Deep Water is a high-volume strength program from strongman and pro wrestler Jon Andersen. It’s actually three separate 6-week programs run back to back – Beginner, then Intermediate, then Advanced – and each one is a complete 6-week, 5-day block (4 lifting days plus a recommended active recovery day). The whole thing is built around its infamous “100 reps in as few sets as possible” work for squat, deadlift, and push press, with the base level running 10×10 on the main lifts.
The idea behind Deep Water is to build strength and conditioning at the same time by burying you in volume. Andersen calls it training in “deep water” – you keep your head above the surface by getting fitter and stronger, week after week, as the program shortens your rest and tightens the sets. It’s closer to a brutal work-capacity builder than a peaking plan, which is why it shows up in the squat program and deadlift program collections, and why I’d file it under general strength training more than powerlifting.
Despite the name, the “Beginner” level is not a true-novice program. It assumes you already have roughly a year or more of barbell training and know your squat, deadlift, and press maxes. If you’re brand new to lifting, you’ll get more out of a real novice program first – the 10×10 volume here will flatten you otherwise. If you’ve got a base of training under you and you want your work capacity tested, Deep Water delivers.
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