training
Is There Any Benefit to Doing Over 40 Sets
Ever wondered about the benefits of more sets? Maybe you've tried and got quickly fatigued? Dave explains the impact in his latest Table Talk.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Jim Wendler's Garage Gym Warm-up
Nearly a decade of training combined, and what have Jim Wendler, Matt Rhodes, and Vincent Dizenzo learned about the perfect warm-up?
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Tate and Doug Heath Talk Meet Stories & Funny Louie Simmons Story
Nothing like getting together with pals and talking old powerlifting stories. From Louie Simmons trying to break your fingers after beating you in the stomach, to having rules made specifically about you.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — How JM Blakley and Dave Tate Built Tendon Strength
JM Blakley and Dave Tate have had their fair share of tendon problems. From tears to tweaks, they've learned how to strengthen their tendons to help lengthen their careers and put up bigger numbers. From ultra-heavy reps to ultra-light ones, here's a variety of tendon tools at your disposal.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Mark Bell Recalls Telling Louie Simmons How He Squatted 1080 Pounds
Everyone likes putting their own tweak on popular programming. Louie Simmons was not very receptive when he learned Mark Bell had changed his, however. You'd think a 180-pound squat PR would speak for itself, but apparently it was still no good.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Daily Movements Lifters Are Screwing Up Outside of the Gym
Stop screwing up your deloads and you'll see less back pain and significantly increased performance. Then stop screwing up how you tie your shoes! Done incorrectly, small movements can add up to exacerbate back pain.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Tate Exposes Fitness Hacks
What does the fitness landscape look like for beginners, and what can we do as trainers to help them best? It's oversaturated with con artists, and we need to understand the beginner's perspective to be able to help them best.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Only Have 3 Days Per Week To Train?
If you're struggling to make your workouts fit a new and tighter schedule, Dave Tate shares his pro tips for making 3-day and 2-day week splits work with great results.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Brian Alsruhe and Dave Tate Discuss Finding the Edge
Dave Tate and Brian Alsruhe both know you can't do the same thing forever and expect results. In the pursuit of maximal performance, you have to find your way to step ahead of the crowd. How do you identify what your own edge is?
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — What's Missing From Younger Lifter's Approach to Training
“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room...” — Socrates
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Tate on the Risks and Rewards of Powerlifting
Every action has a reaction. If you remain indifferent to the negative reactions while only focusing on the positive reactions, you're likely going to experience a major wake up call sooner or later.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Yessica Martinez Discusses JM Blakley Coaching Her Bench Press
In hindsight, what was Yessica Martinez's biggest takeaway from working with the bench press wizard JM Blakley?
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — This One Time, at Westside Barbell…
Great coaching, brawls and talking trash all go hand in hand at elite powerlifting gyms. When Dave Tate has a story to tell about Westside Barbell, it's a good idea to stop and listen.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Swede Burns & Dave Tate Discuss Bar Position For The Squat
Being jacked as hell got your shoulders a little tight? Here's how you fix your squat bar position for better performance, less pain, and a bigger total.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — What Age Should Kids Start Lifting Weights?
Did you miss out on your peak potential by picking up powerlifting too late? Or would you be nowhere near where you are by starting too early?
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Swede Burns Talks About His 9000-Calorie Diet
Need a little bit of bulking inspiration? Swede Burns and Dave Tate trade tips. Swede lays out the entirety of his diet he used to maintain a 330-pound bodyweight as a powerlifter.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Tate Reminisces About His Early Days As a Trainer
Dave Tate knows it all right? Not always... Here's a major blunder and how he bounced back.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Tate and JM Blakley Discuss Their Powerlifting Careers Ending
The idea that powerlifting might not be an option one day is terrifying, but at least Dave Tate and JM Blakley can share some wisdom for you to be prepared.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — How to Build Upper-Back Strength For a Bigger Squat and Bench Press
Looking to beef up your upper back or increase your bench and squat numbers? Of course you are. Check out Dave Tate's best advice on how to structure your routine to best gain upper back strength.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dizenzo Gains 28 Pounds in 24 Hours and Wendler Makes Fun of Him
Vincent Dizenzo, Jim Wendler, and Matt Rhodes come together to deliver a classic tale of body odor, sketchy needles, and a whole lot of that sweet power bloat. Complete with quite a few verbal jabs at each other in between, like does losing weight even count as a challenge as a super heavyweight powerlifter?
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Should Bigger Lifters Pull Sumo or Conventional?
Debating switching stances? How can you know which one is better for you? Dave Tate drops some wisdom on how you'll know when it's time to switch, and how to best train the deadlift.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — How JM Blakley Chooses His Supplemental Bench Movements
Listen to JM Blakley talk about the reasons behind his supplemental exercise choices when aiming to increase his already massive numbers. Apply these to any of your lifts and you might find what you're missing in your current program!
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Tate and Brian Alsruhe Discuss Dangers of Supplements
Whether you're trying to avoid a heart attack or a stint of diarrhea you might want to heed the words of Dave and Brian about how you shouldn't play around with your heart health.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Tate's Only Regret as a Competitive Powerlifter
“How much better could I have been if I had full support?” Dave tells us his only regret after a long powerlifting career. At the end of the day, none of the training mattered if he wasn’t doing right by the people he loved.