Brian Simmons’ SuperTotal program is an 18-week plan with 4 training days per week. It trains all five SuperTotal lifts (squat, bench press, deadlift, snatch, and clean & jerk) through three blocks: base, structure, and peak. The last day of the program is a SuperTotal day, where you take three attempts at each lift.

A SuperTotal combines your powerlifting total with your weightlifting total, so the program has to build heavy strength and fast, technical pulls at the same time. It does that with block periodization. Conditioning and work capacity come first, then a long block of hypertrophy and technique volume, then heavy singles and a taper. If you want something shorter, the 12 Week Supertotal Basics Program follows a similar block layout in 12 weeks.

This one is for lifters who can already snatch and clean & jerk with decent technique and want to train them alongside the powerlifts. If the Olympic lifts are new to you, spend some time on one of these Olympic weightlifting programs first. Be warned: the base block has a ton of cardio and strict rest periods, and Brian says more advanced lifters tend to find it the hardest.

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