Is This Course For You?
In short: yes! This is the most flexible peaking program I've ever written, and I've used it with great success myself, and with athletes of nearly every skill level. It's so broadly applicable because it's built on a very simple linear periodization base, and it's very balanced, including a good mix of competition lifts, variations, and assistance/hypertrophy work.
That said, there are a few basic requirements you should meet before attempting this program:
- You need to be comfortable squatting, bench pressing, and deadlifting with good (not necessarily perfect) form, even with heavy weights. This one's really important: you don't want to walk into the gym for the first time and try to max out. You're risking injury if you do so.
- You have access to, at the very least, the equipment necessary to squat, bench press, and deadlift. The are a few exercises in here that require machines, so it's best if you train at a commercial gym, but if you don't, I've included a list of exercise substitutions for use in a home gym.
- You're ready to start lifting heavy and want to focus primarily on strength. While you'll definitely build some muscle on this program, it doesn't have enough bodybuilding-specific work to be ideal for that purpose.
If you're not quite ready to jump in, I suggest that you start with Unf*ck Your Program!