reps in reserve

Intermediate ⚽ Sports / Fitness

Definition

A method of quantifying training intensity by estimating how many more repetitions you could complete before failure, abbreviated as RIR. For people who think RPE isn't confusing enough.

Example Usage

I stopped at 8 reps with 2 RIR, meaning I could have done 10 total.

Origin

Developed by Dr. Mike Tuchscherer in the 2000s as part of his Reactive Training Systems methodology.

Fun Fact

Studies show that lifters are generally terrible at estimating RIR until they have at least 6 months of training experience.

Source: Strength training and powerlifting terminology

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