5 days · 60 min

6 day workout split

Six training days only work when two of them are easy on purpose. This block runs five lifting sessions plus one conditioning day, with the volume spread so nothing collides.

Get this plan built around me

A six-day week is the most volume most people can recover from, and the easiest schedule to ruin. The failure mode is always the same: six hard days, no easy day, and by week three every session is a slow grind at the same weights.

This block writes five distinct lifting sessions — lower, upper push, lower posterior, upper pull, and a full-body power day — then a sixth day of low-intensity conditioning and mobility that pays back the week instead of taxing it.

The plan shown below is the five-day lifting engine output. Day six is fixed: 30–40 minutes of easy aerobic work, carries and mobility, at a pace where you can hold a conversation.

Who it's for

  • Trained lifters already handling four or five sessions a week
  • Athletes in the off-season who want maximum muscle and work capacity
  • Anyone with short daily windows rather than a few long ones

How the block progresses

The exercises barely change across the 4 weeks. What changes is the load, the rep target and the volume — one variable at a time, so you always know what moved.

  1. Week 1: Anchor the loads

    Every set finishes with two reps in reserve. Record the numbers — the whole block is built off week one.

  2. Week 2: Add load to the openers

    Add the smallest increment to the first lift in each session. Accessories stay identical.

  3. Week 3: Peak volume

    One extra set on two accessories per session. This is the week the easy day earns its place.

  4. Week 4: Deload and retest

    Drop to two sets everywhere, keep the loads, and retest the two priority lifts at the end of the week.

The full 4-week block, week by week

Every session of every week, straight out of the live program engine for a 5-day, 60-minute setup — sets, reps, rest and the cue that matters.

Week 1 — Anchor the loads

Every set finishes with two reps in reserve. Record the numbers — the whole block is built off week one.

Day 1: Lower Strength

Squat, hinge, single leg · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

  • Box Jump3 × 8-10

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 90s rest

Day 2: Upper Strength

Press, pull, torso · 60 min

  • Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest

  • Lat Pulldown3 × 8-10

    Pull the bar to the collarbone with the elbows, not the hands. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 3: Speed & Power

Jumps, sprints, elastic strength · 60 min

  • Box Jump4 × 5

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 150s rest

  • Build to roughly 85 percent. Full recovery between reps — speed work is not conditioning. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 4: Full Body

Total body strength · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 5: Conditioning

Intervals and work capacity · 60 min

  • Hard effort, then true easy. The recovery half is part of the workout. · 150s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • Back Squat3 × 8-10

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 90s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Week 2 — Add load to the openers

Add the smallest increment to the first lift in each session. Accessories stay identical.

Day 1: Lower Strength

Squat, hinge, single leg · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

  • Box Jump3 × 8-10

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 90s rest

Day 2: Upper Strength

Press, pull, torso · 60 min

  • Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest

  • Lat Pulldown3 × 8-10

    Pull the bar to the collarbone with the elbows, not the hands. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 3: Speed & Power

Jumps, sprints, elastic strength · 60 min

  • Box Jump4 × 5

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 150s rest

  • Build to roughly 85 percent. Full recovery between reps — speed work is not conditioning. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 4: Full Body

Total body strength · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 5: Conditioning

Intervals and work capacity · 60 min

  • Hard effort, then true easy. The recovery half is part of the workout. · 150s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • Back Squat3 × 8-10

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 90s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Week 3 — Peak volume

One extra set on two accessories per session. This is the week the easy day earns its place.

Day 1: Lower Strength

Squat, hinge, single leg · 60 min

  • Back Squat4 × 3-5

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

  • Box Jump3 × 8-10

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 90s rest

Day 2: Upper Strength

Press, pull, torso · 60 min

  • Bench Press4 × 3-5

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest

  • Lat Pulldown3 × 8-10

    Pull the bar to the collarbone with the elbows, not the hands. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 3: Speed & Power

Jumps, sprints, elastic strength · 60 min

  • Box Jump4 × 3-5

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 150s rest

  • Build to roughly 85 percent. Full recovery between reps — speed work is not conditioning. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 4: Full Body

Total body strength · 60 min

  • Back Squat4 × 3-5

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 5: Conditioning

Intervals and work capacity · 60 min

  • Hard effort, then true easy. The recovery half is part of the workout. · 150s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • Back Squat3 × 8-10

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 90s rest

  • Bench Press3 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Week 4 — Deload and retest

Drop to two sets everywhere, keep the loads, and retest the two priority lifts at the end of the week.

Day 1: Lower Strength (Deload)

Squat, hinge, single leg · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug2 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

  • Box Jump2 × 8-10

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 90s rest

Day 2: Upper Strength (Deload)

Press, pull, torso · 60 min

  • Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 150s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Elbows at roughly 45 degrees. Touch, pause, press. · 90s rest

  • Lat Pulldown2 × 8-10

    Pull the bar to the collarbone with the elbows, not the hands. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug2 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 3: Speed & Power (Deload)

Jumps, sprints, elastic strength · 60 min

  • Box Jump3 × 5

    Land quiet and absorbed. Step down every rep — the jump is the training, not the landing. · 150s rest

  • Build to roughly 85 percent. Full recovery between reps — speed work is not conditioning. · 90s rest

  • Front shin vertical, back knee straight down. This is the single-leg base everything else sits on. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug2 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 4: Full Body (Deload)

Total body strength · 60 min

  • Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 150s rest

  • Bench Press2 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • Start from a dead hang, lead with the chest, control the way down. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug2 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Day 5: Conditioning (Deload)

Intervals and work capacity · 60 min

  • Hard effort, then true easy. The recovery half is part of the workout. · 150s rest

  • Tall ribcage, quiet steps. Grip fails before posture does — stop when posture goes. · 90s rest

  • Back Squat2 × 8-10

    Brace before you unrack. Knees track over mid-foot, chest stays tall out of the hole. · 90s rest

  • Bench Press2 × 8-10

    Shoulder blades pinned to the bench. Bar path finishes over the shoulders, not the throat. · 90s rest

  • Dead Bug2 × 8-10

    Low back stays flat on the floor the entire set. Exhale as you extend. · 90s rest

  • Pull the slack out of the bar before you pull the floor. Hips and chest rise together. · 90s rest

  • 90/90 to half-kneeling to a deep lunge. Breathe at every position. · 90s rest

Key exercises in this plan

Every lift week one uses, with the coaching cue and the swaps we allow when equipment or a cranky joint gets in the way.

Lat Pulldown

pull · machines, bands

Pull the bar to the collarbone with the elbows, not the hands.

Appears in: Day 2: Upper Strength

Swap for: Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up, Single-Arm Dumbbell Row

Bike / Rower Intervals

conditioning · machines, bodyweight

Hard effort, then true easy. The recovery half is part of the workout.

Appears in: Day 5: Conditioning

Swap for: Acceleration Runs (20 yd), Loaded Carry Medley

How to swap an exercise

Missing kit, a busy rack or a joint that argues with a lift are all fine reasons to substitute. These four rules keep the block intact when you do.

Protect the lower-body spacing

Keep at least 48 hours between the two lower days. Reorder upper days freely.

Trade volume, not frequency

If you are beaten up, cut a set from every session before you cut a day. Frequency is what makes this split work.

Conditioning stays easy

Swap the bike for a walk, row or swim. Do not swap it for intervals — that turns six days into six hard days.

Build your own version

Change the goal, schedule, session length or equipment and week one rebuilds instantly — this is the same engine that writes your full program.

Goal
Days
Time
Kit

Lower Strength

60 min
  • Back Squat4 × 5
  • Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
  • Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat3 × 8-10
  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10
  • Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
  • Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10
  • Box Jump3 × 8-10

Upper Strength

60 min
  • Bench Press4 × 5
  • Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
  • Dumbbell Bench Press3 × 8-10
  • Lat Pulldown3 × 8-10
  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10
  • Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
  • Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10

Speed & Power

60 min
  • Box Jump4 × 5
  • Acceleration Runs (20 yd)3 × 3 x 30s
  • Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat3 × 8-10
  • Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10
  • Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
  • Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10

Full Body

60 min
  • Back Squat4 × 5
  • Bench Press3 × 8-10
  • Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
  • Pull-Up / Assisted Pull-Up3 × 8-10
  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10
  • Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
  • Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10

Conditioning

60 min
  • Bike / Rower Intervals4 × 4 x 30s
  • Loaded Carry Medley3 × 8-10
  • Back Squat3 × 8-10
  • Bench Press3 × 8-10
  • Dead Bug3 × 8-10
  • Trap Bar / Conventional Deadlift3 × 8-10
  • Hip Mobility Flow3 × 8-10

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How to run it

One easy day is not optional

The sixth day is what makes six days possible. Zero heavy lifting, no interval work — just steady aerobic work, carries and mobility.

Two sessions can share a day

If a day disappears, stack the two lightest sessions rather than deleting one. Never stack the two lower-body days.

Sleep is part of the program

At six days a week, under seven hours of sleep will cap progress before your training does. If sleep drops for a week, run five days.

Questions