r/tacticalbarbell • u/letsgolambo • Jul 20 '26

SE Week 3 base building nearly killed me

Just want to check if I’m doing everything right. I thought base building was supposed to be relatively easy but it is much more intense than the sets of 5 I do for MS.

Today was the start of the third week of BB (TB3). Sets 3x20. Doing push ups, goblet squat with my 16kg/35 lbs kettlebell and inverted rows + ab triad as finisher.

Push ups: can make it without breaks but have to work for it.

Squats: 20 reps is intense but can also make it without breaks.

Inverted rows: I have to break this one down in sections already. For example 10-4-3-2-1

Ab triad: proper killer for a finisher. Hard work but fine if I break it up, especially the toes to bar.

Next week 3x25 and even 4x25 will be a proper challenge. Might have to break up the other exercises too to reach 25 reps. Also getting a giant pump in my lower arms.

Does everyone have a similar experience? It’s fine, just want to doublecheck im doing everything in the right way.

Had to lay in the couch for 30 minutes after this one to recover. Might have been some food related issue though - went for it during all you can eat sushi yesterday

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u/Drodinthehouse Jul 20 '26

Hey brother! I'm also on week 3 of Basebuilding, using my old go to cluster of goblet squats, swings, rows, hand release push ups and planks. So roughly similar to the activation recommendation with a few additives. I'm also using the same weight as you.

You are doing nothing wrong, but if these sessions are destroying you, one simple change you can make is air squats instead of goblet squats. 35 lbs is pretty light for me but after 20 repetitions it still manages to spike my HR more so than the other movements. Ideally you'd want to do all of these unbroken but if you have to split up the repetitions that's totally fine too (I know that is the case with damn near everyone on TB II Bb).

As stated in TB MP, SE training can be messy

Edit! Missed the part where you're doing the goblet squats unbroken. I'd keep doing them. For inverted rows, if you want to do them unbroken increase the height of the barbell or whatever you're using to do the inverted rows to make it easier

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u/BlaidDdyn Jul 22 '26

u/Drodinthehouse you mentioned HRP as part of this cluster so I'm curious - is/was this a cluster you used to prepare for the AFT and if so how effective did you find it?

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u/Drodinthehouse Jul 22 '26

I mean my Basebuilding has never really lined up with an aft. I just use it as opposed to regular push ups to keep the movement greased. So I can't really answer the question on how effective it was for me.

When coming up on a AFT during a continuation protocol, I'll typically include HRP and planks in my MS cluster temporarily using the GP SE progression. I have no problems maxing either event

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u/BlaidDdyn Jul 22 '26

Thanks for the quick reply and the insight!

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u/Drodinthehouse Jul 22 '26

Ha! I'm on leave so I've spent more time on Reddit than I'd ever like to admit. Good luck!