Testing Next Level - Keeping In Sync

Given that it is recommended to keep everything in sync, so that our deload weeks line up, I was wondering how others were handling testing for the next element. This was trivial when starting as you could just test a few days before you wanted to start the cycle so that everything was ready to go. It seems to get more complicated when your progressions are not on the same week.

As an example, I am soon going to need to test the next HBP progression. So, during that session while other movements are for example on Week 9, I would test mastery at Week 11 for the next HBP progression. Simple enough.

Two possible ways this new element could go ...

• Failure :: In this case do we treat the mastery attempt as the work for that day or do we do the test prior to that day's work so that we can train it at the appropriate week during the session?
• Success :: In this case do we test the next element the same day, or wait for the next session? If the latter, what happens if one is testing an element on a B-day of a 3 day split where there isn't another session that week?

Any thoughts on how to approach the testing and scheduling in this scenario from people who have already run into this type of situation?

- Chris

i'll test mine on the deload week on a day off. so i can start in the next mini cylce nicely sinchronized.

If you test for mastery, consider that your work for the day. The next time you work that progression, begin training that element or test for mastery of the next element, depending on the results. 

For example, imagine you work HBP twice a week. You just finished mastering PPP and you think you can master bench dips, so the first day of the first week after deload, you do a mastery set. If you succeed, then on the second HBP day of that week, you'll test mastery of negative dips. If you were to fail the negative dip mastery test, then on the first day of the second week, you'd begin training negative dips at week 2, 6 or 10 to keep the deloads in sync. 

P5yx said:

i'll test mine on the deload week on a day off. so i can start in the next mini cylce nicely sinchronized.

This is a bad idea. Deload week is there to give your body a time to recover. 

Joshua Slocum said:

This is a bad idea. Deload week is there to give your body a time to recover. 

Thx Josh i will keep that in mind.

Joshua Slocum said:

If you test for mastery, consider that your work for the day. The next time you work that progression, begin training that element or test for mastery of the next element, depending on the results. 

 

For example, imagine you work HBP twice a week. You just finished mastering PPP and you think you can master bench dips, so the first day of the first week after deload, you do a mastery set. If you succeed, then on the second HBP day of that week, you'll test mastery of negative dips. If you were to fail the bench dip mastery test, then on the first day of the second week, you'd begin training bench dips at week 2, 6 or 10 to keep the deloads in sync. 

Thanks Josh. I presume in your example you meant if you succeeded with bench dips, but failed negative dips mastery on the second HBP day of week 1, that the next week would start on week 2/6/10 of negative dips ... and if you failed bench dip mastery on the first HBP day that the second day of HBP work that week would be week 1/5/9 as appropriate. Did I read that correctly?

- Chris

chobbs said:

Thanks Josh. I presume in your example you meant if you succeeded with bench dips, but failed negative dips mastery on the second HBP day of week 1, that the next week would start on week 2/6/10 of negative dips ... and if you failed bench dip mastery on the first HBP day that the second day of HBP work that week would be week 1/5/9 as appropriate. Did I read that correctly?

 

- Chris

Yes, you are correct: thanks for catching that. I've edited my post.