Plyometric and regular push-ups are very established and effective for increasing strength, power, and fitness, for nearly every athlete and fitness level. In the below sections we discuss how to perform ... Continue Reading
Ricky Garard Stripped of CrossFit Games Medal After Banned Substance Test
In a first-of-its-kind situation in CrossFit Games history, an Individual podium finisher has been disqualified and will lose his placement and prize money due to a positive test for banned substances ... Continue Reading
Check Out Denis Ulanov’s 225kg Clean & Jerk In Training
Kazakhstan's 85kg weightlifter Denis Ulanov just put up some huge weight in training. Earlier today, he posted a relatively smooth video of a 225kg clean & jerk. This lift surpasses the current 85kg ... Continue Reading
How to Make Strongman Your Day Job
Nearly everyone who has been bitten by the weightlifting bug has had the dream of making a living from it. Strongman athletes are no different. The desire to wake up and train, eat right and train some ... Continue Reading
4 Quick Tips to Improve Your Deadlift Lockout
Knees strong, palms are chalky. You wrap your fingers around the barbell at your feet, flatten your back, activate your lats, core, and glutes, and push your feet into the ground as you heave the weight ... Continue Reading
Infographic: The Greatest Wilks Scores of All Time
In powerlifting, the same weight can mean different things. When a 200-pound athlete and a 400-pound athlete both max their deadlift at 500 pounds, it’s generally understood that the 200-pound athlete ... Continue Reading
Plyometric Push-Up Variations
In recent articles I discussed the plyometric push-up, a very challenging yet beneficial plyometric-based upper body exercise to help all level lifters and athletes increase power output, enhance muscle ... Continue Reading
North Korea Will No Longer Host the 2018 IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships
As the International Weightlifting Federation’s Executive Board meeting came to a close, an announcement was made that North Korea will no longer host the 2018 Junior World Weightlifting Championships. ... Continue Reading
IWF Clean Sport Commission Plans to Appoint Independent Testing Authority
On September 30th, the IWF confirmed the one-year bans presented to the national weightlifting bodies of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. This news ... Continue Reading
Working Out vs. Training vs. Movement: What’s the Difference?
“How often do you work out?” is easily one of the most common questions I get from people, both on the internet and in person. My response to this question is, “I never work out; I train and I move.” In my ... Continue Reading
Marijuana and Lifting Weights: What the Science Suggests
As of June 30, 2021, there are 19 states in the US where recreational marijuana, aka cannabis, is legal. Medicinal marijuana or CBD oil is legal in an additional 28 states. According to a 2019 National ... Continue Reading
IWF Upholds One-Year Bans for China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and More
In a statement published on September 30th, the International Weightlifting Federation has confirmed the national weightliftings bodies of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Russia, ... Continue Reading
Can Sex Impact Your Lifting, Sports Performance, and Gains?
"Women weaken legs." — Micky, from the original Rocky movie The above quote comes from the original Rocky movie. I was watching it last night, and it got me thinking: Is Micky right? Could sex ... Continue Reading
Daniella Melo Breaks Her Squat World Record In Training
Daniella Melo is crushing her training, as she continues on her path to USAPL Raw Nationals beginning October 10th. For those unaware, Melo competes in the women's 84kg weight class and currently holds the ... Continue Reading
Here Are the Dates and Qualifying Totals for the 2018 American Open Series
USA Weightlifting has just released a ton of information about the 2018 American Open Series. What’s the American Open Series, you ask? Why, it’s a series of three weightlifting events that lead up to the ... Continue Reading
Improved Posture for Bigger Lifts and Better Exercise
Many people — athletes or not — spend much of their days sitting at a desk, hunched over a computer for their jobs. Sitting all day like this might pay the bills, but it often comes at an additional cost: ... Continue Reading
Nordic Lifting Gloves Review
Lifting gloves are a piece of supportive strength equipment that protects the hand, while also slightly aiding an athlete's grip. They can be used by a wide variety of athletes for multiple types of ... Continue Reading
Squatting Face Pull – Exercise Demo and Benefits
In an earlier article we discussed the face pull and all the wonderful benefits it has to offer for strength, power, and fitness athletes, ranging from shoulder injury prevention, increased upper back ... Continue Reading
The “Do”s and “Don’t”s of Critiquing a Stranger’s Lifting Form In the Gym
Editors note: This article is an op-ed. The views expressed herein and in the video are the authors and don’t necessarily reflect the views of BarBend. Claims, assertions, opinions, and quotes have been ... Continue Reading
Kinesiology Taping the Rotator Cuff
Kinesiology tape is used by many athletes to provide themselves with the perception of extra support and to assist with acute pain in various areas on the body. Tape's main purpose is to provide the body ... Continue Reading
Janae Kroc Documentary Promises a Look at Life As a Transgender Powerlifter
“For as far back as I can remember, I've had two desires: to be strong and to be a woman.” The trailer for a documentary about Janae “Kroc” Kroczaleski just hit the internet, and it promises an in-depth ... Continue Reading
Jay Robb’s Grass-Fed Whey Protein Review — Is This rBGH-free?
Jay Robb’s Grass-Fed Whey is the most-reviewed grass fed whey protein on Amazon. It's a whey isolate, meaning that it's very low in fat and carbs, and it's usually made from cows that aren't ... Continue Reading
Banded Face Pull Alternatives
Banded face pulls are a great exercise to increase posterior shoulder strength, scapular stability, and enhance external rotation, all of which are necessary for proper shoulder performance for strength, ... Continue Reading
Natrogix PrimeBuild Best BCAA Review — Do You Need Creatine?
Natrogix is a Wyoming-based supplement that makes products that are, in their words, "nourishment as nature intended." While their product line is full of alternative health items like cinnamon pills and ... Continue Reading