically for it.

You want to be big, then work for size.

I don't know if this is appropriate to your specific goal but HST gave me some decent size (for me) pretty quickly. 5x5 is doing even better for me although it was designed as a strength program. Yeah, I'm getting bigger and stronger on it. I tried powerlifting for a while on a program given to my by a former WPO champion who really seemed to know his stuff. All I managed to do on it was hurt myself. Not the program's fault, mine...because I wasn't ready for it.

[ihaveadog]

Power Lifting would be to gain good amounts of strength, Ronnie Coleman did this for a couple of years and I think he is or one of the strongest Bodybuilders in competition. You will still gain mass in power training but definition may not be as well as in hypertrophy but you should gain large amounts of strength.

Hypertrophy is what most of the body builders use to gain lean muscle mass, getting 8-12 reps out of there set. Yet when you do hypertrophy you dont gain good amounts of strength.

[DarkLord]

now that's cleared up with thanks to you guys, how often should one include power training for strength every so often?

[ihaveadog]

I would do 1 week strength and 1 week hypertrophy, just switch off every once in a while.

[Dan C]

I don't think we're using the term "power training" correctly here.

You do not train for power by doing the powerlifts (bench, squat, deadlift) for max weight. The goal behind "powerlifting" is absolute strength. A 1RM in the 3 contested lifts. Powerlifting will make you bigger and stronger, but not necessarily more powerful.

"Power training" is more like plyometrics, olympic lifting, sprinting, jumping, etc. "Power training" is not something you do when the goal is to build mass. Generally speaking, the weight is not heavy enough and/or you are not under the load long enough to induce hypertrophy.

[ihaveadog]

Thats exactly what I was saying.

[Dan C]

I don't think you know what you are saying.

[ihaveadog]

Lol, ok dude whatever you say. But Darklord, power lifting is almost the same as strength training, as I said you will get big and gain alot of strength. As in hypertrophy is getting big and toned, but lack in strength gains.

[F_Mac]

IMO anyone who is new to lifting weights needs to focus primarily on strength initially. Hypertrophy training can only take you so far if you don't have the strength to back it.

[ihaveadog]

I agree with that

But it doesnt matter, whatever training that you do is going to build muscle no matter what, its all on what people want. Whether its "Hypertrophy or Strength" your going to gain size.

[Khaine]

I feel there should be a proportional relationship between your training age and how much you talk...

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@Darklord

As for powerlifting, powerbuilding, bodybuilding, olympic lifting, strongman training, etc... Just do whatever fits your goals... Set a goal, then let it dictate your behavior... Powerlifting isn't for maximum hypertrophy, it's for strength... Does that answer your question...?