When you step into a gym, what are your goals? Where did you get those goals? Did someone tell you you’d look better in that shirt, that dress, if you just would do x or y? Did someone — more frequently, ... Continue Reading
The Untold History of the First Weightlifting Competition
At the 2016 Summer Olympics, eight categories for Olympic Weightlifting existed for men and seven for women. In both cases the categories boasted roughly a dozen competitors or more. For those with a ... Continue Reading
5 Super Simple Rules to Get Your Weightlifting Competition Prep on Track
Everyone’s got that ideal version of themselves created inside their mind. Some days, we fully live who this person is and the “perfect” lifestyle they lead, other times, we completely fall off the wagon. ... Continue Reading
10 Incredibly Useful Powerlifting Tips
I’ve been lifting for a long time. I began competing in powerlifting in 2012, but I’ve been a gym rat since high school. I’m 31 now, so you can do the math! When I started lifting, there wasn’t nearly as ... Continue Reading
3 Beginner Friendly Animal Flow Moves to Improve Mobility
In the fitness world, many of us become so preoccupied with performance and achieving goals that we tend to neglect recovery and joint health. This neglect can accumulate over time, which can put us at a ... Continue Reading
Should An Elephant Bar Deadlift Record Count?
Rogue Fitness announced that they are putting up $50,000 to any competitors who can deadlift 500.5kg or more at the upcoming Arnold Strongman Classic. This is a clear aim at Eddie Hall’s July 9th, 2016 ... Continue Reading
3 Exercises to Help Strengthen and Improve Posture
Editor’s note: This article is an op-ed. The views expressed herein and in the video are the author’s and don’t necessarily reflect the views of BarBend. Claims, assertions, opinions, and quotes have been ... Continue Reading
The Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started In Powerlifting (Part 1)
Editor’s note: This article is an op-ed. The views expressed herein and in the video are the author’s and don’t necessarily reflect the views of BarBend. Claims, assertions, opinions, and quotes have been ... Continue Reading
How Often to Train Strongman Events
Athletes who are looking for an edge often wonder if they can increase the frequency of training with the implements. There is no blanket answer for this question, but instead consider these concepts when ... Continue Reading
The Ultimate Guide to Conditioning for Powerlifters
Ahh, conditioning. Say “cardio” and powerlifters run and hide, but conditioning is different. Conditioning is hardcore, it builds strength, fries body fat, and is pretty much the most athletic thing you ... Continue Reading
Why You Shouldn’t Drink Caffeine After Working Out
As much as we act and think we’re sometimes invincible, humans aren’t robots. (Shocker, I know). Our anatomy was built to handle external stressors but only by few amounts at a time. Stress unavoidably ... Continue Reading
Perfect Your Conventional Deadlift Setup In 5 Steps (VIDEO)
Much like Rome, a beautiful deadlift is not built overnight. A great deadlift is composed and built with multiple training elements that all work hand-in-hand with one another to manifest an efficient and ... Continue Reading
The Ultimate Guide to Building Muscle in College
College comes and goes incredibly fast, which means it should be treated as a sacred time for many things. Outside of the budding friendships and career connections being made, college is also a great time ... Continue Reading
Hate Doing Mobility? Here’s How to Do It Between Sets
You should know (by now) that recovering from your training with rest, good nutrition, and the occasional soft tissue massage is essential for a body that not only looks good but performs well ... Continue Reading
The Untold History of Weight Machines
We live in a technological age, and the exercise machines being designed and manufactured today are better than ever. But your muscles were designed by evolution to overcome the pull of gravity rather than ... Continue Reading
How to Fix Your Weakest Strongman Movements
You can’t be great at everything, but you certainly can get better. Everyone has their least favorite movements and those are usually the ones that do not come naturally. There are a number of techniques ... Continue Reading
Injuries in Training: How to Manage Risk
Nobody plans on getting injured, but it is common and sometimes seems inevitable if you are in strength sports for the long haul. Lifting can certainly beat a body up, especially the ultra competitive who ... Continue Reading
How Strongman Jerry Pritchett Trains the Log Press
If you’re one of the people who plan on being at the Santa Monica Pier on January 19 to watch the first Arnold Strongman USA competition, then the first event you’ll see will be the Log Press for reps. ... Continue Reading
Why Every Rookie Powerlifter Needs a Handler for Their First Meet
If you think that powerlifting is a solo sport, you may be largely correct. When you step onto the platform, after all, it is just you and the weights. However, similar to finely tuned race cars, ... Continue Reading
Why You Should Be Pulling Sumo Deadlifts From a Deficit
Y’know, I think a lot of people overcomplicate lifting. It’s lifting weights — you don’t really need some super-scientific programming method or ultra-rigorous diet to do damned well. But you do have to ... Continue Reading
Strongman Training Over 40 Years Old
While most people would consider such an extreme sport something for young athletes to enjoy, Strongman is a sport that can be enjoyed as a master’s athlete, especially if certain considerations are made. ... Continue Reading
Why Olympic Weightlifting Makes Great Wrestlers
The sport of wrestling is one of the oldest combat sports on record and was one of the first disciplines included in the ancient Olympic Games program. Wrestling was first highlighted in sport science ... Continue Reading
How to Approach Strength Training During Menopause (And Why You Should)
The way we perceive strength training today has dramatically evolved over the past decade, especially around the subject of weight training for women. Yes, men and women respond differently to strength ... Continue Reading
Low on Time? Why Rest-Pause Training Gets You Strong Faster
You, like so many others who have begun their strength training journeys before you, are trying to get brutally strong. And like so many of those who start or have been strength training for any amount ... Continue Reading