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Home » Conjugate Periodization

Conjugate Periodization Powerlifting & Strength Training Programs

Below you'll find powerlifting and strength training programs that utilize conjugate periodization.

If you don't find the conjugate periodization program you're looking for, check out the Lift Vault Program Library, which lets you search based on periodization type, training days per week, and much more.

Related: powerlifting programs, powerbuilding programs, bodybuilding programs, strength training programs

9 Week Conjugate Powerlifting Program (Squat + Deadlift Only)

By Kyle Risley
Last updated September 22, 2019

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 9

Periodization: Conjugate Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

This is a twice per week, 9 week conjugate strength program that only programs for the squat and deadlift. It was put out by Nick Spataro and you can see his video overview of the program below. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 9 Week Programs, 9 Week Squat Programs, Deadlift Program, Lift Specific Program, Programs, Squat Program

Squat frequency: 2

Deadlift frequency: 2

Brian Alsruhe Conjugate Program

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 18, 2020

Experience level: Intermediate

Weeks: 16

Periodization: Conjugate Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Powerlifting, Strength, Strongman

Uses RPE: No

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Brian Alsruhe’s conjugate program is a 16 week, 4 day per week strength program that utilizes conjugate methods (dynamic effort, max effort) to stimulate strength gains. It makes heavy use of resistance bands and chains so it is recommended that these are used when following the program.

Max effort days [Read more…]

Filed Under: 16 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 4 Day Split, 4 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 1, 2
Bench press frequency: 1, 2
Deadlift frequency: 1, 2
Overhead press frequency: 1, 2

Westside for Skinny Bastards Program Templates (WS4SB)

By Kyle Risley
Last updated July 13, 2026

Experience level: Beginner

Weeks: Indefinite

Periodization: Conjugate Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Strength

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): No


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Westside for Skinny Bastards (WS4SB) is Joe DeFranco’s hybrid, Westside-style program for skinny lifters and hard-gainers who want to add size and strength at the same time. It’s built around a primary heavy lift plus supplemental and accessory work, and DeFranco published it as two different templates: the original 3-day version (Part 1) and a later 4-day revision (Part 3). Pick the one that fits your schedule and how much you want to train.

The program borrows the Westside Barbell idea of rotating a max-effort lift and a repetition (higher-rep) lift, but it trims the conjugate method down into something a high schooler, athlete, or working professional can actually run. You train the upper body twice a week and hit the lower body hard, with the max-effort method building strength and the repetition method adding muscle. It’s a loose template, not a strict percentage-of-1RM plan, so you’ll rotate exercises every few weeks and do a little interpreting as you go.

WS4SB is geared toward ectomorphs and athletes who want general size and strength rather than a competition powerlifting total. If you’re brand new to lifting and want something simpler to start with, a straight linear program like Starting Strength or StrongLifts 5×5 is an easier on-ramp. Inspired by Westside, this program is not affiliated with Westside Barbell or Louie Simmons, and it is not a powerlifting program.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 3 Day Workout Plan, 4 Day Split, 4 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2
Bench press frequency: 2
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 1

Brian Alsruhe Programs (Dark Horse + 4 Horsemen)

By Kyle Risley
Last updated November 18, 2021

Experience level: Advanced, Intermediate

Weeks: 9

Periodization: Conjugate Periodization

Meet prep program: No

Program goal: Off Season, Powerlifting, Strength

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Below you fill find two programs by Brian Alsruhe (check out his YouTube channel and website): Dark Horse and 4 Horsemen.

Dark Horse Program Overview

Notes directly from Brian:

  • Fill in your competition lifts and 1RMs in the spreadsheet
  • In each wave, for each of the first 4 days, set your conditioning workout
  • Pick a variation for each ME Wave
  • In each wave, for each of the first 4 days, set your antagonistic, core, and conditioning giant set exercise

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 12 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs, Strength Training Program
Tagged With: 12 Week Workout Plan, 4 Day Split, 4 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 1
Bench press frequency: 1
Deadlift frequency: 1
Overhead press frequency: 1

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