Progress in the gym is much like the rest of life. It’s never in a straight line. There are times when you’re adding weight, adding reps, and making rapid gains. Then, the time comes when you and the ... Continue Reading
Bodybuilder and Powerlifter Bev Francis Was a Game-Changing Athlete
“I wanted to show the world that a woman could be strong.” (1) In November 2021, 66-year-old Bev Francis returned to powerlifting after a 36-year hiatus. Totaling 274.8 kilograms (606 pounds) and ... Continue Reading
5 Benefits of the Hook Grip
When you’re Olympic lifting, one of the last things you want to worry about is the security of your grip. There are several different types of grips, like the overhand, underhand, and mixed. A style that’s ... Continue Reading
The Best Strength Athletes in 2021
Any athlete who has the dedication and chutzpah to compete deserves a round of applause. Preparing for any strength or physique competition takes months of rigorous training and calculated dieting. Then, ... Continue Reading
How Chris Bumstead Bounces Back in the Gym After Recovering From COVID-19
The three-time Classic Physique Olympia champion, Chris Bumstead, is a bit behind this off-season compared to where he was a year prior. According to a video posted to his YouTube channel on Jan. 5, 2022, ... Continue Reading
A Look Back at Tiny Meeker’s New All-Time World Record Bench Press of 1,125 Pounds
Superheavyweight powerlifter Tiny Meeker has gone where no other lifter in history has before. He advanced the equipped bench press world record to a staggering 510.29 kilograms (1,125 pounds). Meeker ... Continue Reading
What You Should Know About Drinking Coffee Before a Workout
Coffee, java, joe. It's one of the most popular drinks in the world and contains one of the most widely-used performance aids on the market — caffeine. Caffeine is often added to pre-workout supplements ... Continue Reading
Here’s the Leg Workout Brandon Curry Used to Grow for the 2021 Olympia
When the 2021 Olympia weekend began, many fans felt that defending champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay would easily defend his title. The package he presented in 2020 was too much for then-reigning ... Continue Reading
Brian Shaw’s New Strength Coach for the 2022 World’s Strongest Man Contest Is Joe Kenn
Four-time World's Strongest Man (WSM) Brian Shaw is again uniquely positioned for the 2022 strongman season. Although the official roster is not yet announced, Shaw will compete at the 2022 WSM contest — ... Continue Reading
The Resolutioner’s Guide to Gym Etiquette
Whether you’re a rank beginner or are comfortable with a barbell in your hands, public gyms can be intimidating places. There are plenty of rules — both spoken and unspoken — that govern good behavior in ... Continue Reading
The Best Strength Sports Moments in 2021
When it comes to memorable moments, titanic feats of strength, and highlight-reel-worthy events, 2021 was a bountiful harvest. Across strongman, bodybuilding, powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and ... Continue Reading
How to Use Forced Reps to Level Up Your Training
Even if you’ve never used the term, you’re probably familiar with forced reps. These attempts to move beyond strict form to build more muscle can have a bad reputation, but they’re not unequivocally ... Continue Reading
8 Powerbuilding Program Benefits: Strength, Muscle, Focus, and More
Sometimes you’re training mainly to get strong. Other times, your primary focus is on gaining muscle mass. And still, other times, you want the best of both worlds — to lift heavy and build muscle. Enter ... Continue Reading
Check Out Regan Grimes’ First Leg Day For His 2022 Arnold Classic Prep
The 2022 Arnold Classic is scheduled for March 3-6, 2022 at the Battelle Grand Ballroom of the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH. Fourteen bodybuilders will compete for the title vacated ... Continue Reading
Powerlifter Angel Flores Featured on Season 6 of Netflix’s “Queer Eye”
On Dec. 31, 2021, season six of the hit reality television show Queer Eye was released on the streaming platform Netflix. The show follows the "Fab Five," a team of five lifestyle specialists who spend a ... Continue Reading
How I Switched from Powerlifting to Bodybuilding (with Amanda Kohatsu)
Today I'm chatting with a repeat guest on the BarBend Podcast: Powerlifter turned (now professional) bodybuilding competitor Amanda Kohatsu. Amanda originally made a name for herself in strength through ... Continue Reading
2022 Britain’s Strongest Man Roster Released
The 2022 Britain’s Strongest Man (BSM) contest will take place on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England. The event's promoters, Giants Live, released the 11-man roster for ... Continue Reading
5-Minute Mobility Workouts for Beginners, Bodybuilders, Powerlifters, and More
You can program the best lifts in strength sports into your training regimen. But if you’re lacking a solid mobility routine, you’ll be leaving a lot of potential gains on the table. Whether you weave ... Continue Reading
Watch Regan Grimes’ High-Volume Chest Workout 12 Weeks Before the 2022 Arnold Classic
On Dec. 29, 2021, IFBB Pro League Men’s Open bodybuilder Regan Grimes posted a video on his YouTube channel taking fans through one of his chest workouts. At the time this video was released, Grimes had ... Continue Reading
Exclusive: Ronnie Coleman on Recent Weight Gain, Current Strength, and Health Progress
Fans of bodybuilding are familiar with the health struggles that have plagued eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman in recent years. Coleman has endured over a dozen surgeries to his neck and back and, as ... Continue Reading
Benefits of the Z Press: Stronger Lifts, Core Stability, Bigger Traps, and More
Looking for a new core-blasting upper body lift to weave into your training program? You don’t have to look any further than the Z press. Made popular by Strongman Žydrūnas Savickas, the Z press is a ... Continue Reading
The Incline Dumbbell Bench Press Will Unlock Your Muscle-Building Potential
The incline dumbbell bench press is prescribed in many training programs without a full appreciation of its versatility or value. Often glossed over as just an upper pec exercise, the incline dumbbell ... Continue Reading
The Events for the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic Have Been Announced
Many people who follow the sport of strongman have missed the Arnold Strongman Classic. Fans weren’t permitted to attend the 2020 contest, won by Hafthor Björnsson, due to Ohio officials placing ... Continue Reading
Arnold Schwarzenegger Donates 25 Homes to Unhoused Veterans During the Holidays
The holiday season can be difficult for many people, including veterans with no place to go. That’s something Arnold Schwarzenegger aimed to address a few days before Christmas when he donated 25 homes in ... Continue Reading