• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

  • Fitness
  • Workouts
    • Best Shoulder Workouts
    • Best Chest Workouts
    • Best Leg Workouts
    • Best Leg Exercises
    • Best Biceps Exercises
    • Best Kettlebell Exercises
    • Best Back Workouts
    • Best HIIT Workouts
    • Best Triceps Exercises
    • Best Arm Workouts
  • Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Best Pre-Workouts
      • Best Whey Protein
    • Equipment
      • Best Home Gym Machines
    • Certifications
      • ISSA Review
  • News
  • Exercise Guides
    • Legs
      • Back Squat
      • Bulgarian Split Squat
      • Goblet Squat
      • Zercher Squat
      • Standing Calf Raise
      • Hack Squat
    • Chest
      • Bench Press
      • Dumbbell Bench Press
      • Close-Grip Bench Press
      • Incline Bench Press
    • Shoulders
      • Overhead Dumbbell Press
      • Lateral Raise
    • Arms
      • Chin-Up
      • Weighted Pull-Up
      • Triceps Pushdown
    • Back
      • Deadlift
      • Trap Bar Deadlift
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Inverted Row
      • Bent-Over Barbell Row
      • Single-Arm Dumbbell Row
      • Pendlay Row
Fitness

Athlete Journal: Chris Duffin, Entry 5 – Life Changes & A Deload Week?

How does a world-class powerlifter work out amongst things like career changes, life choices, kids, and a wife with a stomach bug? Chris tells all in his newest journal entry.

Written by Chris Duffin Last updated on June 5, 2012

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Welcome to the Athlete Journal of world champion powerlifter Chris Duffin. Follow Chris as he trains and competes in various events over the coming year. Chris’s journal will be posted every Tuesday. You can also read about Chris on his personal website KabukiWarrior.com.

Life Changes & a Deload Week?

Normally the week after a meet I do minimal if any training. However I wasn’t taxed very much at the meet, and I needing a mental break from some tough career and life choices I’m having to make right now, so I decided to hit the gym anyway.

On a side note I’m going to have to re-evaluate my competition schedule for the remainder of the year due to the above-mentioned changes. I have to drop out of all but one meets that I planned on traveling to this year. I’m starting work for a new company in a few weeks and the first year of getting a company turned around is always very demanding on my schedule.

My new plan is as follows:

  • September – APA meet (local in Portland)
  • November – WPC Worlds in Vegas
  • December – USPA meet in Newport (local in Oregon, but not for sure yet)
  • January – RAW Unity (220 Raw showdown between all the top guys and possibly even Balyaev from Russia, I hear)

WEDNESDAY

Squats – Buffalo Bar & 310lbs of Chain

45×5

45+210×5

45+310×5

155+310×3

265+310×3

375+310×3

485+310×3

610+310×0….bit of a misload

510+310×3

Pause Squats (5 count in hole, no rest at top)

+30lb chain on neck, no belt

265+30×5

375+30×5,5

Stallions (see upcoming write up but essentially a Kneeling squat with a band resistance at waist pulling your hips back)

245×8

335×16

425×4

That’s all I had. Extremely challenging workout and think I’m going to stick with it for a month. No assistance work needed with this one.

FRIDAY

Overhead Presses – from forehead

225×8

315×8

405×5? Not sure how many I hit but wasn’t many

225+100chain x8,8

Multiple Failed Attempts at Bottom Ups with 88lb bells

3 x 150ft Passes w/sled x 125lbs alternating between

Chest Press/Flies with Sled

Overhead Tricep Extension

Mace Swings – 48” x 30lb

4-5 sets w/20 swings each direction

Really enjoyed doing the mace swings as I have been unable to do them for about three years due to my elbow. Destroyed my upper back and shoulders and figured it was going to nail deadlifts the next day, so wasn’t counting on much on Saturday.

SATURDAY

Deadlift with Weight on 2” platform

Add 270lbs band tension (I use a fish scale to find exact weights for my setups)

All done with hook Grip

45+270×5

135+270×5

185+270×5

235+270×5

At this time I received a call and text from my wife who was at home with the kids and said she was getting very sick…So, the remainder of this workout was finished in 5 min with the help of the loaders.

315+270×2

360+270×1

405+270×2

Add straps

455+270×2

505+270×2

555+270×2

605+270×0,0

605+270×0

About Chris Duffin

Chris is an accomplished powerlifter, coach, and gym owner. He is the world record holder for the raw squat in the 220lb class. He also holds a Guinness World Record for the most weight deadlifted in one minute at 17,010 pounds (42 reps of 405lbs). Chris Duffin is the head coach and co-owner of Elite Performance Center in Portland, Oregon.

Unlike many powerlifers and strength athletes, Chris is also enthralled with all things related to conditioning, nutrition, and supplementation. He is known for his detailed coaching and ability to provide immediate gains for his athletes.

It is not a surprise with Chris’s attention to detail and perfectionism that he is also an academic nerd with an engineering degree and a master's degree in business administration. Many of Chris’s coaching skills and high expectations that push people past their self-imposed limits have made him successful in the business world as well. To support the growth of his training facility, Chris’s full-time employment is as the general manager of an aerospace manufacturing company.

View All Articles

Recommended Articles

jazzweightlifting
Lifting Big, Dylan, Jazz, and Skinny Jeans
weightliftingbelt
5 Mistakes You Might Be Making With Your Weightlifting Belt
deadlifttoppositionmale
5 Rules to Deadlift By
What Your Deadlift to Squat Ratio Can Tell You About Your Olympic Lifts

Primary Sidebar

Latest Articles

Bodybuilder Logan Franklin “Cried For 3 Days” After Withdrawing From 2022 Olympia, Outlines 2023 Return

How to Do the Reverse Biceps Curl for Complete Arm Development

Dennis James, Miloš Šarčev Believe Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay Can Win 2023 Arnold Classic

Strongman Tyler Scott Obringer Axle Presses a Massive 192.8 Kilograms (425 Pounds)

Latest Reviews

ISSA Personal Trainer Certification Review

ISSA Personal Trainer Certification Review

Best Whey Proteins for Packing on Muscle, Shredding Down, Meal Replacement, and More

Best Pre-Workouts for Building Muscle, Running, Taste, and More

Best Home Gym Machines

Best Home Gym Machines

woman lifting barbell

Be the smartest person in your gym

The Breaking Muscle newsletter is everything you need to know about strength in a 3 minute read.

I WANT IN!

Breaking Muscle is the fitness world’s preeminent destination for timely, high-quality information on exercise, fitness, health, and nutrition. Our audience encompasses the entire spectrum of the fitness community: consumers, aficionados, fitness professionals, and business owners. We seek to inform, educate and advocate for this community.

  • Reviews
  • Healthy Eating
  • Workouts
  • Fitness
  • News

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed

© 2023 · Breaking Muscle · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy · Affiliate Disclaimer · Accessibility · About