Let me preface this post by saying that this is a most valuable and enjoyable thread. I do enjoy the opportunity for these types of discussions, so, thank you.
Next, "S&S", the book, is not scripture; "S&S", the training program that is described in the book has obviously been tried and tested farily thoroughly now since it's release. This forum is a great place to discuss our collective observations as we move forward, both assisting each other in our quests, and creating fodder for updates and new programs. If you've only shortly been following SF/Pavel/RKC... the training prinicples that bind us, you may not know that this community constantly evolves via input and feedback such as this.
Additionally, and I think that I'm familiar enough with the organization to say this, we have an attitude of practice & mastery; patience & humility. We do not try to convince anyone, but will gladly accept and guide if you are willing to learn.
So, Pnigro, let me quote your orginal post, which narrates the theme of your understanding:
The book is unclear.
If it wasn’t for this forum I would still be trying to gradually reduce the rest periods, compromising my explosiveness in the last 4 sets or so.
While it is true that the book doesn’t advocate actively compressing rests, it does say that one should only move up in weight when time standards are met and we are able to do them strongly. This is ultimately interpreted as being able to meet the standards during regular training days, as there is no mention whatsoever of saving it for a test day.
For me personally 7 minutes feel very natural for the swings. It’s been that way for months. I can only do 5 minutes if I clock myself and actively compress the rest periods.
Bottom line: I think the book should be revised to clarify this concept, otherwise it is inevitable that most people will start compressing the rest periods at some point.
To put it simply, these are the ideas of a grasshopper, not a master; and this is a-ok... we are all at the point in the road where we are. If you took a bell, be it the 40kg, the 24kg, or 8kg, in your practice and completed the
training, meaning that you practiced swings and get ups until you reached the goal described in the book, we would not be having this discussion. You would have learned through your mastery.
But since you are the impatient type of grasshopper (and I respect this because we DID have this valuable discussion), who needs to know now, the bottom line is, you misread the book. Some of the propositions above that bottom line have certainly been added through the additional and subsequent knowledge gained since the book was released, but this does not change your error in understanding. Back to your post:
The book is unclear.
If it wasn’t for this forum I would still be trying to gradually reduce the rest periods, compromising my explosiveness in the last 4 sets or so.
The book is very clear in directing not to lose explosiveness on ANY swing. This is achieved by resting longer. This is stated throughout the book, and is highlighted in red-circled captions many times: "you are ready for the next set when you can talk again", e.g.
While it is true that the book doesn’t advocate actively compressing rests, it does say that one should only move up in weight when time standards are met and we are able to do them strongly. This is ultimately interpreted as being able to meet the standards during regular training days, as there is no mention whatsoever of saving it for a test day.
Not only did you just contradict your first point, but this is YOUR interpretation, and the source of your error. Being able to "do this strongly any day" is not the same as doing it every single training day. For example, I can nose breathe through the simple goal ANY day; but everyday? Probably; this is what aerobic conditioning affords. However, I can take the 48 and also complete the time standards, ANY day, but everyday, absolutely not; this is what deep glycolytic work causes.
For me personally 7 minutes feel very natural for the swings. It’s been that way for months. I can only do 5 minutes if I clock myself and actively compress the rest periods.
Patience. What bell size do you use for your practice? Which one did you start with? Which bells, if any, did you progress with between your starting bell and your current bell?
Bottom line: I think the book should be revised to clarify this concept, otherwise it is inevitable that most people will start compressing the rest periods at some point.
This forum is where we are clarifying what is clearly written in the book. What good would it do to change the text in the book, a one-way communcation device, if one is not understanding it from an interactive source, such as this forum?
I can, admittedly, see how it seems like there is a disconnect between #5 and #6 on page 90; seek mastery of the program, and that illusionary disconnect fades away. Trust the path, and go practice.