Constantly picking up heavy stuff is awesome, but the hunger that comes with it can be...umm...frustrating at times. Why? Well, while we're opening up new windows by working out like improved ... Continue Reading
4 Simple Steps to Get More Out of Your Weightlifting Training
Athletes play sports because it is fun. If it wasn’t fun then you would quit. You know what else is fun? Having success in that sport. It doesn’t matter what phase of your sport you are in (beginner, ... Continue Reading
8 Questions Strength Athletes Should Ask About Their Diets
I’m about to do something very difficult; rewrite an article that hundreds of authors have already taken on and challenge something that is on a steady rise to stardom in the strongman society. This ... Continue Reading
Cutting Weight for Strength Athletes: A Logical Guide
England might not always be blessed with the best of weather; it rains a lot and it’s dreary a lot more. What this does mean though is that on the rare occasions when the sun does grace us with its ... Continue Reading
Hey, Athletes! Stop Apologizing For Selfies
Self-obsessed. Insecure. Narcissist. I’ve heard these words thrown around with little-to-a lot of venom and disgust to describe someone who “takes too many selfies.” That someone is often female, though ... Continue Reading
I Kept A Fitness Journal For A Month. Here Are 6 Things I Learned
I balance two 25 pound plates on the barbell, place the sweat rag along the bench and position myself beneath the bar to warm up on the bench press. I stare up at the bar, check in with my body, and ... Continue Reading
How to Find Your Mentor in Strength Sports
To the strength athlete, there are few things as vital to progress as a mentor. Throughout my career in athletics I have experienced a wide variety of coaches, teammates, competitors, etc. whom I looked to ... Continue Reading
In Weightlifting, There’s No Such Thing As an Overnight Success
Editors note: This article is an op-ed. The views expressed herein are the authors and don’t necessarily reflect the views of BarBend. Claims, assertions, opinions, and quotes have been sourced exclusively ... Continue Reading
The Most Jaw-Dropping Strongman Feats of the Last Decade
The most exciting moment in sports is when something that isn’t supposed to happen, does. In football it can be an overtime win from a team that was down 28 points in the first half or a 40 year old ... Continue Reading
The Best (and Worst) Performances at the 2017 Europe’s Strongest Man
Saturday saw the greatest in Europe once again go head to head with each other at the Leeds First Direct Arena. This years comp had a lot of hype to live up to, after last year was brimming with ... Continue Reading
No Strength Athlete Should Wear High Heels
It shouldn’t come as a shock that teetering around on tip-toes for hours on end isn’t how your foot is supposed to function, but there are still people who are surprised to hear it. High heels are bad ... Continue Reading
The Strength Athlete’s Guide to Building, Strengthening, and Caring for Your Posterior Chain
The posterior chain is a fancy name for the the muscles on the back of the body. Your Traps, Rear Deltoids, Lats, Spinal Erectors, Glutes, and Hamstrings are the engine that drive your athletic movement. A ... Continue Reading
What Should I Eat Before a CrossFit® Open Workout?
With the CrossFit® Open in full swing, athletes are doing everything they can to get a last minute edge over their fitness frenemies. One area in particular that has been getting a lot of attention ... Continue Reading
Why Strongman Fans Should Pay Attention to the Apollon’s Axle
Louis Uni is a name that probably means nothing to even the most ardent of strongman history buffs, and while his birth name might of fallen into obscurity, his legacy is still going strong. The ... Continue Reading
Is Your Split Jerk Holding You Back? Try These 4 Drills
I recently got into a discussion with a new lifter who came to me asking what he could do to get better at split jerks. While his power jerk was climbing, his split jerk felt foreign, uncomfortable, and ... Continue Reading
Why Is General Physical Preparedness (GPP) Important for Long-Term Success?
Coaches can play a pivotal role in the overall health and development of athletes of all levels (beginner to elite). Through the inclusion of more generalized training phases throughout one's training ... Continue Reading
3 Reasons Why Most Beginner Weightlifters Should Use a Static Start Position
There are two main ways to begin a snatch and/or clean & jerk. The first is a dynamic start, one that has the lifter assume a strong starting position and dynamically move from the pulling stance ... Continue Reading
Be Happy Because You’ll Never Be Satisfied
A reporter allegedly once asked John D. Rockefeller “How much money is enough?” He responded, “Just a little bit more.” The same concept applies to weightlifting, but there's a difference between being ... Continue Reading
3 Common Faults During the Jerk and How to Fix Them
The jerk requires positional strength, posture, timing, and power. Many lifters may find the jerk to be one of the most daunting movements to do after a heavy clean recovery, as one must now hoist hundreds ... Continue Reading
A Process to Improve Your Strongman Game
Constant measurable progress is every athlete's primary goal. To improve every time you step into the gym may come fast and easy for beginners, but it grows increasingly difficult with every subsequent ... Continue Reading
Returning to Weightlifting After Time Off
Recently, I was asked by a few different athletes how I train to come back to weightlifting after taking time off whether from injury or just a break. In all honestly, I was a little stumped. I’ve had ... Continue Reading
3 Reasons Why Coaches Should Program Weightlifting More Frequently (and How)
Like any skill-dependent sport, Olympic weightlifting demands high degrees of motor control, neurological stimulation, and force capacities. While advancements can surely be made training the formal lifts ... Continue Reading
How to Get Better at Olympic Weightlifting
Olympic weightlifting is not something people naturally pick up and find great success at on a regular basis. While it is true that some gifted lifters may transition/get started very easily into the ... Continue Reading
A Step by Step Breakdown of the Farmer’s Walk
The Farmer’s Walk, a common strongman event, has grown in popularity amongst athletes, general fitness enthusiasts, and anyone wanting to get stronger. The benefits of farmer’s walks are numerous: improved ... Continue Reading