1. What Is GPP?
General Physical Preparedness. This was a system first coined in Russian physical training, it was
based on highly scientific and elaborate training programmes which creates phenomenal athletes.
The basic findings were that huge athletic benefit was found in athletes performing all different
types of tasks prior to focusing on their sport or their specific physical preparedness, SPP.
GPP works to develop aspects of your athletic performance that are often neglected in your main
training focus. For example a powerlifter’s SPP will not develop much of an aerobic base therefore
adding in some aerobic work for example sled pushes, heavy drags, loaded carries etc would
improve their aerobic base. A marathon runner typically have low strength bases therefore
including low rep, high weight strength work will improve their GPP.
Assistance work vs GPP
Lets not get confused between accessory work and GPP. A weightlifter doing back squats isn't
GPP. A strongman doing bicep curls isn't GPP. These are all examples of assistance work, they
are all specifically adding to your sport or chosen discipline. They way to differentiate between the
two is to analyse the current SPP training programme and then adding in areas that that training
programme misses out.
80/20 Rule
If you have a specific sport and discipline that you play then I personally sit in the 80/20 camp. That
is 80% of your time spent on GPP and 20% of your time spent on SPP. For example if you are
peaking for a competition that is 12 weeks away spend 8 weeks working on your GPP and the final
two 2 weeks solely focused on your SPP before your taper. The exciting area for me is when you
have no requirement for peaking
General Application
I specialise and focus on none peaking athleticism. The athletes I work with have to maintain a
year long high athletic ability. This is fun because we get to slowly and steadily improve all areas of
performance at all times of the year. This is none phasic periodisation and instead is an undulating

2. system approach. Each session will have a specific focus but over a week or 10 day period we will
attack all energy systems, improve power, strength, muscle growth, mobility, agility etc.
GPP can be applied in any and all applications. It does require some thought, planning and cant be
a “shit at the wall” approach. It cant be 3 months in between squat sessions, it cant be snatch
everyday for a month. There needs to be some rhyme and reason and it needs to be incrementally
progressive. Most of all it needs to be fun.
Coach,
Ben Newton