What I care about is that the lower back is frozen in space and that it doesn't move. The best way to do that is to bring the ribs down, provided that they're flared, aiming for a neutral position where the ribs, diaphragm, and pelvic floor are stacked directly over each other.

Joe Jackson argues that modern powerlifting must evolve beyond a niche participant activity by prioritizing compelling storytelling and head-to-head battles that engage a wider audience. He also reflects on the mental demands of the sport, warning lifters that they cannot "out total a bad relationship" with themselves and must separate their self-worth from the numbers on the bar to survive the plateau periods following the initial "honeymoon phase" of strength gains.

The guys who laughed at online training now rely on it to pay their bills. That’s not hypocrisy — it’s evolution. If we return to the pre-Internet era, it’s the same story told through different technology.

 Dave Tate argues that while the fitness industry hyper-focuses on the "black margin" of complex nuances like peptides and exact RIR, the vast majority of progress actually comes from the ignored "white space" of common sense fundamentals. He contends that mastering basic compound lifts, training with sufficient effort, and maintaining consistency are far more critical for growth than obsessing over the optimization minutiae often found in online discourse.

If you’re a powerlifter, whether you compete seriously or love chasing PRs in the gym, there’s a good chance you’ve dealt with some level of aches, pains, or maybe even full-blown injuries. It comes with the territory, to some extent.

 Emphasizing that he is just "happy to be here" and views the sport as simply lifting weights, powerlifter David Raymond explains why he maintains a positive mindset and smiles even after failing a world record attempt. The conversation spans his decade-long journey, detailing his coaching relationship with Dan Bell and wild personal stories ranging from rating public bathrooms to meeting Muhammad Ali.

The deciding factor for success in lifting is confidence, requiring lifters to work on their inner dialogue and reframe negative thoughts, such as the limiting belief of a sticking point that "always" happens.The only consistent variable among top strength athletes across all disciplines is the ability to autoregulate training, a crucial skill that prescriptive programming often inhibits.

Survivorship bias is the reason you keep copying the strongest freaks on the internet and wondering why you’re beat up, burned out, or stalled. This article breaks down why extreme programs “work” for the rare few who can survive them—and how to train in a way that actually builds strength for the long haul.

Those promoting the safest, injury-free training solutions become rehab specialists.

"Dieting is a skill set learned solely through repetition, much like identifying cues to improve a squat, and must be designed to plug and play into an individual's specific lifestyle to ensure success. Ultimately, the goal is to condition the body to hyper-respond to the stimulus of nutrients while ensuring the nutrition plan is realistic enough for the athlete to maintain consistency regardless of their daily responsibilities."

Wave loading is a powerful strength training technique that involves cycling through sets with different weights and reps in the same session to challenge the body and break through plateaus. By strategically manipulating intensity and volume, this method drives genuine improvements in strength, muscle growth, and overall performance.

Travel back to April 1980, a year of political drama and legendary strength in the powerlifting world. This deep dive into the Powerlifting USA archives features an exclusive look at Bill Kazmaier’s scientific training blueprint at Auburn University and Jan Todd’s historic barrier-breaking 501.25 lb squat

Josh Hobbs, School Board President for Waverly City Schools, explains how witnessing a high frequency of athlete injuries and poor on-field physicality inspired the implementation of a dedicated in-school weight training curriculum. By leveraging PE budget allocations and partnering with EliteFTS for customized equipment, the program now addresses modern physical weaknesses, such as poor posture and weak glutes, to better prepare students for competition.

There comes a time when the barbell stops being a scoreboard and starts being a lifeline. It’s no longer about chasing a number — it’s about maintaining the ability to move, to feel capable, to keep doing the thing you love for as long as possible. You stop chasing validation and start chasing continuity.

 "If we cover all these bases all year round... you will make faster progress because you don't spend time correcting weaknesses because nothing gets particularly weak in the first place".

Continuing to lift weights during the season is crucial for athletes to maintain their hard-earned off-season gains and significantly reduce the risk of non-contact injuries. By debunking common myths about soreness and time constraints, this article explains why in-season training is essential for peak performance and long-term athletic success.

To build true strength that transfers to the platform, beginner powerlifters must abandon touch-and-go reps in favor of deadlift step-backs that force a complete reset between every lift. By controlling the eccentric descent and overcoming static inertia from a dead stop, you ensure every repetition builds the raw power necessary for maximum potential rather than relying on momentum.

When addressing back pain, it is crucial to perform the Bird Dog exercise with the intention of creating static bracing tension through the torso, as the goal is not merely to move but to build tolerance for main lifts like the squat, bench press, or deadlift. Following the Bird Dog pattern, lifters can progress to single-leg hinge variations, starting with the kickstand deadlift and moving to the step-back variation and finally the single-leg RDL, which forces stability through the hip and can be progressed infinitely in loading to build strength.

Many trainees are consistent with their physical presence in the gym but fail to maintain consistency in the mental discipline and specific habits, such as sleep and stress management, required for genuine growth. This disconnect often leads to the "training sins" of ego lifting and program hopping, where short-term gratification is prioritized over long-term, sustainable progress.

This simplistic but highly effective banded warm-up routine teaches lifters how to stabilize the pelvis and keep the rib cage grounded while moving through hip internal and external rotation. By utilizing specific drills, such as the banded deadbug and the 90/90 hip internal rotation, athletes can enhance motor control and address common mobility restrictions that limit their squat performance.

We all want to have periods of weight loss in our lives. Approximately 45 million Americans attempt to diet annually, and fewer than half are successful. Meanwhile, the supplement industry is a multi-billion-dollar market that entices many of us to spend more than we save. 

The Strength Mastery Event is a two-day, hands-on coaching experience designed to help participants master the squat, deadlift, bench, and overhead press while learning foundational mechanics such as breathing, bracing, and foot rooting. Attendees work in a small-group setting to receive practical feedback and clear cues, ensuring they leave with improved positions and a training plan they can use immediately.