How To Build A Bench Press with Trashy Triceps
If you train smart and put in the work, your nagging pains will not stop you from hitting a PR.
WATCH: Table Talk — How Do You Make Training Fit Your Life Schedule?
If training is getting lost on your daily to-do list, change your approach.
The JL Letters — Passages 1 and 2
Things are getting hot between Dave and JL. What’s behind this growing bond?
Setup Rules for the Bench Press
Regardless of what program you think works best for you, the form used to complete the lift is still the same.
Parallels of Lifting and Life — Confidence, Arrogance, Priorities
Chad shares how difficulties in a personal situation had him look to lifting for answers.
WATCH: Spotting 101 — The Squat
Knowing how to properly spot is not only important for the safety of the lifter but also for your own.
5 Old School Principles to Hold Onto
If you do not follow these principles in your programming, you are building a house out of sand.
Special Olympics Ohio: The Definition of Strong(er)
The powerlifting community could learn a lot from the Special Olympics.
Morning Metabolism and Circadian Rhythms
If Diet-Induced Thermogenisis is in fact a variable we can control through a choice on whether/how to distribute our calories across the day, it could be the example of magic metabolism claimed in so many fitness tip listicles.
Finding Strength: Granite Barbell
A bare bones gym in Campbell Hall, NY, Brett Somerville and Anthony Buzzeo offer all the equipment and training knowledge to take your strongman game up a notch.
Powerlifting Meets: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
One of the best meets that I’ve been to as a competitor was the 2014 WPC World Championships in West Palm Beach, Florida. Why was it so great?
Alexeyev — The Best at Everything (continued)
Here is the next installment on the intriguing Russian behemoth, Vasili Alexeyev.
Whiny Physique Competitors, Let’s Get Something Straight
It occurs to me that the large majority of whining is coming from physique competitors. Apparently no one has been honest with you up to this point.
WATCH: Set Yourself Up For A Bigger Bench
Sometimes a visual is the one thing an audible coaching cue lacks. Give these tips a try.
WATCH: Best Secondary Movement for the Squat
This week Dave answers the question: If you could only pick one exercise as a secondary movement for squats, what would it be and why?
Why Do You Lift — Defining Hope, Motivation, and Risk
This is where we find the relationship between hope and two other concepts that are directly important to sports performance and powerlifting in particular: motivation and risk.
Three Financing Options for Your Gym Business
You may decide to use one or all three of these options to best set up your facility for profitability. What’s your plan?
Loading Stones
This article is not about atlas stones. It’s about work and the ingenuity to use all your resources to get the job done.
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength: ½ One-to-one, ½ ...
In this type of training, we’re taking things one step further — we share the training experience with a partner.
Using The Body Composition Action Chart for Athlete Programming
A player’s lean body mass has effect on the optimal mode of programming and dictates the methods you should use to improve athletic performance.
5 Barriers: Why You're Having A Bad Experience with PT
Get the most out of working with your rehab expert so you can move better with less pain.
WATCH: 2016 Special Olympics Ohio Summer Games — Powerlifting
With lifters from Madison County competing and elitefts providing the equipment, this event meant a lot to our community.
WATCH: Knee Wrapping Technique for PR Attempts
If I don’t want to punch you in the face during my wrap, it’s not tight enough. Here’s how to do it right.
Verbal Cues Every Set — A Reminder of Your Duty as a Training Partner
If your training partner’s technique is poor it will take a lot more than empty encouragement to make him better.
Signs You're Overreaching (And What to Do About It)
But even the strongest of minds cannot pick up the slack when your body inevitably cracks, splinters and breaks.
WATCH: Unilateral Specialized Power Training
To improve athletic power, functional core strength, and body composition, check out these video exercise executions and training strategies that you can use right away.
Bench Press Q&A: Shoulder Retraction, Bar Path, and Pec Tears
You have questions, team elitefts has answers. Today’s topic: the bench press.
WATCH: Table Talk — What If Other Competitors Lie About Drug Use?
Mentally preparing for a meet isn’t easy but what if you also have to worry that the other lifters are lying about steroids?
WATCH: 2016 Training Camp — All Footage with JL, Swede, and Casey
Following this exclusive elitefts event, we have shared coaching videos and lessons from the weekend. Here’s everything in one place.
8 Rules for The Hard Gainer
You’re sick of spinning your wheels. Trust me, I get it. I’ve been there. Here’s how to stop being timid and weak.
Are You Just Going Through the Motions?
Life is meant to be lived. Stop sleepwalking through life and waiting for things to happen.
IFBB Arctic Pro 212 — My First Pro Win
If nothing else, this show proved I still have something left in the tank at 41 years of age.
Should Pain Be Normal?
Most people automatically brush pain off as something that is a typical part of life, but I’d say that, “no pain, no gain” is furthest from the truth.
RPS Canadian Nationals — My First Meet Post Shoulder Surgery
I believe you should treat every injury as a gift. While fighting to make it back to the platform I learned many things.
Finding Strength: United States Strongman Nationals
With over 300 competitors in attendance, the energy was intense. I am in awe of how many people were there not only to compete, but to watch at cheer on the strongmen.
The Dying Art of Strength and Conditioning
Between art and science, the pendulum has swung massively to one side.
Mixing Macros — How to Use Macronutrient Combinations to Improve Your Ph...
Different macronutrient combinations can each have their own physiological effects, advantages, and disadvantages. Take total advantage of it.
The Mandatory Deload
My biggest mistake over the last few years was competing too much and training through injuries. Taking time off was probably the most difficult thing I've ever had to do.
Deadlift Q&A: Block Pulls, Tension, Hip Mobility
You have questions, team elitefts has answers. Today's topic: deadlifting.
Quit Blaming The Judges
I'm getting tired of hearing words like "politics" thrown around to scapegoat a lost competition. Yup, it's rant time.
WATCH: Interview with Acumobility’s Brad Cox
Cox and Duffin discuss hip shift and pelvic tilt in the squat and deadlift, giving quick fixes and demonstrating five assessments to improve your performance.
WATCH: Table Talk — Lat Training to Build a Raw Bench Press
A lot of lifters say the lats are the most important part of a strong bench press, but few know how to train them correctly.
So You Made Weight, Now What?
You've put 8-16 weeks of hard work into your meet prep. Why ruin it 24 hours before the competition?
Metabolic Stress Based Hypertrophy Training
This protocol seems to be at least as effective (if not more effective) than training in traditional rep ranges, while at the same time remaining far less expensive in terms of recoverability.
Mental Health and the Strength Athlete: Strength Beyond the Barbell
Mental illness isn't something you hear often in the strength world — but that's not because it doesn't exist.
2016 United States Strongman Nationals — 3rd Place Finish
Two months ago I made the decision to compete at United States Strongman Nationals with the only goal of qualifying for Pro Women's World's in October.
Top Four: What Are Your Priorities?
Dave has always said that elitefts is for those who place training as a top priority in their life. But what does this really mean?
40 Years and 40 Lessons
On my 40th birthday I reflect on the things I learned for each year of my life.
My 12-Week Diet in Preparation for 2016 USS Strongman Nationals
Mike Mastell has helped me with my nutrition which varies by training days, off days, and event days. Here's a detailed breakdown.
2016 United States Strongman Nationals — 2nd Place Finish
While it’s not what I went there for, second out of 39 of the best 220-pound strongman competitors in the nation and second out 55 in the combined 198/220-pound middleweight overall is pretty good.
Backward Sled Pulls for Quad Size and Strength
If your leg development is lagging, it's time to start dragging.
Perspectives on Hypertrophy
My viewpoint runs counter to much of the current climate, which is dominated by the short-term perspective of a "hypertrophy phase."
A Refresher on Traditional Periodization
Before there were a bunch of fancy training programs, and after Milo carried the growing cow a bit further each day, there was traditional periodization. Let's review.
WATCH: Table Talk — The Early Days
What did a typical day in college look like for Dave back in his 20s?
4 Powerlifting Trump Cards You Should Hold Onto
Just like a game of euchre, there is an optimal time to play these trump cards in powerlifting.
WATCH: Bench Press Instruction with JL, Swede, and Casey
In this final collection of footage we'll share from our April training camp, the three expert coaches demonstrate the proper way to learn and improve the bench press.
Progressions and Regressions in Strength and Conditioning
This model allows you to assess and modify the training of your athletes based on their daily performance and movement proficiency.
York Barbell Hall of Famer Rickey Dale Crain
Inducted in 2000, he is a five-time IPF World Champion, 10-time national champion, and much more.
Three Days at Kabuki Strength Systems
Through our many adventures, Chris Duffin and I trained, went four-wheeling, ate A LOT, and talked about many aspects of coaching and programming.