In weightlifting the cue "quick elbows" is typically easily understood, but can be difficult to perform. Unlike a static cue such as, "turn your toes out," that involves a quick change in body ... Continue Reading
Biofeedback Testing: How to Tell If You Should Lift Heavy Today
Most of us have experienced a situation where you walk into the gym feeling like you're going to crush a new PR, only to fall short. Or the flipside: you feel like you're going to have a subpar workout and ... Continue Reading
Why You Sweat More as You Get Stronger
If you find yourself frustrated on a daily basis due to sweat, you're not alone. It seems like the stronger and fitter you get, the more you're actually sweating during your day. Even if it's 15 ... Continue Reading
What to Eat Before an Olympic Weightlifting Meet
What you eat before you exercise should depend on what kind of exercise you’re doing. If you’re doing a medium- to high-rep functional fitness workout, L-citrulline might be useful. Powerlifters ... Continue Reading
5 Reasons Functional Fitness Athletes Can Benefit from “Formal” Weightlifting
Being a weightlifting coach at a premiere CrossFit® gym in New York City, I have had the opportunity to work with many members and drop-ins from all over the globe, who in one way or another have embraced ... Continue Reading
How to Increase Your Speed Under the Barbell in the Snatch
Getting under a barbell in a fraction of a second takes courage, precision, and power. The ability to drive a load vertically with the legs, back, and traps is only half the lift, with many lifters finding ... Continue Reading
How to Individualize Your Snatch Grip Width
Grip width can play a pivotal role in the pulling strength, overhead stability, and performance in the snatch (as well as the clean and jerk). Many coaches and athletes have relied upon common methods to ... Continue Reading
How Long Should You Rest Between Sets? What the Science Suggests
It's generally understood that rest time is dependent on type of exercise, training goal, and rep scheme. For example, heavier multi-joint exercises with low-reps receive longer rest, while ... Continue Reading
What to Expect When Taking The CSCS (and How to Prep)
The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification is considered by myself and many others to be one of the highest strength certs someone can receive. This certification is ... Continue Reading
3 Reasons Why Weightlifters Can Benefit from the Behind the Neck Push Press
In the world of weightlifting, coaches and athletes have a plethora of snatch, clean, and jerk variations, each of which can be used to address specific weakness and/or faults a lifter may possess. In an ... Continue Reading
5 Awesome Benefits of Ring Chin-Ups/Pull-Ups
When it comes to upper body exercises very few compare to the pull-up and chin-up. They’re both a little different in their mechanics, but each offer great benefits. An alternative and effective movement ... Continue Reading
12 Ways To Maximize Your Rest Day
While many individuals struggle to make it TO the gym, many of us also struggle to STAY out. Rest days are critical for performance, with some sports and ability levels needing more and/or less of ... Continue Reading
The Jefferson Deadlift: Why Straddling the Bar Could Get You Stronger
Sometimes, the weirdest-looking exercises can be the most useful, and the Jefferson deadlift is the perfect example. It’s weird. There’s about a one hundred percent chance you’ll attract looks in the ... Continue Reading
The Differences Between Recreational Versus Career Weightlifting
As much as every young boy playing basketball wants to be Michael Jordan, realistically it's just not going to happen. Some will lose interest, some will move on to play other sports, and some will play as ... Continue Reading
Why Weightlifters Should Do More Pull-Ups
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past 50 years, you may already know all about the power of pulls-ups. Back strength and endurance can improve your posture, muscular development, and help ... Continue Reading
4 Nutrients Strength Athletes Need More Of After Age 50
Thanks to advances in nutrition and exercise science, strength athletes are able to stay strong and functional for far longer than they ever could before. But just as we need to alter our mobility ... Continue Reading
The 8 Most Badass Feats of Strength from the Ancient World
Since the dawn of time, cultures from all over the world have equated strength with awesomeness. Here are some of our favorite heroes from the ancient world, men who weren’t just known for their ... Continue Reading
Maximize Your Split Jerk With These 4 Jerk Variations
The split jerk can be a challenging component of the clean & jerk, one that often separates the best of lifters. When training the jerk, there are numerous variations and assistance exercises ... Continue Reading
6 Useful Things Powerlifters Can Do Between Sets (That Aren’t Looking at Your Phone)
Powerlifters aren’t known for their incredible endurance. That’s not an insult! After all, a few well-regarded studies have shown that the greatest strength gains come from resting a good three to five ... Continue Reading
How To Decide If A Degree In Exercise Science Is Right For You
My December was filled with goodbyes and big hugs as my schooling career came to a close. I was finally saying my farewells to the professors and academic program that helped shape my career into what ... Continue Reading
7 Strongman Lifts for Beginners (and Nearly Every Athlete)
Strongman training is not for the faint of heart. Often, strongmen (and strongwomen) need to showcase unparalleled strength, muscular endurance, and anaerobic capacities while pushing, pulling, dragging, ... Continue Reading
The Kettlebell Armor Complex: How, When, and Why It Should Be In Your Training
The kettlebell is a relative of the barbell, one that was used hundreds of years ago to showcase strength and physical prowess. Today, kettlebells are common among fitness athletes, strength and ... Continue Reading
The No Feet Snatch/Clean: Why, When, and How to Do Them?
When determining if particular snatch/clean & jerk variation is a viable training exercise for you and/or your athletes, you need to make sure you understand the specific purpose before applying ... Continue Reading
Should You Deadlift After Leg Day?
I get this question enough that I figured I would explore it some here. Deadlifting, like squats and other movements, may be performed multiple times per week (or once per week, and yes, even less ... Continue Reading