Popular fitness influencer Will Tennyson has launched a second YouTube channel, and he’s going back to basics.
No fancy edits, no over-the-top entertainment—just raw training knowledge.
In his first video on the new channel, Tennyson breaks down his current upper-lower split that has him lifting heavier than ever before.
The secret? A completely different approach to training intensity, recovery, and progressive overload.
Jump to:
- The Split That’s Making Him Stronger Than Ever
- Why Two Sets Are Enough (When You’re Lifting Heavy)
- Rest Periods: Take As Long As You Need
- Machines Over Free Weights for Maximum Output
- Progressive Overload: The Non-Negotiable Principle
- Sleep and Recovery: The Hidden Performance Multipliers
- Isolation Work: Three Sets, Shorter Rest
- Why Consistency Beats Equipment
- The Downside: Minimal Soreness
- Cardio and Core: Low-Intensity Extras
- Should You Try This Split?
- Final Thoughts: Strength Through Structure
The Split That’s Making Him Stronger Than Ever
Tennyson’s current routine is an upper-lower split hitting three upper body days and two lower body days per week. Each muscle group gets trained three times weekly, which he credits for his explosive strength gains.
This is probably the strongest I’ve ever been. And I think it is the slightly different approach I’ve had to my training.
Training from Dubai for three weeks straight with optimal sleep and zero “detrimental activities” has allowed him to see just how effective the program truly is.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Why Two Sets Are Enough (When You’re Lifting Heavy)
One aspect of Tennyson’s program that surprises followers: only two working sets for major compound movements. Many assume this is a mistake, but he’s adamant it’s intentional.
When you get to the point where you’re lifting pretty serious amount of weight, two sets is enough. If I was to do a third set on this, my performance is not going to beat set one and set two.
His philosophy? Don’t treat your first set as a warm-up. Come in fully prepared and give maximum effort from rep one. That’s when strength peaks.
For his chest press, Tennyson loaded up 150 kg (330 lbs) and managed six reps—just one shy of his target, but still progress from the previous week’s 140 kg.
Rest Periods: Take As Long As You Need
Between those two brutal working sets, Tennyson doesn’t rush recovery.
That rest period in between set one and two can be as long as you want. When I’m ready to go again, I go again.
He waits until his heart rate drops and he feels mentally prepared to match—or beat—the previous set’s intensity. No arbitrary two-minute timers here.
This approach works especially well for heavy compound lifts where central nervous system fatigue plays a major role.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Machines Over Free Weights for Maximum Output
Another controversial choice: Tennyson prioritizes machine-based exercises throughout his split.
His reasoning is simple. Machines provide stability, eliminate the need for balance, and allow lifters to generate maximum force without worrying about controlling wobbling dumbbells.
Because I want you to really push your strength and lift as heavy as possible, they can only go in one direction. So that way you can really generate as much force as possible from all your muscle fibers to just push the weight.
For incline chest press, he uses a Smith machine, moving 115 kg for multiple sets. He notes that injury risk is lower, setup is faster, and progressive overload becomes easier to track.
Progressive Overload: The Non-Negotiable Principle
Tennyson is religious about tracking every workout. He reviews previous week’s numbers before every session and aims to either add weight or reps.
If I hadn’t tracked what I done the previous week, I would have just randomly put the pin in something that felt okay. And I don’t think I really would have pushed myself as much.
He emphasizes that progressive overload is the number one contributor to muscle and strength gains. Without data, you’re guessing. With tracking, you’re engineering progress.
On lateral raises, he jumped from 68 kg to over 70 kg using small 2.3 kg increments—hitting nine reps with ease because he knew exactly what he needed to beat.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Sleep and Recovery: The Hidden Performance Multipliers
Tennyson noticed a direct correlation between sleep quality and strength output. After a night with just over six hours of sleep, his incline press suffered.
Sometimes hitting that new PR with an extra 5 or 10 kg is heavily dependent upon how good your sleep was. If I have 8 hours sleep, I probably would have got an extra two reps out on that.
He’s also acutely aware of lifestyle factors. One “alcohol, drug-fueled 3-day bender” could undo weeks of progress—a reality that keeps him disciplined during training phases.
Isolation Work: Three Sets, Shorter Rest
Once Tennyson moves past compound lifts, he shifts gears. Isolation exercises get three sets instead of two, with slightly shorter rest periods.
Exercises like pec deck flyes, cable curls, and tricep extensions fall into this category. Since they don’t tax the nervous system as heavily, recovery happens faster.
He also adds one bicep and one tricep exercise per upper session. While that might seem minimal, hitting arms three times per week from a fresh state adds up quickly.
Every time we’re doing a bicep, we’re doing it from fresh, minimal fatigue. So strength and performance should be maximum. And then you’re basically multiplying that by three.
Why Consistency Beats Equipment
Tennyson stresses the importance of using the same machines every week. Even two pec deck machines from different brands can have wildly different resistance curves and weight stacks.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Switching machines makes tracking impossible. Stick with what you started, compare apples to apples, and watch progress unfold.
The Downside: Minimal Soreness
One unexpected result of the upper-lower split? Tennyson rarely feels sore after upper body sessions.
Because no single muscle group is hammered with excessive volume, recovery is faster. He could train upper body again the next day without issue.
While some lifters chase soreness as a sign of a good workout, Tennyson views this as a pro—it means he’s recovering efficiently and can maintain high frequency.
Cardio and Core: Low-Intensity Extras
Tennyson trains five days per week, leaving two rest days. But “rest” doesn’t mean doing nothing.
On off days, he incorporates low-intensity steady-state cardio—usually 30 to 40 minutes of walking—and throws in two to three core exercises when he’s mentally fresh.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
He avoids tacking core work onto the end of training sessions when fatigue and focus are already depleted. Instead, he dedicates a separate short session at home.
However, training in Dubai during peak summer has tanked his step count. Tennyson admits his daily steps have dropped to as low as 2,000—a sharp contrast to the 15,000 he averaged during travel months.
Should You Try This Split?
Tennyson acknowledges the upper-lower split isn’t for everyone. Some lifters prefer the focus and pump of dedicated push-pull-legs routines.
But he urges viewers to experiment before dismissing it.
The best things which I have learned have come from just experimenting and trying different things and seeing how my body has responded.
Pros of the split include:
- High frequency: Each muscle group trained three times per week
- Faster recovery: No single muscle gets destroyed
- Strength gains: Fresh performance on every exercise
- Time efficiency: Sessions average 55 minutes to 1 hour
Cons include:
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
- Less muscle-specific pump: You’re not annihilating one area
- Mental adjustment: Hitting five muscle groups per session feels scattered at first
Final Thoughts: Strength Through Structure
Tennyson’s new channel is a refreshing return to no-nonsense fitness content. His upper-lower split showcases how strategic programming, relentless tracking, and intelligent recovery can lead to strength PRs without spending hours in the gym.
Whether you adopt his exact routine or just borrow a few principles—like taking longer rest periods, using machines strategically, or logging every rep—there’s real value in his approach.
As Tennyson heads into his final two weeks of the program before a travel-heavy August, he’s proof that consistency, structure, and smart training beats flashy workouts every time.
