Without a doubt, Strongman is the most difficult weight discipline to program correctly. There are so many variations on a theme that you can never be fully prepared for every event at any given time. The ... Continue Reading
A Spork In the Road: Falling In, Out, and Back In Like with CrossFit
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
As CrossFit Evolves, Games Success Will Require a Longer Term Plan
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
How to Match Training and Nutrition for Year-Long Goals
I’m writing this article from 30,000 feet in the air, on my way back from the beautiful Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. Sun, sand, beaches, water parks, and yes - gorgeous bodies in very little ... Continue Reading
Strength Myths: “Weightlifting Is Bad For Your Knees”
One of my favorite parts of being involved in a strength sport is hearing all the ridiculous nonsense that comes out of people's mouths. Apparently weightlifting is terrible because it’s “so bad for your ... Continue Reading
Why I Turn to Strength Training for Comfort and Clarity
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
Sharing & Performance: Why the Strength Community Is Obsessed with Instagram
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
Get Stronger Single-Handedly: Starting with the Strongman Circus Dumbbell
Weightlifters are the kings of the overhead lifts. A lifetime dedicated to moving a barbell from floor to overhead looks effortless through perfect technique and practice. It becomes second nature to the ... Continue Reading
The Farce of Drug Retesting in Olympic Weightlifting
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
How I Balance Volume and Intensity for New Weightlifters
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
The Three Best Strongman Moves for Weightlifters
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
Weightlifting Is Life
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
The Morality of Fitness: An Anthropologist’s Observations in a CrossFit Gym
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 Real Olympic Trials: Which US Man Will Earn a Spot at Pan Ams?
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
The Deadlift, Demystified
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
The Mat Fraser Show Has Begun
Days after the final weekend of the 2016 CrossFit Regionals, we’re already looking ahead to the Games. The internet is abuzz with Games predictions, and like last year, Mat Fraser tops ... Continue Reading
Attention Strongmen: (Split) Jerks Needed!
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
Anthropology 101: A Cultural Anthropologist Walks into a Gym
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
Trading Money for Abs: My Journey from Corporate Banker to CrossFit Trainer
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
3 Practical Tips for Busy Weightlifters
Odds are that most of you reading this article have a job, career, family, or other responsibilities that interfere with training. Weightlifting is a very demanding sport, and mixing it together with other ... Continue Reading
Moving Beyond the Good, Bad, and Ugly of CrossFit
It is easy to point out the bad things that are found in gyms across America, not just at CrossFit gyms — or any gym with any methodology. If there are any methods that are possibly injurious towards the ... Continue Reading
Why Becca Voigt’s CrossFit Games Streak Is a Mindblowing Accomplishment
CrossFit as a sport is young — incredibly young — so it's still difficult to gain perspective on athlete accomplishments over the years. Consistency changes definitions every year, and while it seems like ... Continue Reading
Five Characteristics Elite CrossFitters All Share
I've had the privilege to train with some of the best athletes in the world. I’m not stating this to brag or inflate myself; like many athletes, when starting the journey to being a competitive ... Continue Reading
My Week with Uzbekistan’s National Weightlifting Team: Travel, T-shirts, and Plov
If you have ever visited the USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, you will notice immediately that the facility is not a high end hotel. It is a conveniently located, one-stop shop for an ... Continue Reading