It’s Not All Just Conjugate
 
Most lifters know the buzzwords - linear, block, conjugate - but very few actually understand what sets these systems apart, why they work, or when to use them.
Periodisation for Dummies breaks down the major systems, methods, and tools that underpin all effective strength programming. Whether you’re a powerlifter aiming to build a world-class squat or a strongman athlete trying to structure a season of explosive event work, this is the conceptual guide that shows you how it all fits together.
 
What’s Inside
The Seven Major Systems, Explained
Conjugate, Linear, Block, DUP, Bulgarian, Auto-Regulated/Emerging, and the Tier System - laid out side by side so you can see how each works, where it shines, and when to apply it.
 
The Seven Core Methods
Max Effort, Dynamic Effort, Repetition Effort, submax volume strategies, clusters, contrast methods, and wave/pyramid structures. Understand how these methods slot into different systems and why they drive adaptation.
 
The Seven Key Tools
Bands, chains, specialty bars, boxes, boards, tempos, partial ROM variations, overload implements, and density manipulation techniques. Learn how to use these intelligently rather than confusing tools with systems.
 
Powerlifting and Strongman Examples Throughout
Real programming logic for both max effort platform work and event-specific phases. From structuring bench waves to planning a yoke phase or sandbag cycle, everything is explained in the context of real competitive demands.
 
Practical Frameworks You Can Use Immediately
Visual tables, quick comparison charts, and simple conceptual maps to help you understand how to select, sequence, and layer systems to suit your goals.
 
 
Why This Book Matters
Most programming advice boils down to “pick one system and run it.” Real progress comes from understanding how different systems, methods, and tools interact - and using that understanding to build adaptable, athlete-specific plans.
This guide gives you the map. You decide the route.
 
 
This is the fifth instalment in the For Dummies series - following The Conjugate Method for Dummies, Commercial Gym Conjugate for Dummies, The Squat for Dummies, and more. It’s the perfect conceptual bridge between your practical programming and the systems that underpin it.