Fazlifts Strength Progression: 8s, 5s, 3s 

This strength progression works wonders, despite a 20lbs weight loss my top strength has not gone down on any lift. In addition with variety and training close to Failure on accessories, strength and muscle is near guaranteed

Interesting, I used to do something a little similar. I would start with 8, 8, 8+ and add some weight to the bar each week until I wasn't able to get any additional reps on that last plus set. Then I would go down to 5, 5, 5+ with that weight, and repeat this cycle, until I couldn't do any more additional reps on the last plus set. Then I would repeat with 3, 3, 3+, and once I couldn't do anymore reps on the last plus set, I would drop the weight and go back to 8, 8, 8+. I didn't do it for any other reason than it's an easy way to keep track of progress and it's a natural form of linear periodization. I ultimately quit this because I was getting too much pain in my joints from squatting and benching heavy, and decided that staying in the 8-10 rep range was better for me. I'm not a strength athlete so I didn't really see the point in going as low as 3 reps on my main compound movements.

Faz the drop from 10s to 8s with me if you remember was a huge change! A 2 rep drop was a huge difference in lower body progress. Going from 12s all the way down, things became so much more easier from that work capacity foundation of 12s (and the drop in bodyweight haha!)

Good stuff! Really enjoyed this conversation.

so insightful, thanks Faz, I saw the video on dropsets for size ( awesome again by the way ) and was wondering if you can do something similar to this video talking about a rep scheme for size.

Quality, informative video. Thanks, Faz.

Great video. Quality info as always.

Hi Faz! This looks brilliant and I'd like to implement it into my own training. Do you have a recommendation how to reset from that heavy triple back to 8s? Also, do you think there is value in a 5-3-2 scheme for strength?

gonna implement with squats asap!

Going to try this out thanks

Great progression scheme! I wonder, if it's fine to do the sale for hypertrophy, e.g., 12 - 10 - 8 reps scheme? Or lowering sets won't be good?

Great info - thanks. Have you seen this result in decent hypertrophy as well, or is it primarily a strength builder. I get that they kind of go hand in hand but wondering if you've seen this set/rep program also work well for hypertrophy?

Just on a theoretical level would there be any benefits to add back off sets for the sets you get rid of? So when you only do two sets of 8 you would do another one with 80% or so just to add a little bit of volumen. Or would that be a waste of energy?

This is gold. Do you have any preferred progression scheme for when doing ramping sets?

this looks very appealing to do. always doing the same rep and set scheme can be a tad boring at time tbh. gonna give it a try edit: yo wait what? I check out the tactician program expecting to see £60-80 but it's only 10. Woah damn. okay now I really will run this. mate nice video by the way

Hey Faz! How are you doing? I have a question for you (and maybe it's a good future video topic). What do you think about the traditional Russian way of building strength? You can find out some stuff about it if you watch/listen to JRE #1399 with Pavel Tsatsouline on Spotify (which is very very interesting to watch, if you haven't). I am referring mostly to the method were the weight stays the same for a while, you get more and more comfortable with it, and then you make a bigger jump up. He believes that's the best way for beginners especially. Something more on that is Dan John's "Easy Strength" method which he presents in his book "Attempts" and also he discusses it in a very nice, recent, podcast with Mike Matthews (in the latter's RU-vid channel). If you haven't watched those 2, I would really recommend that you do. I would love to hear your thoughts on it. If you could do a video along with Steve on it, that would be even more amazing. It really seems like an interesting topic. Cheers!

This looks fantastic, will start this progression from Monday (heading back into the gym after an injury). Obviously this progression will keep me busy for a few weeks/months, but how do you decide what weight to pick for the 3x8's once you finally complete your first 1x3?

Could you do this adding 5kgs ever time as the smallest plates I have is 2.5kg lol

Very informative! question: weekly frequency? back off sets? supplemental lifts?

Hi Mr. Faz, I have a question-wouldn’t this be the same as triple progression? Back squat 3-4 sets x 8-12 reps Week 1: 11, 10, 9 Week 2: 11, 11, 11 Week 3: 12, 12, 11 Week 4: 12, 12, 12 Add a set; when set count is hits the upper limit, go back down to 3 sets with higher weight.

This is golden 👍

So you do this with one given exercise or you keep changing the exercise each week. Ex. Bench Press, Dips, Incline Press, Bench Press again etc. Also if the exercise you select is a push exercise you dont do any other sets on push? or if it's pull on pull?

Late to the party. But would you recommend back off sets for higher reps to get some more volume after these sets? Especially the 5’s and. 3’s?

Great video sir. Should the starting weight be relatively easy or difficult?

Look very very good!

Hey Faz I love this set rep of this program I’ve been running your tactician for a bit now it’s been going great the only thing is my shoulders have been having a tough time recovering I have a feeling it’s do to having a physical job as a delivery driver as well as lifting I was wondering if you have any tips that might help as always great vids keep them coming

Would I be able to run this progression in a 3 week wave instead? As in Week 1 3x8, Week 2 3x5, Week 3 3x3. Repeat and add weight or change the movement?

But this wouldn't be reasonable for deadlifts right? But I'll definitely apply it for squats and especially the bench

Maybe Is a dumb question, but could you apply this method to weighted calisthenics too? Sounds pretty interesting

What type of routine or split with this progression system work best with?

So , I can use this for my Big Main Lifts ye ? i'll try to use it on my Main (Squat , Bench , DL , OHP , Row) .. and use *Step-Loading* on Variations to make up for low volume stages , what do u think ? __ or this only applies to Variations not to Main Lift ? PS : i have the Main lifts only once a week and the other times is the Variations which i'll use Step-Loading on ... like Squat , Pause Squats , Front Squat ... i'll Use 8/5/3 only on Squat which i am doing only once a week .

Can the secondary and accessories be used with the 12 9 6 protocol?

Do you belive this is surperior to basic linear periodization? And is this ment to be year round or in a strenght block?

how do deloads fit into this? Or are the deloads built into it with the volume manipulation?

5:24

Would you recommend this for hypertrophy focused training?

But after i done the last 3 reps and cant move on, where should back to?

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