2ct paused squat/bench timing

I’m unclear on the timing for the 2ct paused squat and bench. I assumed the pause should last two seconds, and I’ve heard Jordan and/or Austin refer to it as a two-second pause during a podcast or Two Minute Tuesday (can’t cite source). The squat video description also says two seconds.

In the demonstration videos, the pause only lasts one second. For the bench, it doesn’t look all that different from a competition bench to my untrained eye.

It’s not a big deal since training is RPE-based anyway, but I have been curious about the intent.

Thanks!

We’re aiming for a 2 count, not a 2 second pause. The point really is to fully pause, take out any rebound, and then drive up.

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In the Bridge PDF it explicitly says “2ct Paused Squat: Pause for 2 seconds at the bottom of the squat”, and “2 or 3ct paused bench: Pause for 2 or 3 seconds on chest, respectively.”

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That’s fine if you want to do that, and if we want to be very clear, as in a program for people who are new and tend to need/desire explicit directions, we write seconds. That way if this level of exactness helps you understand the idea and get the work done, it’s all good. I’m pointing out it does not particularly matter, in the end. If you count 2 seconds, go for it. If someone else counts to 2 and it’s shorter, I’d not worry about calling them out. All in all, once you understand the IDEA behind the count and are willing to commit to a solid and fairly consistent pause, you are on the right track.

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Thanks, Leah!

That’s helpful, thank you. Could you explain the idea behind the difference between a 2-count pause and a 3-count pause, please?

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