Question

What style of periodization do you feel would be best for optimizing a bodybuilder’s physique? Defend your answer.

Answer 1

Periodization can simply be defined as planning of training. In bodybuilding, training might be organised to achieve maximum physical abilities such as strength, speed etc. Some bodybuilder plan or periodize their training to achieve specific goals such as lose body fat etc. One, who have specific goal are essentially use periodization.

Units of Periodization are as follows:

• Microcycle: It is a single workout and cannot be strained for long period.
• Mesocycle: It is a series of microcycle to achieve specific goal.
• Macrocycle: It is a series of mesocycle that provide the final goal.
• Quadrennial: It is used outside the olympic athletes and it geared around four years long macrocycle.

Style/Method of Periodization:

• Linear Periodization: It is also known as Classic Method. It can also be defined as what is usually brought to mind. This consists of Hypertrophy phase - stimulates growth, Strength phase - stimulate hypertrophy, Power phase, Restorative phase - drops volume or eliminate training.
• Non Linear Periodization: It is also known as Conjugate Method. This hepls in making improvement on the linear style. This method can be done by combining the qualities of speed-strength and limit strength in a week long microcycle. It helps in enhancing both and increase one to augment the other. It also helps to stimulate hypertrophy.

Better Method: Linear Periodization can be a good method for a bodybuilder to optimize physique. As conjugate method has its own drawback. 1) There are many days in the week and body can only handle stressors. 2) One cannot train everything that in given Microcycle.