My first meet as a professional powerlifter was Boss of Bosses 3, held by Dan Green and Animal Pak in Mountain View, California. It was a hugely important meet to me for personal reasons: besides being my ... Continue Reading
Glute Bridge vs Hip Thrust
Glute training is a key for increasing strength and power in movements like squats, deadlifts, sprinting, and the Olympic lifts. Strength, power, and fitness athletes can perform glute/hip specific ... Continue Reading
Nike Metcon 4 Vs. Nike Free x Metcon — What’s the Difference?
So far, 2018 has been a great year for cross-training shoes with two new releases from Nike alone. In late December and early January we had the release of the Nike Metcon 4, then on April 1st we had the ... Continue Reading
Box Squat vs Regular Squat – Which Is Best for Your Goals?
In this article we will compare the training outcomes between the box squat vs the regular squat, both of which are widely used throughout strength, power, and fitness sports training. In the sections ... Continue Reading
The Nutritional Differences Between Fresh and Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
Vegetables and fruits are, or at least should be, staples in every strength athlete's diet. This isn't an article intended to persuade you to eat more produce; if you want that you can visit any generic ... Continue Reading
EMG Differences Between the Deadlift, Hex Bar Deadlift, and Barbell Hip Thrust
If deadlifts, hex bar deadlifts, and hip thrusts frequent your workout program, then we have some good news. A recently published study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning explored the ... Continue Reading
Nike Metcon 4 Vs. Nike Metcon DSX Flyknit 2
In December 2017, Nike dropped two cross training shoes that were updated versions of their current models. These updated cross training models included the Nike Metcon 4 and the Nike DSX Flyknit 2. The ... Continue Reading
No Difference Between Low-Carb and Low-Fat For Fat Loss, Says Gigantic New Study
A brand new study is hoping to answer some controversial questions regarding the eternal “low carb vs. low fat” debate. In fact, they’re probably the stickiest questions: is one better for weight loss, fat ... Continue Reading
Grass-Fed Beef Vs. Grain-Fed Beef: Is One Healthier?
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
Butterfly Pull-Ups vs Regular Pull-Ups – Which One Should You Be Doing?
In this article we will discuss two pull-up variations (the butterfly pull-up vs the regular pull-up) to determine which one is best for overall strength, muscle development, and gymnastic and functional ... Continue Reading
Kipping Pull-Ups vs Strict Pull-Ups
In an earlier article we discussed the kipping pull-up and some of the exercises from which it is derived. The strict pull-up is one of these variations that is the basis for all kipping pull-ups, often ... Continue Reading
Flat Vs. Heeled Lifting Shoes for Squatting: Choosing What’s Best For You
Fun fact: I own almost two dozen pairs of lifting shoes. In fact, you might say I’m a bit of an expert on the subject – and I get a lot of questions about how I choose which pair to wear when I lift. If ... Continue Reading
Jumping Pull-Ups vs Bands vs Ring Rows: Which Is Best for Your Goals?
In this article we will compare three (3) pull-up regressions (jumping pull-ups, banded pull-ups, and ring rows) to determine which one is best for your muscle development, upper body strength, and ... Continue Reading
Nike Metcon 4 Vs. Reebok CrossFit Nano 8 Flexweave
Cross training shoes are designed to be versatile in a variety of environments, and they continue to be developed to further match a strength athlete's needs. These needs include things like breathability, ... Continue Reading
Nike Romaleos 3s Vs. Adidas AdiPower
Nike versus Adidas, a common battle you hear when it comes to shoes worn on a day-to-day basis, and on the platform. Both companies have been making weightlifting shoes for quite some time, and both ... Continue Reading
Hanging Knee Raises vs Leg Raises
In this article we will compare and contrast the hanging knee raise vs the leg raise. Both of the movements offer core development and foundational skill sets for more advanced gymnastics and bodyweight ... Continue Reading
Adidas AdiPower Vs. Adidas Powerlift 3.1
When it comes to weightlifting shoes Adidas is one of the bigger brand names you'll see athletes reach for. They have multiple models on the market and frequently update their shoe's colorways and improve ... Continue Reading
Muscle Clean vs Power Clean
The muscle clean and the power clean are clean variations to help lifters increase strength, power, and performance in the pull. Both movements can be used by nearly any level lifter to increase technique, ... Continue Reading
Glute Ham Raises vs Hyperextension
The glute ham raise and the hypertension are two movements seen throughout accessory training segments in most powerlifting, weightlifting, functional fitness, and strongman programs. While these two ... Continue Reading
Glute Ham Raise vs Back Extension
In this article we discuss the differences and training considerations between glute ham raises vs back extensions. Strength, power, and fitness athletes/coaches should become aware of the subtle yet ... Continue Reading
Rack Pulls vs Rows – Which Is Best for Strength?
Two movements that are know to develop back strength, raw muscle, and increase pulling performance are the rack pull and the row. While they do attack similar muscle groups, there are some distinct ... Continue Reading
Bowflex PR3000 VS. Bowflex Blaze
Bowflex home gyms can be a useful tool for a variety of gym-goers and fitness enthusiasts. They’re a great way to achieve a workout from the comfort of one’s own home, or work towards maintaining current ... Continue Reading
Bowflex PR1000 Vs. Bowflex Blaze
Bowflex home gyms are designed to equip gym-goers with versatility. They provide accommodated resistance with their signature power rods, which are useful for keeping the weight of their machines ... Continue Reading
Bowflex PR1000 Vs Bowflex PR3000
Bowflex is a brand that creates multiple styles of home gym equipment, which can support various levels of fitness. Since their start, Bowflex's focus has been providing versatile pieces of equipment that ... Continue Reading