JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

Andy Deck

columnist

https:www.instagram.comandydeck?hl=en

Andy Deck got his start in strength sports in 2005 and today is a pro strongman and veteran of 44 strongman competitions from the local level all the way up to the international level with 33 podium finishes. He has also competed in highland games, highlander, and powerlifting competitions and is the Maryland state rep for the US Strongman federation. Andy has a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and a Master's degree in Applied Physiology with a focus on strength and conditioning.

In Which I Make Some Dumb Weight Choices on Event Day (w/ Video)

In Which I Make Some Dumb Weight Choices on Event Day (w/ Video)

I would have yelled at me for my stupidity if I had been training with me

May 28 2017

I Could Not Do Less

I Could Not Do Less

Seriously, this was about a quarter step above not training at all

May 28 2017

Maintaining Through Finals

Maintaining Through Finals

I hope

May 27 2017

Axle Bar is Best Bar

Axle Bar is Best Bar

Taking a page from my own training when my bench was strong(er)

May 27 2017

Getting a Run for my Money on Stones (w/ Video)

Getting a Run for my Money on Stones (w/ Video)

And hitting new heights in the process

May 27 2017

My Training Notes From Today Would Make a Sailor Blush

My Training Notes From Today Would Make a Sailor Blush

Soreness + tiredness + exams and projects = berating myself with the written word and writing untypeable obscenities

May 25 2017

They Say the Squat is the First Thing to Go

They Say the Squat is the First Thing to Go

Tighter than a duck's butt, I am

May 25 2017

Back On the Weight Wagon

Back On the Weight Wagon

Can't enjoy crushing your enemies, seeing them driven before you, and hearing the lamentations of their women without TRAINING for it

May 24 2017

First (Almost) Full Training Break in Years

First (Almost) Full Training Break in Years

I can see the possible benefit, but I still hated it

May 24 2017

Pre-Comp Mini Deload

Pre-Comp Mini Deload

It's not how fast you move, it's how well you move fast (hopefully)

May 18 2017

Extra Throwing

Extra Throwing

Throwing WOB without standards just isn't as much fun

May 9 2017

DL Still Feeling Good

DL Still Feeling Good

Competition coming up, feeling good, so no deload for this guy

May 9 2017

More Sunday Training, Out of Necessity

More Sunday Training, Out of Necessity

Mediocre benching at its finest

May 3 2017

One Week Out, It's Raining, So I'll Throw in the Rain

One Week Out, It's Raining, So I'll Throw in the Rain

Also, an amusing anecdote from the early days of the Meathead Dream Team

April 28 2017

Note to Self: Don't Get Nuts Sent to Promised Land

Note to Self: Don't Get Nuts Sent to Promised Land

Words of wisdom from Coach Skip Johns

April 28 2017

Speed Work Seems to Be Helping

Speed Work Seems to Be Helping

So maybe it really IS how fast you mow

April 25 2017

Looks Like Sunday Training May Be Temporarily Permanent

Looks Like Sunday Training May Be Temporarily Permanent

Not ideal, but it's only for another 5 weeks

April 21 2017

Training Throws at Brute

Training Throws at Brute

It's never not an awesome time, even if I only get video of the dregs of my training

April 21 2017

Extra Work to Prevent Pencil Neck

Extra Work to Prevent Pencil Neck

Wendler demonstrates that more neck = more sex appeal

April 17 2017

Working on Moving Fast(er)

Working on Moving Fast(er)

Doing more than 1 rep of clean and jerk makes it hard to breath

April 17 2017

Maybe It's the WhistlePig

Maybe It's the WhistlePig

And if that's the case, I need to get a case

April 12 2017

Riding the Pain Train to Poundtown

Riding the Pain Train to Poundtown

Or the struggle bus to Suckville

April 11 2017

From Good to Bad Is Okay

From Good to Bad Is Okay

As long as the bad is part of the PLAN

April 10 2017

Shrug Life

Shrug Life

Working on reinforcing what I learned from my visit to AU S&C

April 8 2017

Learning How and When to Train Around Mental and Physical Stressors

Learning How and When to Train Around Mental and Physical Stressors

All is good and right with the world

April 7 2017

When Life Throws You Exams, Train on Sunday

When Life Throws You Exams, Train on Sunday

Even if your body files a protest

April 3 2017

I know Something You Don't Know

I know Something You Don't Know

I am not left handed!

April 2 2017

Sometimes You Suck Cacahuates Gigantes

Sometimes You Suck Cacahuates Gigantes

But being terrible helps you appreciate being awesom(er), right?

March 31 2017

Jumping, Deadlifts, and Box Squats Are All that Matters

Jumping, Deadlifts, and Box Squats Are All that Matters

Or are they?

March 29 2017

Every Time You Bench on Monday, an Acre of Rain Forest Burns

Every Time You Bench on Monday, an Acre of Rain Forest Burns

And today I poured the gasoline and lit the match

March 28 2017

Great Training Partners Push You to Succeed Just Through Their Own Training

Great Training Partners Push You to Succeed Just Through Their Own Training

It's the only reason I got my last rep

March 27 2017

Overhead Pressing and Video of the Scales of Justice Pullups

Overhead Pressing and Video of the Scales of Justice Pullups

Lady Justice may be blind, but she also lets you know real quick when you're sucking the hind teat

March 24 2017

Squat and Deadlift in the Same Day? Anarchy

Squat and Deadlift in the Same Day? Anarchy

Still working out the kinks in my new training block

March 22 2017

How to Be Instantly Strong(er) (w/ video)

How to Be Instantly Strong(er) (w/ video)

Destroying PRs and bathrooms

March 21 2017

Tugging a Semi & Lifting Balls (w/ video)

Tugging a Semi & Lifting Balls (w/ video)

Double entendre or NSFW? You decide.

March 20 2017

Dropping My Load Part Deux

Dropping My Load Part Deux

Working on the FEEL GOOD part of look good, feel good, play good

March 17 2017

Dropping My Load Part Uno

Dropping My Load Part Uno

Apparently I've been eating ribs, because I've got the idis

March 15 2017

Throws, Kilts, and Brute Strength Gym (w/ Video)

Throws, Kilts, and Brute Strength Gym (w/ Video)

Wearing a kilt and throwing things in the great tradition of my ancestors

March 14 2017

My Best Split Jerk of the Week (w/ Video)

My Best Split Jerk of the Week (w/ Video)

Re-read the title, but imagine it is typed in the sarcasm font

March 12 2017

The Rear Float in the Stupid Parade

The Rear Float in the Stupid Parade

I'm glad something improved today in training, but why the hell did it have to be conditioning?

March 12 2017

The Continuum Transfunctioner Is a Very Mysterious and Powerful Device

The Continuum Transfunctioner Is a Very Mysterious and Powerful Device

And so is my brain

March 10 2017

Training in Sub-Freezing Temps 'Builds Character' w/ Videos

Training in Sub-Freezing Temps 'Builds Character' w/ Videos

By which I mean puts hair on your coinpurse

March 6 2017

Research Has Shown That Wearing a Belt and Wrist Wraps Makes Me Strong(er)

Research Has Shown That Wearing a Belt and Wrist Wraps Makes Me Strong(er)

It's science!

March 5 2017

Body Feeling Like Death? Do Death Marches!

Body Feeling Like Death? Do Death Marches!

Shankle said so.

March 3 2017

Some Days You Get the Bar, Some Days the Bar Gets You

Some Days You Get the Bar, Some Days the Bar Gets You

Or is that bear?

February 28 2017

My Best Impression of a Hog Being Slaughtered

My Best Impression of a Hog Being Slaughtered

And wearing a DL suit for the sausage casing

February 27 2017

Crappy Cleans and Quadtastic Conditioning

Crappy Cleans and Quadtastic Conditioning

And later, a solid homage to George Washington

February 24 2017

All Kinds of Tugging - with Video

All Kinds of Tugging - with Video

Different starting points, stopping points, bars, and resistance types

February 22 2017

Triceps Death Thanks to Adding One Extra Set

Triceps Death Thanks to Adding One Extra Set

It seemed like a good idea at the time

February 21 2017

Moving From the Plan to the Backup Plan

Moving From the Plan to the Backup Plan

And how to roll a Hard 9

February 20 2017

Just Because You Feel Good, Doesn't Mean You Can Be a Dummy

Just Because You Feel Good, Doesn't Mean You Can Be a Dummy

Into every life a little stupidity must fall

February 18 2017

I Think I'm Getting the Black Lung, Pop

I Think I'm Getting the Black Lung, Pop

Welcome to the Thunderdome

February 17 2017

Nothing Says Happy V-Day Like Jerking the Log

Nothing Says Happy V-Day Like Jerking the Log

Get your mind out of the gutter

February 16 2017

Make Up Work for Missing on Friday

Make Up Work for Missing on Friday

Now I just need to get back to prowling on a regular basis

February 15 2017

Back at the Unit Mk IV for Strongman Saturday

Back at the Unit Mk IV for Strongman Saturday

Two months out from my next comp

February 15 2017

Last Training Day at Colosseum Gym

Last Training Day at Colosseum Gym

But as a great machine once said, "I'll be back!"

February 14 2017

Strongman Saturday at Iron Athletics with an OG

Strongman Saturday at Iron Athletics with an OG

I firmly believe that WHO you train with is more important than where you train, what program you follow, or what equipment you have

February 13 2017

Words of Wisdom from Skip Johns

Words of Wisdom from Skip Johns

Good advice from an awesome human being

February 11 2017

Last Trip to See Some Friends Before Moving Back Home

Last Trip to See Some Friends Before Moving Back Home

A wise donkey once sang, "Cause ya gotta have frieeeeeeeeeends..."

February 10 2017