Technique Sessions

Training Q&A [Moderated]
1

I’ve heard certain powerlifting coaches talk about the need for “technique sessions” of the competition lift (very low intensity sessions, or at least that is my understanding). The idea here being that, especially for newer lifters, good technique is something that needs to be reinforced frequently, and we should add in all these super low RPE sets to ensure we’re as strong as possible. Even for advanced lifters the idea of honing your technique comes up a lot. I’m thinking here of Matt Perryman’s book and the subsequent Greg Nuckols Bulgarian Manual, with those authors suggesting that high-frequency exposure to single reps will dramatically improve your ability to perform single reps via some mix of technical improvement and adaptation of the stress response to these frequent exposures.

Is there any validity to these approaches to training? Are more frequent exposures to the competition lifts useful at any point in a training career?

2

I think increasing frequency from 1x/wk to 2, 3 or 4x/wk may have a positive effect independent of volume. I’m not sure if going beyond that is uniquely beneficial for strength performance unless it’s a way to get more volume in. I don’t think very low intensity technique sessions are likely to be beneficial for skills and adaptations relevant to maximal force production.