I thought I knew what I was doing, but my back told me different. That small tweak? It was later diagnosed as 3 herniated disks in my lower back. I was able to bluff my way through and continue to ... Continue Reading
How to Plan the Perfect Off-Season to Smash Weaknesses
I’ve written a lot before about how difficult meet prep can be: it’s stressful, it’s a time when you’re more prone to injury (because of the heavier weights and higher stress levels) — and it can also be ... Continue Reading
The Benefits of Hypertrophy Training for Powerlifters
Let me ask you this, why did you start lifting? How did you get into it? You probably were in the same boat as a majority of us, and more than likely you started lifting because you wanted to look better, ... Continue Reading
Hate Doing Mobility? Here’s How to Do It Between Sets
You should know (by now) that recovering from your training with rest, good nutrition, and the occasional soft tissue massage is essential for a body that not only looks good but performs well ... Continue Reading
Injuries in Training: How to Manage Risk
Nobody plans on getting injured, but it is common and sometimes seems inevitable if you are in strength sports for the long haul. Lifting can certainly beat a body up, especially the ultra competitive who ... Continue Reading
Why Program Hopping Isn’t Always Bad
If you were to ask the top 100 lifters of 2018 what their “secret” is, you might get a lot of different answers, but I bet that a lot of them would say exactly the same thing: Consistency. Consistency is ... Continue Reading
How Will Larry “Wheels” Williams Do in Strongman Competition?
We all make mistakes, the hard part is owning them. Last year I was taken in by the hype and wrote about how Iron Biby might make a surprising impact at that year's WSM. I could not have been more wrong. ... Continue Reading
Why Every Rookie Powerlifter Needs a Handler for Their First Meet
If you think that powerlifting is a solo sport, you may be largely correct. When you step onto the platform, after all, it is just you and the weights. However, similar to finely tuned race cars, ... Continue Reading
Build a Massive Upper Back and Traps With “Kirk Shrugs”
If you know a little bit about me, you might remember that I earned my PhD studying the history of strength, but that my own research focused specifically on the early 1900s — before powerlifting in its ... Continue Reading
Why You Should Be Pulling Sumo Deadlifts From a Deficit
Y’know, I think a lot of people overcomplicate lifting. It’s lifting weights — you don’t really need some super-scientific programming method or ultra-rigorous diet to do damned well. But you do have to ... Continue Reading
Strongman Training Over 40 Years Old
While most people would consider such an extreme sport something for young athletes to enjoy, Strongman is a sport that can be enjoyed as a master’s athlete, especially if certain considerations are made. ... Continue Reading
My Five Thoughts on Strongman for the Close of 2018
While still a very small sport, our passion has grown by leaps and bounds in the last three years. It has been fun to watch it grow and become slightly more mainstream and more inclusive of women. Many ... Continue Reading
Getting Stronger Isn’t Complicated. It’s Difficult. There’s a Difference
It’s pretty frustrating for me to watch all these men and women in the gym who so desperately seem to believe there’s this secret — some program, some technique change, some drug — that’s going to ... Continue Reading
So You Wanna Be A Powerlifter? Rules and How the Meet Runs
In our previous episode, we talked about preparation for meet day and things to consider while getting ready for your first meet and when you’re packing. In this episode, we’re going to go over some of the ... Continue Reading
Three Hour Strongman: How to Stay Strong and Competitive on Limited Training Time
Time. We all have the same amount of this precious commodity but have different demands on how we allocate it. Most people who train for the sport can manage to spend five or six days per week in the gym ... Continue Reading
Why Your Workouts Need More Good Mornings
The good morning is one of the oldest and most effective movements a strength athlete can perform. It’s also one of the most controversial. Here’s why. The exact origin of any barbell exercise is pretty ... Continue Reading
Determining Your Contest Maximum for Strongman
Winners leave very little to chance. Elite athletes are very globally in tune with their capabilities and are rarely surprised by their performance. Taking guesses at what you are going to press or pull in ... Continue Reading
I’m a Professional Powerlifter. These Are My Thoughts On Strongman
Editor's Note: This article was updated on December 5th to reflect changes made in regard to the World's Strongest Man air dates and Strongwoman on the main stage at the Arnold Classic. In the prior ... Continue Reading
Winter Bulking Made Easy: 3 Strategies for Big Gains
Well, it’s wintertime, and that means it’s time to put the tees and tanks away, pull out the winter coats and heavy sweatpants, and start thinking about the holidays. It’s also time to start making gains! ... Continue Reading
The Benefits of Using Resistance Bands and Chains for Accessory Exercises
Ever found yourself halfway through a set of lat pulldowns after some hard benching or deadlifting wondering something along the lines of, "Why the hell am I doing this?" You’re not alone. Oftentimes, ... Continue Reading
5 Big Changes After 30 Days Of Cold Water Immersion
As longevity seems to be one of this year’s hot topics, it comes to no surprise that cold water immersion ranks pretty high on the list. Although this practice has been around for centuries, its popularity ... Continue Reading
The Underutilized Strongman Movement: Log Viper Press
When the average Joes and Janes think of strongman competitions there are events that always jump to mind, “Oh, it’s the competition where guys and gals flip cars, pull trucks, lift rocks, and press ... Continue Reading
The Hip Thrust Mistake Everyone Keeps Making
Last week, I posted a video of some hip thrusts on Instagram. As you can see, even with the awesome machine from Sorinex, they weren’t easy! I struggled with just 80 ... Continue Reading
2018 Weightlifting World Championships Preview: What You Need to Know
Earlier this week, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) published the preliminary start list for the 2018 Weightlifting World Championships. This year the competition is scheduled for November ... Continue Reading