Op-Ed

When things are decidedly a little FUBAR in my life, like when there's 25 days before I blindly travel around the world for a year with a bunch of strangers and yet I still haven't packed, I find that the ... Continue Reading

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

It is a hell of a time to be associated with youth weightlifting in America. In the preamble to CJ Cummings’ record breaking championship at this year’s Junior World Championships, Austin, Texas, played ... Continue Reading

After three and a half years of CrossFit, I’ve come to a spork in my training. Yes, a spork. Not a fork. A “fork in the road” implies that there are three or more clear paths. As it relates to ... Continue Reading

In the grand scheme of sports, CrossFit is barely out of its infancy. Though Greg Glassman began piecing together the parts of the methodology back in the 1970s, when he accidentally invented “Fran” ... Continue Reading

A week ago I cried. A senseless act 40 miles from my house took the life of 49 people. My home is a beach town that most families from Orlando use as their weekend retreat. Central Florida is the United ... Continue Reading

Editor's Note: Article updated, see bottom of page for details. On Wednesday of this week, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announced athletes from the 2012 Olympics who have failed a ... Continue Reading

Working with athletes from all ages, competitive levels, and in many different sports, you learn to respect all stages of an athletic career. Every coach wants to see their athlete improve and succeed in ... Continue Reading

Tradition. It runs strong and deep in weightlifting. Many coaches have used the exact same exercises and programs for decades with great success. Experimentation is often frowned upon and hence ... Continue Reading

Most elite sports competitors probably feel an intense bond with their craft, teammates, and coaches. Weightlifting doesn’t have the same effect on every person, but for many in our small but growing ... Continue Reading

Editors note: Katie Rose Hejtmanek, Ph.D. is a cultural anthropologist conducting research on the culture of strength sports in the United States. This is the second of an in-depth series introducing ... Continue Reading

The Start List has officially been published for this week’s Pan American Championships in Colombia. For the USA Woman’s team, this will be for bragging rights of who is the best in the Western Hemisphere. ... Continue Reading

It is the ultimate test of power and brute force. An athlete versus a bar — without technical ability hindering most lifters. Bend down, grip with all your might, and then stand straight and victoriously ... Continue Reading

While weightlifting calls for highly specialized athletes who have narrowed their focus to just two lifts, a Strongman must be a jack of all trades, capable of a multitude of ever changing tasks. This ... Continue Reading

Editors note: Katie Hejtmanek, Ph.D. is a cultural anthropologist conducting research on the culture of strength sports in the United States. This is the first of an in-depth series introducing ... Continue Reading

Four o'clock in the morning is an interesting time. For some, it signals the end of an epic if not precarious night. For others, it marks the beginning of a long and grueling day. Six years ago, I was ... Continue Reading