CrossFit Armed – Mayhem Affiliate – Bodybuilding
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Bodybuilding RPE Scale
RPE 1-3 || This should be a weight that an athlete can move with ease throughout the intended rep range.
RPE 4-5 || This is a weight that provides a moderate amount of resistance but the athlete feels like they could double the intended rep range with the weight they chose
RPE 6-7 || This is a moderate-moderate/heavy weight for the athletes. This should provide a challenge for the intended rep range but should not be something that they are worried of failing. The rest needed between sets should be minimal.
RPE 8-9 || This is a near maximal effort for the intended rep range. Athletes should need and want adequate amount of rest between the sets at this RPE.
RPE 10 || This is a max effort for the intended rep range. The athlete should be fully taxed at the end of each set.
Mayhem Bodybuilding Goals
What?
Bodybuilding is a tool that Mayhem Athletes can use to increase strength, muscular endurance and hypertrophy to better themselves in whatever their fitness goals are. It can also be used as a tool to give the muscles and joints a break from the high intensity that comes with CrossFit day in and day out.
How?
Mayhem Bodybuilding is a stand-alone hypertrophy focused program that includes elements of strength training. You may layer this on top of some of the other Mayhem Athlete Program, but it is not designed to be performed on top of all other tracks each day. We will include pieces of some days in other programs as “ACCESSORY”
Goals?
The goals are to stay focused and rest just long enough so that you can perform the next set with quality and control unless stated otherwise.
Keep your attention of each set and keep your phone in your bag. Sessions are not done “for time” but treat them like you are limited on time. Keep a visible clock running to keep you accountable. Lastly, the goal is all the gainzzzzz!!!!!
Progression
This cycle moves to the traditional upper body push, upper body pull, lower body push/pull seen previously in this programming (earlier in 2022) which is also seen in classical bodybuilding programming.
This cycle will have athletes increasing in weight and decreasing in volume across 8 weeks, followed by a de-load week, and then a max week. The cycle also introduces the concept of mechanical drop sets. The MDS will rotate across days through the cycle to add new variety and fun challenges to athletes’ weekly routines.
See below for an outline of how each year is laid out
4 Yearly Cycles
Cycle 1 (January – March: Mechanical Drop Sets)
Monday: Chest & Triceps
Tuesday: Back & Biceps
Wednesday: Legs
Thursday: Monostructural
Friday: Arms & Shoulders
Saturday: Glutes & Core
Cycle 2 (April – June: Shock Method)
Monday: Anterior
Tuesday: Posterior
Wednesday: Lower Body Push/Pull
Thursday: Monostructural
Friday: Shoulders & Core
Saturday: Glutes & Arms
Cycle 3 (July – September: Traditional)
Monday: Chest & Triceps
Tuesday: Back & Biceps
Wednesday: Legs
Thursday: Monostructural
Friday: Arms & Shoulders
Saturday: Glutes & Core
Cycle 4 (October – December: Traditional)
Monday: Anterior
Tuesday: Posterior
Wednesday: Lower Body Push/Pull
Thursday: Monostructural
Friday: Shoulders & Core
Saturday: Glutes & Arms
Upper Body Anterior Warm-up (Checkmark)
Crossover Symmetry Warm-up
-into-
3 rounds
10 Perfect Pushups (controlled form)
15 Band Pull-A-Parts
5 PVC Around the Worlds (each way)
10 Wall Angels
5 Scorpions (each side)
Demo Videos
Perfect Push ups
Banded Pull Aparts
PVC Around the Worlds
Wall Angels
Scorpion Stretch
Focus: Effort should be easy building into moderate. Get yourself moving and opened up for upcoming work.
Bench Press (4 sets of 10 reps @ – RPE 6/10 (This is a deload week. Prepare to max out next week))
*Rest 2:00-2:30 b/t sets
Focus: Control should be shown with each rep on the way down and on the way up. Bar should be lowered to just below the sternum. Keep elbows at a 45 degree angle to the body and avoid flaring out. Shoulders should be loaded back against the bench throughout reps.
Barbell Incline Bench Press (4 sets: 10 reps – RPE 7)
*Rest 1:00-1:30 b/t sets
*Build to a moderate weight and stay the same or build across all sets.
Focus: Control should be shown with each rep on the way down and on the way up. Incline of bench should be around a 45-60 degree incline. Bar should be lowered to just below the sternum. Keep elbows at a 45 degree angle to the body and avoid flaring out. Shoulders should be loaded back against the bench throughout reps.
Hex Press (4 sets: 10 reps – RPE 7
)
*Rest 1:00-1:30 b/t sets
Focus: Sitting back on a flat bench with a dumbbell in each hand, assume a neutral grip position and press the dumbbells to the ceiling and together. Perform a DB bench while maintain a neutral grip and dumbbells pushed together throughout the pressing motion.
Lying DB Pullover on Bench (4 sets: 10 reps – RPE 7)
*Rest 1:00-1:30 b/t sets
Focus: Lying on a bench, hold a dumbbell by the upper head in both hands. Keeping a slight bend in the arms, lower the dumbbell back towards the floor. Engagement should be felt in the lats/upper back. Only go back as far as control in the lift is still felt and start light to get a feel for the movement. Avoid overarching the back to facilitate a greater range of motion; core should remain engaged throughout. Suggested lying on the bench sideways so the upper back is the supported area by the bench (just ensure that bench is secured to prevent tipping over).
Incline Dumbbell Hammer Curls (4 sets: 10 reps – RPE 7)
*Rest 1:00-1:30 b/t sets
*Build to a light/moderate weight. Stay the same and focus on strict control throughout
Focus: Done with athlete laying on their back on an incline bench with dumbbells in both hands. The movement places a large amount of isolation on the bicep so do not be tempted to go too heavy with this movement. Unlike a regular curl, there is no rotation of the dumbbell on the way up. Do not sacrifice form/control for weight.
Seated Alternating DB Hammer Curl (4 sets: 10 reps (each side) – RPE 7)
*Rest 1:00-1:30 b/t sets
*Build to a light/moderate weight. Stay the same and focus on strict control throughout
Focus: Stay with a weight that will allow for control and minimal kipping of reps. Sit on the edge of a bench or surface that will allow for the hands to be lowered to the sides of the body rather than being stopped by the surface that athlete is sitting on (ex. if the athlete sat in the middle of the bench). Keep dumbbells slightly in front of the body at the bottom position to keep tension on the biceps throughout set. When curling, turn the arm thinking about getting the pinky finger close to the shoulder to maximize contraction with each rep.
Cooldown/Mobility (Checkmark)
1 min Pec Stretch against Door/Rig
1 min Lacrosse Ball Pec Smash (each side)
1 min Overhead Elbow Grab Tricep stretch (each side)
1 min Tricep Lacrosse Ball Smash (each side)
Focus: Do your mobility work to keep range of motion. Pec Stretch consists of raising bent arm to the side to make an “L”, raise arm so that upper arm is at a 45 degree angle to the neck and place forearm against rig/door frame. Slowly lean into stretch.
Mayhem Mini-Pump
Mini-Pump Sessions are used as a supplement to another Mayhem Athlete track or on days when you are pressed for time and cannot complete the full day’s bodybuilding session as programmed. You should NOT complete today’s bodybuilding program AND the mini-pump session. Choose one or the other.
Upper Body Anterior (Time)
4 Rounds
10 Barbell Bench Press @ moderate weight – maintain quality RPE 7
10 Barbell Incline Bench Press @ Moderate weight – maintain control and quality RPE 7
12 Lying DB Pullover on Bench @ moderate weight – maintain quality RPE 7
12 Incline Dumbbell Curls @ moderate weight – maintain quality RPE 7
-Rest 3 min b/t rounds-
Scoring: Time
Demo Videos
Bench Press
Barbell Incline Bench Press
Lying DB Pullover on Bench
Incline Dumbbell Curls
