By Todd Lee M.D.

The Best Chest Workouts are the ones that help you accomplish your goals. Strength? Size? Detail? What’s your goal? All of them? Aren’t you a greedy bastard? ;) It’s ok, Im a greedy bastard too and that's why I developed a system of training which gives you all the results but is designed around the idea of overtraining.

T4R

T4R, or Training For Ragnarok, is a training system I developed for my army of loyal followers: Operation Ragnarok. The premise is that in the final battle all the Gods perish while protecting Midgard (Earth) from Loki, Fenris, The World Serpent and an army of Jotun (frost giants), but they don't know this!  The mighty Asgardians train for Ragnarok with inhuman intensity and endure workouts which would kill a normal mortal. But by spending one week and only one week in each God's shoes, a mortal could conceivably survive.

T4R has 4 different weeks and each week is a completely different training system. I modeled each week off of the training theories of different legends in bodybuilding and then assigned the Norse God I thought fit best to each week. There are more weeks for Odin, Baldur, Heimdal, Hel...but I haven't gotten those out yet.

The theory is, if you do one style of training all the time, you get over trained in some ways and under trained in others. With this protocol, it alternates Heavy and Light weeks so that your resting one fiber type while you're training the next.

Pre-workout you should imbibe Fenris's Fury for Rage, Focus, and a skin tearing Pump.

Get Fenris' Fury HERE!!!

 

Week 1: Thor

Thor is the Norse God of strength and for this reason I labeled the 5x5 training week Thor week. 5x5 is a strength training routine that is the brainchild of Reg Park, who is to my knowledge, Arnold Schwarzenegger's mentor.
In it, you do 5 sets of 5 reps but only the last set is to failure. Lets say the correct amount of weight you use to get exactly 5 reps is 88% of your 1 rep max (1RM). In this case, set 1 is 60% of your 1 rep max, set 2 is 70%, set 3 80%, set 4 85% ( your 6RM) and set 5 is 90%! If you can get 5 reps with 90% then you're actually stronger and next week add 5-10 lbs (2% of 1RM) to your 5th set and try for 5 reps. Each exercise, each month you should be 5-10 lbs stronger. This week trains your central nervous system and uses ATP not creatine or carbohydrates for fuel. You may have some bizarre neurological changes: diarrhea, sudden paralysis of limb, dizziness, blurry vision, tingling all over your body, extreme fatigue, euphoria, after these sessions but not normal soreness. That's because we're training your nervous system and tendons more than the muscles.

You may even feel like you didn't even workout. This is OK! Although it is very heavy and hard on your mind and nervous system, this week is very easy on your energy supplies and allows you to recover from the last 3 weeks of traditional body building workouts.

Thor Chest

Flat or Incline BB press 5 sets x 5 reps
I alternate which one I start with each month. Sometimes I do Smith Machine. For instance if i'm at a Planet Fitness or have a new or Female spotter.  Below is an Example: 315 for 5

https://youtu.be/kUvTdPKpCf0

Flat or incline BB press 4 x 6-8

Then I do the other One with the other Equipment as Below: 225 for 6-8

https://youtu.be/azp1iLBaNSo

Decline Press 4 x 6-8

Pec Deck FST-7 x 8-10 reps

You're going for max weight and the rest periods are 2-5 minutes on your final sets. For instance, for military press yesterday I did the bar, waited 0 seconds, 95 for 5, 0 seconds, 115 for 5, 60 seconds, 135 for 5 reps, 60 seconds, 155 for 5, 120 seconds, 165 for 5 (this was to failure, but I took extra time and tried for more weight), 180 seconds, 170 for 3+2 forced reps and thus since I failed less than 5 reps, I'm done. I clearly did 7 sets, but since most were warm ups, I only really counted the last 2 sets as work sets with one to failure the other beyond failure and those are the ones I took a rest between. More weight = more rest. Next week I will gauge it right and make my 5th set 170 and actually get 5 reps.

Reps are explosive and fast but controlled. Tempo and range of motion are not that important this week, 90% with form is ok when it's this heavy, just don't get hurt. I don't advise anyone who isn't a professional athlete or trained by a professional to lift this heavy. I don't want to hear whining about your lower back or shoulder; if you get hurt lifting you didn't lift correctly.

Week 2: Freya

Freya was queen of Asgard and leader of the Valkyries (Odin’s battle maidens). I modeled this week off of Kai Green’s training and it’s great for men but exceptional for women! Women could in theory do: Thor, Freya, Freya, Freya weeks each month, skipping the 3rd and 4th workouts and just working strength, endurance/conditioning and not focus on size, if they are bikini models not women’s physique competitors.

For men, once a month is plenty, as endurance isn’t our main goal, size is and this routine won't make you bigger. It will help you recover from the three other heavier weeks (like a deload week). Unlike a deload week, you're going to do way more volume, working your Type 1 fibers and giving you the most insane pump in your life. Rest should be 30-60 seconds for these sets; 30 seconds for maximum pump, 60 for maximum growth hormone release (fat loss ladies). If you have a partner, you do part A while he does Part B, then you switch for 4 iterations, then go to the next station. Weight does not matter here.  Pump and contract the reps through ideal range of motion and perfect form and tempo while squeezing every contraction is.

Freya Chest

Dumbbell Pullover for 4 x 15 with intention method

Use the intention method by squeezing the dumbbell between your hands and let that force drag the weight up. You're not lifting the dumbbell, you're squeezing the dumbbell so hard it floats up. You will have to use way less weight than you would normally. I might use 40 lbs for 15 this way I can do 80 lbs for 14 on Loki week.

Incline BB Press with intention method
Super Set (SS)
Ladder Push Ups 4 x 15

This is the same. You try to force the hands together without them moving closer. This makes the chest initiate the movement. I might do 45-95 lbs for this instead of 185 for 15 reps using this method. Ladder pushups are done in a Smith. Put the bar at the bottom, use your intention method and go to failure. Then raise the bar 2 pegs and repeat. Then again. Then again if you haven't hit 15 reps yet.

DB Fly’s
SS
DB Presses
4 x 15
Every set lower the bench a peg from 5 to 1

https://youtu.be/TCf0j3G2D2U

This starts at 75 degrees and goes to 0. This will target different fibers and get easier every set as you fatigue. You do 15 flys, then with the same dumbbells, do the presses to failure and have the spotter help you get all 30 total reps. You should never have to change dumbbells.

Dips
SS
Cable Cross Over high to low 4 x 15
This works the lower pecs in a compound move then isolation routine to finish them off by pushing the handles together. Use intention method on the dips to use the chest.

Under Hand Vertical DB Presses
SS
Cable Crossover low to high
4 x 15

The underhand vertical dumbbells are awesome for getting the upper inner chest. I learned this trick from Justin Fargo: make like you're going to do an arnold press, push the pinky ends of the dumbbells together until you feel your chest fire (intention) then press them straight up. Your arms will only move a little bit.  It’s too hard to hold the dumbbells together at the very top so just pump the weight through this very small range of motion while squeezing those DBs together. On the low to high crossovers come just above eye level.

Week 3: Fenris

Fenris was the Werewolf child of Loki and his main warrior. I modeled this week after Dorian Yates. Main difference is the use of multiple sets, 4 in fact. Dorian only did 2 sets the majority of his career because he felt that too many sets and reps would wear you down after continuous weeks. But, since we only do 1 week of this, I want you doing 4 sets. This is the main mass week, you're handling high weight for high volume and you're Type 2B fibers are severely taxed doing this so that's why we have 2 weeks to “rest” those fibers going into this week. You may be able to use your old 6RM from Week 1 for the full 6-9 reps this week! That's how fast you change with this alternating rest/work format.

Use a 60-90 second rest and a comfortable controlled tempo.  Focus on moving as much weight as possible: form and tempo are there for safety, 80% ideal form is all you need this week. Use whatever range of motion lets you handle the most weight. Again, this is for professional weight trainers not someone who wants to “get fit." This is a triple black diamond workout with a trail of dead bodies, so do at your own risk. As A medical doctor I don’t condone any human being doing this. I do it however and it works great!

Fenris Chest

Fly's 3 x 20 not to failure
This is to get a pump, not pre-exhaust the chest

Incline BB Press 4 x 6-9 reps
Last set is a drop set, forced reps on all sets.

This means you get 6-7 clean reps that are perfect form and tempo and your partner helps you squeeze out 2. Then on the last set, after primary failure, you cut the weight by 30-50% and do as many reps as you can to failure + 2 forced reps.

https://youtu.be/azp1iLBaNSo

Incline Hammer Strength 4 x 6-9 reps
Last set is a drop set. Forced negatives

Forced negatives are the last 3 reps of each set, your partner PUSHES DOWN on the weight making it HEAVIER. You almost always need machines for this, as it’s not safe to push down on a barbell over someone throat. The force applied should be just enough that the person can't keep the weight from descending but the descent takes a smooth 6 seconds. You usually have to help them get the weight up to then press down on it.

Flat DB Press 4 x 6-9 reps
Forced reps

Spotter spots on the first rep because getting it up is trying at times and then spots on the last 3 reps. Thus, 6-9 reps to failure and 0-3 forced reps every set for a total of 9 reps every set.

Dip Machine or Weighted Dips 4 sets of 6-9 reps, with drop set on last set

On the last set, drop the chains around your neck or the weight dangling from your waist and crank out some more reps.

Pec Deck 4 x 6-9 reps with 3 forced negatives and stripping.

You close the arms, your partner tries to force them open on the last 3 reps. Last set you drop the weight after your primary failure by 30-50%

Week 4: Loki

The God of Deception has a trick up his sleeve! Loki week is much harder than it looks. I used a Hany Rambod approach with a front loaded FST-7 pre exhaust. Thus, the goal of this week is a pump with medium weight and medium volume. Or is it? Like the god of trickery would do, I made these workouts much harder than they look. Minor factors add up to make this week FEEL harder than the previous week, despite it being more reps and in theory less weight. Truth is, that despite the pre-exhaust and the supersetting agonist and antagonist muscles you're using almost as much weight as Fenris week since your using all machines and machines are easier. Therefore is just as anabolic as week 3 just completely different in its approach.

Rest periods are 45-60 seconds this week. All reps are picture perfect with lots of contractions and perfect 0-1-2-1 tempo. Stretch between sets except the pre load sets which you contract your chest in between those.

Loki Chest

Cable Cross Over

Low to High

************

https://youtu.be/WJ2efDlOnsM

then High to low 3 and 3 sets of 12 30 second rest

Clearly it would be impossible to do this with a partner, as the set takes longer than the rest.  You can take turns.

Incline DB Press 3 sets of 10-12
Nothing fancy, just standard west coast training

Incline Hammer Strength
3 sets of 10-12

Flat Flys 3 x 10-12

Dips or Machine Dip
3 x 10-12

It looks easy right? Looks can be deceiving.

Any personal trainer will tell you that each one of the first 3 weeks will put you into over training in a matter of the 3 weeks. That's why you only do them for 1 week then do something completely different! Week 1,2, and 4 are rest weeks from Week 3 which is the hardest.  Week 1 being additional strength training and week 2 is everything that isn't size or strength. The Immortals (Einjerar and Valkyries of Operation Ragnarok) who have made it through one iteration of T4R are vastly stronger and leaner/bigger than last month. It's time you tried a full spectrum of suffering. Adopt this Asgardian training system if you too, want a godlike chest!

If you like this system after 1 full month, all 4 workouts in order, get a hold of me and I'll give you another body part or tell you how to get in on all of T4R!

Want the Whole T4R training?

CLICK HERE! to Join Operation Ragnarok!!

Ascend to your place among the Asgardians in Valhalla!!!

 

 

Disclaimer

Nothing in this article or on this site should be considered medical advice or as an endorsement to violate any law of the country in which you reside.  The information given is for fun and entertainment purposes only.  All claims are 100% dependent upon proper diet and exercise.  Please consult a medical practitioner prior to any diet and exercise program.