Joe Rogan is a renowned comedian, podcast presenter, and MMA commentator. He is also in absolutely incredible shape. He adheres to a strict workout routine, and he has some very interesting ideas on what exactly a workout session should consist of.
Rogan started kickboxing at a young age, and also has a blackbelt in jiu jitsu. He couples his passion for combat sports with weightlifting workouts.
In recent years he has followed the teachings of Belarusian fitness guru Pavel Tsatsouline, which has changed the way he trains.
Rogan says that the major mistake a lot of people make is working out until they experience muscle failure, i.e. carrying out reps to a point where you are unable do anymore. He feels this is not the optimum way to build strength.
This is what he had to say on the matter:
This is what I think Pavel has going on, and it's something that he calls 'greasing the groove'. What he believes is that you should never go to failure, because your body is not designed to go to failure.
Say you're doing something and you can do 10 reps with it, you should do five, and then you should walk away for five to ten minutes. Then you should come back and do another five.
If you're trying to get strong, the way to do it is: continue to do those motions correctly with full strength and full balance and full control of the kettle bell, full control of the dumbbell.
Whether you are doing clean-and-press, whether you are doing deadlifts, it is with full control. So, you're lifting with perfect technique. Then take a long time off, so when you come back 10 minutes later your body is fully recovered. So you're not still dying from the last set you did 30 seconds ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do4spVTNDaA
That actually makes a lot of sense. This method should allow you to train more often, as your body will not be as beat up after a workout.
Whatever Rogan is doing, it is definitely working.
