In my previous Unf*ck series video, I talked about the 80/20 rule for supplementary work: roughly eighty percent of your recovery resources should be spent on the competition lifts, and the other twenty ... Continue Reading
How I Train Novices Differently for Strongman
I have played a number of different sports across my 45 years. All of them were in some way influential in the development of my mental and physical self. In that time every coach I have had has taught me ... Continue Reading
Op-Ed: Why Gym Memes Make Me Cringe
Editor's 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
The 5 Biggest Myths About Strongman
“It’s just fat guys lifting rocks. Right?” That’s the typical response I get when I speak with someone unfamiliar with the sport of strongman. After suppressing a small bit of rage, it becomes my duty ... Continue Reading
Dear Lifting Community: It’s Time to Lay Off the New Year’s Resolution Crowd
January 1st, a time for fresh starts and promises of a great new year. This date serves as a pivotal point for anyone who likes a squeaky clean date with a nice big "1" attached to it to start a new habit. ... Continue Reading
Powerlifting Grandma Hopes to Secure 300 Pound Deadlift By May
When Shirley Webb walked into the gym for the first time, a little over three years ago, she was scared, intimidated, and wouldn’t have gone if it wasn’t for her then 16-year-old granddaughter, ... Continue Reading
5 Predictions for Strongman in 2018
Can I see into the future? Kinda. I made several predictions for the 2017 strongman season in this article, and I am fairly happy with the results. The major miss was Shaw taking his fifth World’s ... Continue Reading
The Two Pieces of Equipment Every Powerlifter Needs in the Gym
It’s December, and that means it’s the season for…gearing up for next season. I’m a raw lifter, but I love new training equipment, and I’m often really surprised by the number of people who either (A) ... Continue Reading
Why Every CrossFit® Gym Needs a Cable Crossover Machine
A piece of equipment usually reserved for the $10/month gym, the cable crossover machine has a spot in any functional fitness setting. The ability to focus in on strengthening individual muscle groups and ... Continue Reading
My Favorite Books for Strength Athletes in 2017
In the digital age we have an endless amount of media with endless ways to consume it. As a producer of some of that content, I thank you all for reading and sharing my work that is a speck in a vast ocean ... Continue Reading
How Trying Too Hard is Killing Your Gains, Plus How to Fix It
Earlier this week, my colleague Matt Bowers wrote an article about challenges facing the parents of young athletes. Matt’s a smart dude: he’s a professor of sports management at the University of Texas, ... Continue Reading
Is There a Perfect Pre and Post-Workout Meal?
Every athlete has their favorite go-to pre and post-workout meals. These are meals usually composed of foods geared towards a specific goal, taste, and thought in mind. For example, a higher carb ... Continue Reading
Try These 8 Stretches to Improve Ankle Mobility
The tight calves perfect storm: heavy compound movements, sitting all day, and wearing shoes with elevated heels. If you're a desk worker, or even someone who spends a good chunk of their day sitting, ... Continue Reading
Should I Gain Muscle or Fat? The Answer May Surprise You
When we think of athletes, the image that often comes to mind is one of a Greek statue; lean and muscular with a perfect body, free of fat. Most times this is exactly what most competitors who are in ... Continue Reading
Strength Athletes: Listen to Your Body, a Quick Mental Reminder
Listening to your body is one piece of advice that I give to many lifters that I myself struggle to adhere to daily. It’s easy to get caught up with wanting to train as hard as you can or wanting to ... Continue Reading
Powerlifters: If You Can Only Do 5 Accessory Exercises, Pick These
Don't get me wrong, I love the big three and their variations as much as any powerlifter. But if there’s one thing I learned in my years as a pro bodybuilder, it’s that being strong in a ... Continue Reading
5 Ways I Maintain Strength During a Weight Cut
There is a misconception that if you are dieting, you are bound to lose strength in your beloved lifting. This assumption is not necessarily valid. Here are a few things you can do while dieting down ... Continue Reading
Overcoming Excuses: What’s REALLY Holding Back Your Strength
I know very few people in this community that train and compete simply for the sake of doing so. The vast majority of bikers and runners do so for activity and social reasons; they have no desire to ... Continue Reading
9 Steps For Improving Your Toes To Bar (Plus Why You’ll Want To)
From crunches and sit-ups, to planks and toe touches, there are endless ways to work the abs. But it’s the upper abs and obliques that tend to get all the love from the most popular ab exercises. While the ... Continue Reading
Ma Jianping Talks Differences In Competing After Taking 3 Decades Off
It’s taken a fair amount of time, but 1984 Chinese Olympian Ma Jianping (Coach Ma) -known to his peers as Coach Ma - came back and conquered the platform. Coach Ma’s last high profile competition was at ... Continue Reading
If You’re a Strength Athlete, Stop Using the Word ‘Fix’
So often, I hear athletes say things like “I’m going to come in to fix my Jerk”, or “Can you fix my snatch?” STOP! This is implying that one cue, one exercise, or even within one day that you can ... Continue Reading
12 BarBend Articles That Keep Our Readers Coming Back
The other week we held a BarBend wrist wrap giveaway on our Instagram page. In order to win, athletes had to do two things: Share their favorite article with us, then state why it was their top pick. Our ... Continue Reading
4 Tips for Dating Someone Who Works Out At Your Gym
Dating someone who works out at your gym could relate back to the old saying that goes, "Don't foul your own nest." This saying essentially means, don't do something that could have negative ... Continue Reading
How Deep to Squat for Strongman Training
Everything in life changes, including the definition of what is the best way to squat. To be a comprehensive athlete you must develop as many techniques as you can and know when to employ them in your ... Continue Reading