Today we’re talking to coach Travis Mash. In some circles, Travis is best known as a champion, world record-breaking powerlifter, and his career in that sport is legendary. But fewer people know that Travis’ first strength love was weightlifting, a sport he spends most of his time coaching these days. Travis joins us to talk about training athletes based on scientific principles, starting a collegiate weightlifting program, and his passion for strength research. We also discuss the Super Total — which involves testing athletes across both weightlifting and powerlifting events — and much, much more.
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On this episode of The BarBend Podcast, host David Thomas Tao talks to Travis Mash about:
- Travis’ unique career and exposure to strength in multiple disciplines (02:24)
- Moving cross-country on a whim in order to train in weightlifting (04:45)
- Why Travis loves the Super Total (08:30)
- Athleticism versus strength (09:00)
- Travis’ coaching style and system for weightlifting (16:15)
- Collegiate weightlifting programs in the United States (20:00)
- The data and programming design behind Travis’ coaching (27:20)
- Why the “optimal” squat program is a misdirection (31:00)
Relevant links and further reading:
