In this article we will discuss the training benefits of the hanging knee raise, which can be done to increase muscular development of the abdominal muscles, strengthen the core, and help to increase ... Continue Reading
Under the Weather? Consider These Tips Before Hitting the Gym
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and when friends come calling… they’re probably sick. Seriously, it’s like an epidemic: April showers might bring May flowers, but you can count on cold November ... Continue Reading
5 Strength Training “Rules” You Can Completely Ignore
Health and fitness are fields that are meant to be firmly rooted in science, but that doesn’t prevent a lot of myths, misconceptions, and lies from circulating the industry — and interfering with your ... Continue Reading
A History of Stone Lifting and Strongman
Since the dawn of time, man has substituted athletic competition for fighting as a means to safely determine group structure and organization. Running, throwing, and lifting have been the basis for ... Continue Reading
5 Benefits of Muscle Cleans
The muscle clean is an Olympic weightlifting clean variation that can help all level lifters develop greater upper body pulling strength, balance in the leg drive of the pull, and proper racking ... Continue Reading
Should Weightlifters Do Hang Movements from Above or Below the Knee?
The hang position has many benefits for improving efficiency in the snatch and clean & jerk, such as more time under tension, increased back strength, and better awareness throughout the lifts. There ... 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
Glute Ham Raises Alternatives
Glute ham raises are an exercise that can be used in most strength, power, and fitness programs to increase muscle hypertrophy and endurance of the glutes, hamstrings, and posterior chain muscles. ... Continue Reading
The Top 10 Most Searched Workouts of 2017 (Strength Sports Made It Twice)
There's no doubt that 2017 has been a big year for strength sports. The fitness industry as a whole seems to be at a transitional point where a majority of gym-goers are finally starting to recognize that, ... Continue Reading
4 Benefits of Z Press
In an earlier article we discussed the Z Press and the wide array of benefits that can come from performing such a functional and movement-challenging exercise. In that article, we also went over the ... Continue Reading
PR Like a Pro: The Best Way to Test Your 1-RM
I received a question from a reader earlier this week: what’s the best way to test a one-rep max? If you follow me on social media, you know I love good questions, and this is a great one, because ... Continue Reading
Landmine Press Alternatives
The landmine press is a unique exercise that can build strength, core stability, scapular control, and general body awareness necessary for strength, power, and fitness sports. Additionally, it can be used ... Continue Reading
BarBend’s 25 Days of Gifting Giveaways!
This year has been big one for us at BarBend, and we're incredibly grateful for our readers who make it all possible. In spirit of the holiday season and to give back to those who support us, we've put ... 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
5 Benefits of Tuck Jumps
In an earlier article we discussed the tuck jump, a plyometric bodyweight exercise that can be used to increase power output, increase caloric/energy expenditure in circuits, and increase athleticism. In ... 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
4 Benefits of Jumping Lunges
Jumping lunges are performed in both general fitness programs and sports performance systems to enhance lower body power outputs, movement mechanics, and injury proof the body. In this article we will ... Continue Reading
Why Do Some People Orgasm When They Work Out?
We all know that working out does a body good, but for some of us, the pleasurable feeling from working out can reach a whole new level. In a famous 2012 study published in Sexual and Relationship ... Continue Reading
Why Does the Sumo Deadlift Get So Much Hate?
If you're a regular social media user, then you're probably accustomed to the frequent flack the sumo deadlift receives. No matter what - even when the weight is crazy impressive - it always seems like ... Continue Reading
How to Start Powerlifting After 40
Plenty of people think the squat, bench, and deadlift are timeless movements, eternal truths that will forever be fundamental to the strength and wellbeing of the human body. Powerlifting exercises are ... Continue Reading
How Often Should You Work Out Your Abs? Plus Tips from Celebrity Personal Trainers
If you got a bunch of aesthetically-focused gym goers in a room and asked them to rank their prized muscle groups, chances are that a six-pack will be fairly high on people’s lists. In pursuit of a ... Continue Reading
How to Use Exercise As a Jet Lag Remedy
Understatement of the century: jet lag is awful. There are few things worse than spending hours and hours flying to an exotic part of the world only to effectively lose part of the trip to that cursed ... Continue Reading
Are Pistol Squats Bad for Your Knees?
In general, NO, the pistol squat is not bad for your knees, just like squatting isn't bad for your knees. Rather, a poor pistol squat is bad for your knees… In an earlier article I discussed five ... Continue Reading
The History of the Deadlift: How Did This Lift Become So Popular?
The deadlift is the simplest of the compounds, yet it's one of the most rewarding to perform. There's something about the grit and tenacity that comes with picking up a dead heavy weight from the ground; ... Continue Reading