Workout Partner Training: Maximize Your Gym Time With A Buddy

Almost anyone who ever touched a barbell is familiar with scenes from Pumping Iron of the overwhelming camaraderie between all of the bodybuilding champions at Gold’s Gym, Venice Beach. The fast pace, motivation and absolute fun those guys had back then were incredibly contagious even through your TV.

Partner training was one of the most significant aspects that attracted so many trainees to have so much adoration for that golden era of bodybuilding. What better environment to be a part of than to go to the gym, lift tons of weights with your friends and reap all of the rewards of more muscle and strength?

You couldn’t help but get motivated, eager and downright pumped over such scenes with Arnold, Franco, Ed Corney, Mike Katz, Robbie Robinson among many others intensely training, posing and just having freakin’ fun!

There is something to this other than the obvious mentioned above. So many other factors come into play when it comes to partner training and what it can do for you.

Assuming you aren’t prone to wasting time in the gym talking, staring at your smart phone or talking to the hottie by the dumbbell rack, training with a partner has numerous advantages regarding your gains in the gym.

Below are seven benefits of partner training and then seven strategies to implement immediately for your ultimate physique.

7 Benefits of Working with a Training Partner

Accountability: This is arguably the most important aspect of partner training. Keeping each other accountable to show up on time on specific days of the week can cultivate an environment of consistent discipline that can only spell more gains for you AND your partner. Knowing someone will be waiting for you will only get you off your ass on those difficult days and into the gym.

Motivation: On those days where you just flat-out don’t feel like training, a partner can provide that little push, or at times, massive shove you need to crank up the intensity and get in a great workout. Of course motivation begets motivation so by supporting and pushing each other to reach further will snowball over time synergistically.

Safety: You can’t ignore the safety aspect of a partner. Not only is this crucial for spotting during heavy lifts, but also during the actual technique of the lift keeping an eye on form and function. Making minor adjustments can reap major gains.

Competition: Who doesn’t like a little friendly competition? A partner can provide you with a healthy rivalry, especially when your strength levels are more or less equal. If not, pushing each other to do more reps and weight no matter what level you are can create a great atmosphere of moving closer to each other’s goals.

Shared expertise: Two heads are better than one, and I’m not just talking about the biceps. Feeding off each other’s knowledge can potentially bring more light to new techniques and tricks derived from individual experiences. This can also significantly influence those who can’t see the enormous and monotonous rut they are in with their training.

Shared vision: Going hand in hand with shared expertise and motivation, a shared vision can further hone in your focus and concentration during training. If you both have similar goals, you will only feed off each other and drive that much harder each day, week and month.

Enjoyment: The most obvious factor of partner training has to be the camaraderie and pure enjoyment of working out with a like-minded individual that will hold you accountable, motivate you, give you a little friendly competition, help out during the heavy lifts and share their knowledge and vision along the way.

So, how will you use all of these great attributes in the gym where it counts? How do you put the tangible advantages into practice? Sure, it’s great to have a handy list of benefits to feel good about, but let’s look at how you can incorporate some real-world tips during actual training.

6 Workout Partner Training Strategies

I go you go and pace: A partner can provide rest intervals without a clock. Simply resting while they do a set and then immediately begin your set after they are resting will ensure the workout is well paced without being a slave to the clock. It is an easy way to keep training going without too much wasted time.

Spotting: Of course this goes along with benefits listed above. Spotting your partner not only keeps them safe from injury but also allows them to push harder on sets without worrying about getting crushed under the weight. More muscle ensues.

Holding equipment: Yes, we’ve all been there; you finish a set, turn your back and some stranger starts to adjust your weights. A training partner can “hold” or stake claim to equipment, stations or other areas while you are resting and especially during superset training when more than one station is required.

Set-up time saver: Setting up and breaking down equipment is a hidden time waster. Many trainees don’t realize the significant amount of time this takes up not to mention the wrench it can throw in a nicely paced workout. Assistance from a partner can quickly reduce the time it takes to set-up, train and go.

Form police: A partner can be indispensable regarding observing and correcting technique during difficult or technical lifts. A little brush-up on form is never a bad thing, even for the most experienced lifter.

Rescuer: Have you ever returned a hello or answered a quick question in the gym only to find yourself glancing at the clock while your pump goes away? Are you sometimes taken advantage of for being the nice guy? A partner can play the bad guy and get you both quickly back on track. Simply have a system down to where you give a quick hello, short answer or favor and then move on.

All business: This all adds up to business during the workout. When others see you training with a partner, they will (should) instantly understand you are there to train. You are not there to talk about your weekend, last night’s game or what you saw on Facebook, you are in the business of results. This is not to say to become a complete prick and snub everyone that says hello, it just means spend your time wisely and you will be rewarded.