that would be me
do you know the specifics of those high rep circuits?
Circuit training is not an ideal but a good enough method for beginners and it's very practical for training large groups and very effective because of high density. It's a GPP, not a hypertrophy method. Strength, cardio, mental abilites, endurance and resilence are developed.
Bocharov's example program from 1973
warmup - 10 min
20min circuit. 10 exercises, 2 minutes for each exercise. 30 sec work - 1min 30 sec changing station (and maybe weights). Working interval gets longer after some weeks, up to 45sec work/1 min 15 sec rest. Following exercises are just an idea, it depends on available equipment. 2-3 plans should be used and they should be changed every week.
1. barbell on shoulders, rotations to left/right
2. front squat
3. dumbbell/plates flys
4. good mornings
5. bench press
6. weighted inclined situps
7. dips
8. jumping on a box
9. upright row
10. forearm exercise
30 min weighlifting technique (not intensive, more like active rest, after this part students are rested and are able to do another circuit)
25 min circuit. 10 exercises. 30 sec work, 30 sec rest, 30 sec repeat the exercise, 1 min changing stations
example exercises:
1. lunges with barbell
2. inclined bench press
3. good mornings
4. overhead squats
5. power clean (?)
6. weighted pushups
7. front squats
8. behind the neck press
9. jumps
10. GHR
5 min cooldown
next phase, after 6 months:
10 min warmup
15 min circuit (10 exercises, 45 sec work / 45 sec rest)
30 min weighlifting technique
"circuit" - 5 exercises (30 sec work/45 sec rest)x4, between exercises 2 min rest
for example:
1. push press
2. back squat
3. power clean (?)
4. inclined bench press
5. weighted jumps
next phase, after 1 year:
circuit training is no more effective for developing strength! it can only be used as warmup.
warmup - circuit 9 min, 6 exercises (45/45 sec)
technique
up to 40 min "circuit" 5 exercises, 5 sets for each exercise, 2o sec work / 1 min rest. between exercises 2min 20 sec rest
--
another program
10 exercises (30->50 sec work, 90->130 sec rest), 1-3 circuits
exercises are for example bench press, side bends with barbell, pushups, weighted jumps, kettlebell jerks, inclined situps, front squats, good mornings, hanging leg raises, romanian deadlifts...
I wonder what very high volume means exactly, and how big it was for the rest of the team. Do you know any specifics in terms of total number of sets performed, does the number remind something like russian bear from pttp (perhaps with longer rests between sets)? From what you wrote it seems like their hypertrophy was simply a byproduct of doing a high volume of lifts, I need to read some of those books, thanks!
Alexeev trained instinctively. He had a list of exercises and he did only those that he wanted to do. On good days - "barbell is flying" as he said - he did an exercise for hours until he feeled sick. The next week he would only do another exercises from his list.
As for the rest of the team - number of lifts per month (only above 60%RM were counted) were typically between 1200 and 2400. Complete beginners can start with 500 lifts per month. Intermediate/advanced lifters do 1000 lifts, masters of sport 1300 and international level athletes between 1400-2400.