Since my last meet — the 2018 US Open — I’ve been slowly dieting down, from 214 to 202, to prepare to compete in the 181-pound class at the USPA Tribute meet this August. During that cut, I’ve maintained ... Continue Reading
5 Useful Strength Training Lessons Everyone Can Benefit From
Alright, maybe the list below is common sense, and maybe you already knew these. Regardless, I felt like this article was appropriate for any strength athlete or lifter who needed a friendly reminder, ... Continue Reading
Build Big Shoulders With This Supplementary Shoulder Workout Routine
Lately, I’ve been incorporating more bodybuilding work into my powerlifting training, and I’m seeing fantastic results out of it — in both size and strength. I used to think that if you wanted to be the ... Continue Reading
How to Build More Unilateral Strength (Plus a Free Training Program)
During my time getting qualified as a personal trainer, I received a lot of bad advice, a shocking amount in fact. Now I’m sure this has a lot more to do with the particular school I attended and the ... Continue Reading
3 Foolproof Shoulder Exercises That Add Mass to Your Delts
Many lifters struggle with delts — whether it’s struggling with size, strength, or pain, the shoulders can be a difficult muscle to incorporate into a powerlifting routine. As I explain to the athletes I ... Continue Reading
3 Ways to Modify Lifts When You’re Having a Bad Workout
We’ve all had those days: the ones where you walk into the gym and you’re just not feeling it. Whether you’re feeling under the weather, you’ve had a hectic day, or you’re just plain worn out, it’s ... Continue Reading
7 Things Every Powerlifter Should Ask Themselves Before Their Next Meet
A 10-second Google search can find about ten million pre-meet checklists. It’s really simple to make a list of food and equipment you might need on the big day. But the actual meet is only one day in ... Continue Reading
Op-Ed: Why Soccer Players Need Olympic Weightlifting
With the soccer World Cup in full swing, you can’t help but be impressed by the athleticism that the world’s best soccer players possess. They are the human equivalent of Formula One race cars with an ... Continue Reading
3 Simple and Effective Methods to Increase Workout Intensity
Most of the time, when I write about programming, I’m trying to argue that less is more. I really believe that optimal training involves balancing work and recovery, and that many lifters underestimate ... Continue Reading
Is the Kettlebell Clean & Jerk the Ultimate Cross-Training Tool for Athletes?
As an athlete, you are looking for an edge. You want to be as fast, strong, powerful, mobile, and durable as you can while staying healthy. At the same time, since you are an athlete and the name of ... Continue Reading
Who Can Beat Eddie Hall’s 500kg Deadlift Record? (A Short List)
“Doctors and scientists said breaking the four-minute mile was impossible, that one would die in the attempt. Thus, when I got up from the track after collapsing at the finish line, I figured I was dead.” ... Continue Reading
Slow Life Down for Bigger and Stronger Gains In the Gym
Modern life is fast-paced. It sometimes seems like a constant rush to do more, faster, and better, no matter whether you’re at work or in the gym! But oftentimes going slower is the smarter strategy, ... Continue Reading
Here’s What Happened to My Strength After Running a Marathon
In honor of finishing my second marathon recently as a powerlifter, I thought it would be interesting to jump into the conversation of how cardio affects our strength. The first thing you’re probably ... Continue Reading
Feet Rotating In the Squat: What Does It Mean?
Have you ever been squatting and noticed yours or another athlete's foot turning out (physically externally rotating) under them? The toes angled out in a squat is relatively normal when it comes to an ... Continue Reading
Five Things You Can Do Outside The Gym to Get Stronger
Full disclaimer: these aren’t my own ideas! There’s a great Reddit discussion here about all the little things you can do outside of training to improve your performance in the gym. I picked out my ... Continue Reading
Fasted Cardio for Strength Training: Pros and Cons
For years, I’ve done fasted cardio as my main form of cardio. I’ve tried all sorts of cardio routines: fasted, fed, high-intensity, intervals, low-intensity, even no intensity (i.e., no cardio)! When I ... Continue Reading
How and Why Deadlift Cluster Sets Can Improve Your Pull
Earlier this year, I began experimenting with cluster sets in my training. If you’re not already familiar with them, cluster sets are multiple (usually 6-10) sets performed with very short rest (45-90 ... Continue Reading
How “Loaded Mobility” Can Combine Strength With Prehab
Move better, that is the credo. In the endless pursuit of physical mastery, the emphasis on bigger, faster, stronger will run its course for an everyday athlete and sooner or later the priority ... Continue Reading
What Does It Mean When Athletes Maintain Three Points of Contact in Lifting?
The idea of maintaining three points of contact for an athlete's stance in lifts, also called a tripod position, is focused around the concept of displacing pressure evenly across the foot in three places ... Continue Reading
3 Tactical Methods Strength Athletes Can Use to Have More Fun Training
One of the most important — and most overlooked! — aspects of productive training is also one of the simplest. The best type of training is fun. Yeah, it sounds simple, maybe even stupid, but it’s the ... Continue Reading
Foods Every Strongman Athlete Should Eat
In addition to being a strength and conditioning coach I hold a certification in Sports Nutrition as well. To help the athletes I work with, I combine my knowledge from both fields. Together they create ... Continue Reading
How to Survive Weightlifting in 3 Simple Steps
Six weeks ago, I competed in a tune up meet at the Cap City Open in Virginia, during the middle of a cycle, completely un-peaked, and went 5 for 6 at a bodyweight of 74.80kg with an 89kg snatch, and a ... Continue Reading
6 Factors Powerlifters Should Consider to Maintain Strength During a Cut
Have you ever wondered why most powerlifters don’t look ripped? There is definitely a stigma on our sport that we are the “overweight”, and even sometimes lazy group of athletes. I mean, it makes sense ... Continue Reading
The Ultimate Preview to the 2018 USA Weightlifting National Championships
Entries are closed, and USA Weightlifting has published the latest version of the athlete start list for the 2018 National Championships, to be held May 24 through the 27th of this year in Overland Park, ... Continue Reading