The 2016 FISU World University Weightlifting Championships is currently underway in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The competition runs from November 13th through the 17th, and the weightlifting portion is ... Continue Reading
4 Fitness Vacations That Will Make You Stronger
Need to get away but don’t want to lose progress in your lifts? Believe it or not, you don't have to! If you're the kind of person whose ideal week off involves sunshine, cocktails, and barbell ... Continue Reading
Olympic Weightlifting Medalist Mohamed Ehab Youssef’s Insane Push Press Fight
Egyptian weightlifter Mohamed Ehab Youssef is a World and Olympic medalist (as of Rio), and besides being one of the strongest 77kg males on the planet, he's known for a couple things: 1. His intensity ... Continue Reading
USA Weightlifting Releases Record Standards for New 90kg Weight Class
In an article published on the USA Weightlifting website, USAW has announced the record standards for the newly-established women's 90kg weight class. Next month's American Open Championships in Florida ... Continue Reading
Kelly and Caleb Williams Are an American Weightlifting Power Couple
December will mark "7" for my next weightlifting power couple: 7 years married, and also 7 combined National Championships. Unlike Jason and I’s coach/athlete relationship, Caleb and Kelly Williams ... Continue Reading
Elle Hatamiya: Follow the 11 Year Old Weightlifter’s Olympic Dream
It’s always a great day when strength sports receive mass media coverage. Bleacher Report recently did a story on Elle Hatamiya, an 11 year old weightlifter with an Olympic dream. Not only is Hatamiya ... Continue Reading
Coaches Roundtable: Hook Grip Your Way to Stronger Lifts
The hook grip has been around for years in weight training. While the exact creator and originator of this grip is still unknown, there are records of athletes using hook grips in the 1940’s. To perform a ... Continue Reading
Canadian Weightlifter Boady Santavy Breaks Records, Aims for Olympics
Over the last five years, I have had several opportunities to venture north of the border and attend national events that were hosted by the Canadian Weightlifting Federation. In addition to friendly ... Continue Reading
Watch Olympic Gold Medalist Aleksey Torokhtiy Make His Transition Into CrossFit
At BarBend we always love when elite athletes try out different forms of stength sports. For example, Max Lang, a 77kg German weightlifter “suffering” through a CrossFit® class and giving his thoughts ... Continue Reading
USA Weightlifting Announces Ursula Papandrea As IWF Executive Candidate
In meeting minutes released on October 14th of this year, USA Weightlifting (USAW) has confirmed they will support the endorsement of three candidates for leadership positions within the International ... Continue Reading
Nick Urankar Hits 315 Snatch, 395 Clean & Jerk. Is This the New Normal for Games Athletes?
The CrossFit Liftoff is currently underway, which means new personal records are stacking up for functional fitness enthusiasts across the globe. More women than ever are snatching above 200 pounds, and a ... Continue Reading
Allergic to Your Barbell? Why Some Bars Give Lifters Itchy Reactions
Today at BarBend HQ I was speaking with David about front rack positions. We got into the topic of lifters with an allergy to nickel and how it can cause irritation and itching with some lifts. It was at ... Continue Reading
How Triphasic Training Can Improve Your Power Production
Every lift involves a concentric, eccentric, and isometric muscle action. Triphasic training employs the concept of loading each muscle action with the purpose of creating a specific training adaptation - ... Continue Reading
USA Weightlifting Looking to Recruit from CrossFit Liftoff Participants
The 2016 CrossFit Liftoff runs from November 3rd to 7th this year, and the remote competition will test athletes across max lifts in the snatch, clean & jerk, and a to-be-released conditioning ... Continue Reading
Alec Smith (Brother of CrossFit Games Champ Ben Smith) Cleans 400 Pounds
They raise kids strong in the Smith family, that's for sure. While oldest brother Ben Smith is perhaps the most famous of the Smith brothers for winning the 2015 Reebok CrossFit Games — and standing on the ... Continue Reading
Eugen Sandow Was a Groundbreaking Strength Pioneer and Father of Bodybuilding
Eugen Sandow is known as "The Father of Bodybuilding," and he acquired that title for good reason. Not only was Sandow strong, but he developed revolutionary strength training processes for his time ... Continue Reading
Ilya Ilyin Training Footage from 2012: 196kg Snatch, 240kg Clean & Jerk at 94kg Bodyweight
Instagram user Shin Yong Jin regularly posts training footage and competition archives from some of Asia's best weightlifters and weightlifting federations; his feed is equal parts hanging out with elite ... Continue Reading
How Coffee Naturally Boosts Your Workout Performance
Coffee, noun; defined as a drink made from brewed and ground bean like seeds. For myself, and a lot of others we know coffee as a verb. “Did you see me coffee that PR?” and, “I need to seriously coffee ... Continue Reading
Going Old School: Inside the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongman Banquet
On Saturday, October 29th, I attended the 33rd annual reunion dinner for the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongman (AOBS) at the Marriott Hotel on the grounds of the Newark/Liberty Airport. This ... Continue Reading
10 Lessons Learned from a College Strength Coach
When it comes to high school, collegiate, and professional level strength and conditioning, there’s always a constant goal in mind; improve athletes in the best, safest, and quickest means possible. One of ... Continue Reading
USA Weightlifting Announces Reno to Host First American Open Series Event
In an announcement posted on October 28th, USA Weightlifting (USAW) announced the inaugural event of the American Open Series will take place next March 16-19 Reno, Nevada. Earlier this month, USAW ... Continue Reading
Lifters Rejoice: Strength Training Does The Brain Good
We’re well aware of the physical benefits exercise offers us. Strength training improves our muscular base, enhances our posture, creates stronger bones, and improves joint health. Cardiovascular training ... Continue Reading
4 More London Olympic Weightlifters Ordered to Return Medals
In an October 27th announcement, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced official sanctions for eight athletes implicated in doping retests following the 2012 London Olympics. Six of the named ... Continue Reading
The 3 Most Common Types of Training Periodization (and When to Use Them)
Very rarely is anything truly new in the strength training world, especially when it comes to programming. Yes, methods change and the industry perpetually matures, but the fundamental programming pillars ... Continue Reading