How Long on DC Training?

[White-Tiger]

Hey guys,
Currently getting on the tail end of a cutting phase and starting to plan my bulking phase (yes, I will be bulking in the summer!). I am planning on a very, very long bulking phase afterwards.

I've never tried DC training in the past, but I find its philosophy and training regimen to be quite compatible with my type of personality. I was wondering if it would be advisable to stay on DC-style training for an extended period of time? Given that you routinely change exercises (A1-3, B1-3) and switch those around when you fail at progressing...I can't really see it being much of a problem.

I was thinking of doing 6 week stints of DC training, followed by 2 weeks of a regular 4 day split. Rinse and repeat for as long as I maintain this bulking phase.

What do you guys think?

[O-Train]

Should work fine. I would make one or both of the 4 day split weeks a deload week.

[tiramisu]

I've been doing a poorly executed version of DC for about 9 months. By poorly I mean I haven't been executing the extreme stretching and in terms of Blast & Cruise I have only had about 4 easy weeks in the last 9 months. I haven't seemed to have needed as much recovery as is assumed by the DC model.

[ironwill]

I love DC trng.......You can do it forever....5-8 weeks blasting, and a 2-3 week cruise ever 5-8 weeks.......Any questions just ask!!!!.......One of my favorite and most productive trng methods ever....I do well on it...He was my trnr for quite awhile, and now hes my sponsor....
Im doing DC trng with Mountaindog diet right now and man i am loving it, they are an amazing combination....

[Winnipeg Muscle]

I am finding DC training great as well, I did 8 weeks (about 1 week to long for me, should have listened to my body) then did two weeks cruise and currently just started another blast and anticipate it will last for about 6 weeks.

I will follow the DC training method for 14 weeks of the year as I like to change programs every 3-4 months. With DC the key is extreme stretch, beating you last lifts and going balls out on the RP set. My advise is once you start to have trouble beating your last lifts it is probably time for a cruise, then switch up the exercises. I use A1, A2, A3, B1, B1, B3, and C1, C2, C3 rotations.

[ironwill]

A big difference in blast cruise times is
#1 the diet you are doing, and recovery ability which eating enough will help.....
#2 whether enhanced or not......
I dont do to much of the extreme stretching....I do some, but dont find it to be the key element for myself.....I personally believe to much extreme stretching can lead to muscle tears, or tendon ruptures....

[L3]

i am not using DC training, but i use their streches after pretty much every set... i may give the training program a shot in the fall/winter when i come off

[ironwill]

i am not using DC training, but i use their streches after pretty much every set... i may give the training program a shot in the fall/winter when i come off

Actual DC extreme stretches, or general stretching???

[L3]

well... the delt/back/and quad stretches are DC.. the rest are more general

not EXTREME by any measure!

[ironwill]

well... the delt/back/and quad stretches are DC.. the rest are more general

not EXTREME by any measure!

I was going to ask how you found the extreme stretches to be for you guys that do them...

[Winnipeg Muscle]

I was going to ask how you found the extreme stretches to be for you guys that do them...

I find them hard but extreme is a subjective word, for example after my chest RP set I hold 45lb db in the fly position, a minute is hard and it starts to burn bad but I don't feel it is so extreme as to lead to injury. I think you need to do a good one minute stretch after a RP set but know your limitations.

[devo09]

I've used the extreme stretchs before.....until I looked into it more, there is ZERO evidence to suggest that it will aid in hypertrophy. What it will do is stretch the **** out of your connective tissue, which isn't really a good idea to do "extreme" stretches for

[tiramisu]

I've used the extreme stretchs before.....until I looked into it more, there is ZERO evidence to suggest that it will aid in hypertrophy. What it will do is stretch the **** out of your connective tissue, which isn't really a good idea to do "extreme" stretches for

There is 0 scientific evidence, but the guys doing it seem to like it.
I don't believe the hypetrophy/hyperplasia argument but stretching post exercise does seem to improve recovery.

[devo09]

There is 0 scientific evidence, but the guys doing it seem to like it.
I don't believe the hypetrophy/hyperplasia argument but stretching post exercise does seem to improve recovery.

You find that doing the extreme stretches HELP recovery? I like stretching post workout but doing an extreme chest stretch for example (by DC standards) kills me for days

[O-Train]

I've explained it better before but in a nutshell extreme stretches cause damage which promotes hypertrophy. I don't think there is any more to it than that.

[tiramisu]

I've read all the explanations as to why extreme stretching might cause hypertrophy and disbelieve them entirely.

... I'm guessing my extreme stretches aren't quite as extreme as yours (dev009) as they don't leave me hurting the next day. If anything I have less dom's and feel looser than when I don't do them.

[ironwill]

I dont get pain later...i get pain then....lolol...frig me.......I do worry to much stretching causes more micro tears in connective tissue etc, and could possibly set your self up for injury....I dont know if it happens that way, but it sure feels like it to me!!!;;.

[O-Train]

I've read all the explanations as to why extreme stretching might cause hypertrophy and disbelieve them entirely.

... I'm guessing my extreme stretches aren't quite as extreme as yours (dev009) as they don't leave me hurting the next day. If anything I have less dom's and feel looser than when I don't do them.

It's very similar to how eccentric movements cause hypertrophy. I'm not sure but I don't think it has much to do with fascia.

[ironwill]

It's very similar to how eccentric movements cause hypertrophy. I'm not sure but I don't think it has much to do with fascia.

The intent WAS for facia stretching..........Whether it works is seperated by 2 groups with strong beliefs either way.....

[O-Train]

The intent WAS for facia stretching..........Whether it works is seperated by 2 groups with strong beliefs either way.....

Yup for sure. Why it works is up for debate but I think it does promote hypertrophy. I don't think it helps with recovery too much. Stretching muscles right after training them is somewhat counter-productive in terms of flexibility and recovery. Does seem to be a great way to rip them up a bit more though.

[The Brick]

Sorry, kinda off topic, but When you guys diet down do you still use DC?

[ironwill]

Yes i personally do...It is great for cutting...

[The Brick]

What do you do with the log book? just try to keep the same numbers?

I know dante wrote about this, but I cant remember it exactly.

[ironwill]

I do what i can...It is imminent that they will go down in weight, but not until 8-10 weeks out do i notice significant drops....So i plug away as best i can, but since it is fairly low volume, its pretty much perfect for diet mode....