REP IT OUT , bro! Don’t stop now, keep pushing!

You’ve heard that one before, right? It’s the common refrain in every fitness class ever, and in the majority of the bro-centric, muscle-building gyms out there. It’s not bad, either. It’s a refrain that drips of old-school discipline, of classic ideas of strength and conditioning. The idea of reps upon reps upon reps is the one I grew up with, from classic bodybuilders like Frank Zane, Steve Reeves, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Push through your set, because the reps are what matters is how it’s always been.

But it’s not the only way. Meet the cluster set, the underutilized training technique that can push you to serious power and strength gains. No, you won’t see a lot of people using this style in your average gym. But powerlifters use it, and top athletes train with it for sports performance. And science is increasingly on board with the cluster set, too.

What Is a Cluster Set?

YOUR MIND WILL take awhile to get used to the cluster set.…