There's the idea of a “true bodybuilder gym.” They are known for having it all: a bajillion machines, handles, gadgets, weights that run heavy, and tons and tons of space to strut, pose, and generally take ... Continue Reading
Relive the 10 Most Iconic Moments From Dubai Fitness Championship History
Since 2012, a small local competition has consistently grown to become one of the premiere fitness competitions in the world. This year in 2022, the Dubai Fitness Championship (DFC) celebrates its tenth ... Continue Reading
2022 Rogue Invitational CrossFit Women’s Predictions
Earlier, we previewed the women’s CrossFit field as a whole for the 2022 Rogue Invitational. As the competition is drawing nearer, it’s time to take a stab at predicting the eventual finish. We'll also ... Continue Reading
Predicting the 2022 Rogue Invitational CrossFit Programming
The fourth iteration of the Rogue Invitational is set to take place October 28-30 at the Dell Diamond stadium in Round Rock, Texas. It’ll feature elite CrossFit athletes like Justin Medeiros, Laura ... Continue Reading
2022 World’s Strongest Man Final Predictions
The 2022 World's Strongest Man (WSM) Final roster was set following the third day of the Qualifying stage. My name is Phil Blechman, and I'm on the ground in Sacramento, CA, covering the 2022 WSM ... Continue Reading
2022 World’s Strongest Man — Group Stage Predictions
The groups for the 2022 World's Strongman Man (WSM) Qualifying Groups have been announced, and speculation about which strongmen will earn their way to the Final is underway. The six strongmen in each of ... Continue Reading
Encanto’s Luisa Madrigal is the Super-Jacked Disney Hero We All Wanted
In Nov. 2021, Disney's Encanto hit theaters. On Christmas Eve, it hit the internet as a sensation after its release on the streaming platform Disney Plus. While many of the songs and storylines ... Continue Reading
Why You Need Self-Doubt in Training (and How to Use It)
As a mindset coach many athletes come to me with the question, “How do I get rid of self-doubt?” Athletes asking this question are usually under the assumption that self-doubt is negative, when self-doubt ... Continue Reading
5 Hilarious (And Unlikely) Things We’d Love to See at the 2021 CrossFit Games
The 2021 NOBULL CrossFit Games are currently underway. There seem to be some universal expectations: the apocalypse needs to occur for reigning four-time Fittest Woman on Earth®, Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr, to ... Continue Reading
How Self-Talk Can Improve (or Hurt) Training and Athletic Performance
“Grace” is one of those workouts that has historically freaked me out: 30 clean & jerks for time is a simple workout (and I love weightlifting), but like many CrossFitters, I used to find benchmark ... Continue Reading
Live From the Field — 2021 World’s Strongest Man Finals Predictions
Phil Blechman here. You might recognize my face from the little circle under the title of many articles on BarBend, as one person in the crowd at the 2021 World's Strongest Man (WSM) contest did (thanks ... Continue Reading
4 Things You Can’t Learn From Your Coaching Certification
Athletic coaching is not a particularly lucrative profession — most of the time, people teach out of passion towards the activity or sport in question. That kind of dedication, coupled with the knowledge ... Continue Reading
What It Takes to Coach a CrossFit Games Athlete
I first met Kari Pearce in early 2015. One of my star athletes at the time (Lindsay Bourdon), who I coached in the National Pro Grid League (NPGL), was a teammate of Kari’s on the University of Michigan ... Continue Reading
New Poll Shows 46% Would Support Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Presidential Bid
If former professional wrestling superstar turned silver-screen action hero, Titan Games host, and tequila entrepreneur Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson ran for President of the United States (POTUS) in ... Continue Reading
5 Big Myths People Believe About CrossFit Games Athletes
CrossFit is for everyone — and yes, I do mean everyone. It looks intimidating from the outside, but at heart, we’re just a group of people who like to learn new skills and get sweaty in under an hour. From ... Continue Reading
I Won An Olympic Weightlifting Medal At 17. Here’s What The Games Mean to Me
The Olympics kicked off in Atlanta in 1996, the year I started to lift weights. At the time, I didn't think too much about the significance, and I didn't pay attention to that year's weightlifting ... Continue Reading
Is Social Media Ruining Your Progress in the Gym?
The potential pitfalls of social media use have been well-documented, from increasing our negative body image, reducing the quality and quantity of our sleep, and undermining our mental health. These ... Continue Reading
I’m a Former CrossFit Games Athlete and Champion. Transitioning to “Normal” Fitness Wasn’t Easy
Exercise is something we have been told is important for a healthy lifestyle. Most people who exercise do it something like 2-5 days a week, an hour or so at a time, switching up their routines based on ... Continue Reading
4 Things Gym Owners Can Do to Rebound After COVID-19
As COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the world, many of us in the fitness industry see a light at the end of the tunnel. However, if we expect to return to running a fitness business exactly as we did in ... Continue Reading
Why Your Gym Is Stuck At 150 Members
Lots of functional fitness gyms get stuck at the mythical 150 member mark and can't break past it. Why is this? If you've spent any time watching TED Talks or reading blog posts from thought leaders, ... Continue Reading
How I Address Back Pain After Heavy Deadlifting & Squatting
There is rarely a strength athlete who has not experienced back pain at one point in their career. When it hits the pain can be so devastating, bending forward to pick a pencil off the ground can feel like ... Continue Reading
What Strongman Will Look Like in 2025 (and Beyond)
The first games held by our hunter gatherer relatives would have been simple by today's standards. Contests of speed, strength, and agility were contested by distance markers like “Race you to that tree ... Continue Reading
“Strong Like Her” Celebrates the Game-Changing Women in Sports
Strong Like Her: A Celebration of Rule Breakers, History Makers, and Unstoppable Athletes shines a light on history’s rule breakers. From the Greek mother who disguised herself as a male trainer and ... Continue Reading
CrossFit’s Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity: Inclusion
The close of the 2020 CrossFit Games seemed like the perfect time to write a piece capturing the tumultuousness of the year for the CrossFit brand and to cast a hopeful light on 2021. After all, despite a ... Continue Reading