They are NOT Angry Birds!
I used to hate the term “special needs,” but now I can’t stand people who say they hate the term. FACT: My son has special needs.
The Westside I Remember
With our Westside Table Talk episode coming up I thought I’d add more background to this article on Westside and the lifters I met there
Weight Loss Tips from Two Guys Who Lost 100 Pounds Each
Check out this interview with Vincent Dizenzo
How to Start a Gym with Less Than $20K
Believe it or not, it took less than $20,000 to get my gym, THIRST, up and running. It’s a little over a year old now, and it’s still going strong. Point is, you don’t have to be a millionaire to start up your own gym. Here’s how I did it with THIRST.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #43 with Julia Anto, Yessica Martinez, and Al...
This episode will have a little less testosterone than usual, but don’t let that stop you from listening! Tune in to find out what makes these three women strong(er) than you…
3 Things I Learned From Training My @ss Off with Dave Tate
The Train Your @ss Off with Dave Tate event was not only a life-changing experience; it was also truly something I will remember forever. It has made me a better coach, a better training partner, and a better overall human because it helped me figure out what is truly important in my life.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Common Causes of Hip Shift
Hate to break it to you, but you can’t out-correct a corrective exercise.
WATCH: Dave Tate's Powerlifting Warm-Up Circuit
If you’ve dreamed of training the same way Dave Tate’s athletes do, today’s your lucky day… well, not exactly. Maybe you can’t train like them, but you can sure warm up like them!
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Gives Advice to College Students
“It’s going to feel heavy as fuck, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do it.”
WATCH: I am Jordan Shallow
“I’m not the strongest guy in the world, but I might have a run as one of the stronger chiropractors.” elitefts coach and columnist Dr. Jordan Shallow wants to make his mark in chiropractic, education, training, and fitness — and he might be doing just that through his travels and writings.
WATCH: JM Blakley's Ultimate 6-Rep Triceps Workout
Even though it’s 6 reps, you might want to tell the person who wants to use the cable machine they’ll have to wait a bit. This exercise puts the burn in slow burn.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Are Hex Bars, High Squats, and Box Squ...
What do Dave Tate, Nick Showman, Louie Simmons, and high school athletes have in common? A love-hate relationship with the trap bar… and a few other movements.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — What is NEVERsate?
NEVERsate started off as a band name and became the name of Brian Alruhe’s gym — but there’s more to the name than that.
12 Gifts for the Whole Family
Move over, Oprah’s Favorite Things — these are the hottest and strongest gifts of the season, all in a one-stop-shopping guide.
The Gifts of Manhood to Make Those Jingle-Balls Drop
Do you know a poor dude whose testicles really need to drop this holiday season? This selection of gifts has been proven to raise testosterone levels by as much as 1,849 percent!
5 Items for a Fatter Christm-ass Than Last Year
While your keto-obsessed cousin and diabetic grandmother stress over their diet decisions and stay away from the dessert tray, go all in. Make Christmas count this year.
Gifts for the New Class of Annoying Gym Members
Members in smaller training facilities are like family, and what says family more than giving a gift to someone you can’t stand?
5 Gifts for the Ultimate Powerlifting Garage Gym
I am here to tell you if these are on your Christmas list and you get all these items, then you will be on track for a massive total and some of the best training of your life. I cannot recommend all of these pieces enough.
WATCH: I am JM Blakley
“Our human potential is much higher than we recognize.” elitefts coach and columnist JM Blakley might be the namesake of the JM Press, but he hopes his impact in the strength sports world will go far beyond that and the weights he’s lifted.
7 Items That'll Make You a MILF
Use these items 20 minutes a day, every day, and you’ll be a MILF in no time.
7 Gifts for New Dads
Let’s be honest: Moms do most of the work at first with babies. That means us dads need to make sure that we’re in the best shape to help our strong, badass wives with the newest addition of the family, and this wishlist will kick our dad bods back into shape.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #38 with Dave Tate
Is that Santa Claus or a powerlifter? It’s Dave Tate, back to host another Table Talk Podcast episode.
WATCH: Atlas Stone Tutorial with Brian Alsruhe
Even if you’re not a strongman competitor, the Atlas Stone’s benefits have carryover to the Big Three. Besides, it’s fun to train something new. So what are you waiting for? Grab an Atlas Stone, heavy med ball, or sandbag so we can get started!
5 Things Every Small Garage Gym Owner Should Have
Your training space is a one-car stall garage, and you want quality equipment at a decent price. Does this sound like you? Great, say no more. Every small garage gym owner should have these five things for endless training possibilities and year-round gains.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Training Hard Through Chemotherapy
Training through chemotherapy took everything Clint Darden had. All in all, he believes it was important that he did. There was nothing else he’d rather do and no place he’d rather be.
5 Gifts for the Friend on Santa's Naughty List
Bad news: Your buddy is on the Naughty List. The only thing he deserves for the holidays is a kick in the ass to get back into the gym. Good news: You take the high road and give him the gift of training with you next year with some nice incentives.
Express Gratitude This Thanksgiving
We all have things that we are grateful for. You won’t know it, though, because it isn’t posted on social media or the headline of the e-blast you are about to receive. Likely, it’s a culmination of little things that collectively bring happiness to our daily lives.
5 Essential Items That'll Keep You Warmed Up Without Doing Warm-Ups
It’s winter, it’s cold, and Dave says fuck warm-ups. With these items, you’ll stay warmer than you’ve ever been, in and out of the gym.
THIRST: Bringing Quality, Service, and Integrity to Terre Haute
Anyone who walks into the Terre Haute, Indiana-based gym, THIRST, can see both quality and integrity through the primary services it offers, along with its affiliation to elitefts through gym owner Brandon Smitley.
5 Christmas Gifts for a Crazy Strongman Hermit Who Lives in the Woods
Now that I’m out in the middle of nowhere, I’m looking forward to beginning my descent into hermitude and madness as I train alone. Picture Jack Nicholson’s character in “The Shining” except more swole because of these 5 items.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — How Steroids Can Damage Long-Term Trai...
Don’t do drugs. Negative side effects and addiction concerns aside, PEDs can really harm athletes’ long-term development and careers. They’re not worth losing the future gains over, we promise.
WATCH: Farmer's Walk Tutorial with Brian Alsruhe
Fun fact: the farmer’s walk is one of Brian Alsruhe’s favorite exercises of all time. It works your grip, back, traps, biceps, core, and calves… what’s not to love?
Two Lifters, One Ultimate Holiday Shopping List
If you have gym friends with different focuses, no worries! The gifts on this shopping list are sure to please both of your powerlifting pals, regardless of their goals, focus, or social media presence.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #37 with JM Blakley
Since you guys couldn’t get enough of him the first time, we’ve asked JM Blakley to come back to record another Table Talk Podcast episode. So sit back, relax, and listen to JM’s soothing voice instruct you on how to become a better lifter!
5 Items to Whip Your Powerlifting Fiancé into Wedding Day Shape That Won...
My fiancée has helped me grow as a person emotionally, mentally, and of note here, physically — I’ve put on about 100 pounds in the last four years, so I need to become the man she sees me as. The items on this list will help me accomplish just that.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dan Green on Using Intensity to Build ...
“…I’m using powerlifting lifts in a bodybuilding style…” Dan Green shares the secrets to building muscle as a powerlifter and as a bodybuilder.
Paying the Price of the Platform
The wear and tear of the sport doesn’t end when the lifter stops competing. The price of the platform may be one that they will pay for throughout the rest of their lives.
5 Gifts for the Garage Gym of Your Dreams
Having a garage gym has been my dream since 1999. Now I’m going on my 10th year in my second marriage with two kids and working as a part-time Mr. Mom and a part-time gas utility worker in Northern California. That dream is slowly becoming a reality, and the items on this list will help speed things up.
Chin-Ups at a Higher Bodyweight
If you’re a heavier trainee, chin-ups are difficult… but not impossible. Case in point: I’m nearly 50 years old and weigh 245 pounds, but I do chin-ups for volume rather than output. Here lies the secret to my chin-up success.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #36 with Jordan Shallow
The Muscle Doc is in the house! Dr. Jordan Shallow is here to answer your (bench) pressing questions, so hop on the livestream and ask away!
10 L(G)ift Ideas for the Formerly MAMF (Military-Aged Male or Female) in...
Don’t despair. Christmas is the season of hope, and these 10 ideas will help ease the pain that years of abuse from Uncle Sam have wrought on that body. So break out the AMEX and get your older military officer or veteran back in the fight!
![WATCH: The Method Behind Brian Alsruhe's Training [Whiteboard Edition]](https://www.elitefts.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BrianWhiteboard-300x250.jpg)
WATCH: The Method Behind Brian Alsruhe's Training [Whiteboard Edition]
Brian Alsruhe’s background in strongman, martial arts, MMA, and counter-terrorism led to his training system being “messed up” and unique from everyone else’s. Despite that, he’s found great success with his programming and will be breaking it down in this video.
Editor's Letter for November
Find out who’s coming to elitefts for November, read what content we’re working on for you, and try to win $500 just in time for the holidays!
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dan Green and Andrew Herbert's We...
“I do feel the back is the engine of the powerlifter. You could almost not train anything else but just pound the shit out of your back four times a week and still be strong.”
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Tate's Simple and Effective ...
The conjugate method isn’t simple for everyone, which is why Dave decided to write down an explanation on the Table Talk table.
WATCH: Equipment Feature — elitefts Tri Plyo Cube
With three different heights in one plyobox, the elitefts Tri Plyo Cube is a great tool and one you should definitely have in your home gym.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Key Indicators for a Big Bench
There are so many movements you can do when it comes to strengthening the back for the bench press — so which ones SHOULD you do?
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #34 with Ross Kolodziej
Before the Buckeyes face off against the Badgers, University of Wisconsin’s head strength and conditioning coach Ross Kolodziej joins Dave for a late-night Table Talk Podcast episode.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #33 with Brian Alsruhe
Brian Alsruhe, Maryland’s Strongest Man and owner of NEVERsate Athletics, pays a visit to the S5 Compound to train and to talk with Dave Tate on a Table Talk Podcast episode.
Power in Motion: A One-of-a-Kind Gym Culture
“We’re the only functional training gym in the Midwest.” Power in Motion is truly one of a kind, from its focus on functional training to individualized services for its diverse clientele to its arrangement of specialty equipment.
Why I Bought From elitefts
My first experience with elitefts equipment was from the days I was a Division I strength coach at the University of New York at Buffalo. Let’s just say the price was not the only factor in why I decided we should go with elitefts equipment.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — The Yellow Brick Road of Powerlifting
Don’t pay attention to the man behind the curtain; instead, keep your eye on the goal through your training journey.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #32 with Nick Showman
It’s showtime — and why wouldn’t it be since this week’s guest is Nick Showman, owner of Showtime Strength & Performance?
WATCH: I am Clint Darden
“I don’t need a psychiatrist. Give me a squat rack and a deadlift platform and a bench and a couple of Atlas stones, and that’s my psychiatric chair right there.” Everyone needs a safe haven, and elitefts coach Clint Darden has found his at the House of Biceps in Cyprus.
The elitefts Internship Guide
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about internships, all in one place.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Tate's Favorite Part of Powe...
For someone who says he doesn’t like the competition aspect of powerlifting, it comes off as a surprise that Dave Tate’s favorite part about powerlifting is a moment that happens at meets.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #31 with Doug Heath
Ohio is the mecca of powerlifting, and elitefts is just one stop on the journey. Doug Heath, one of the Ohio powerlifters who inspired Louie Simmons to develop the Westside Method, joins Dave Tate on this Table Talk Podcast episode.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #30 — How Dave Tate Trained His Clients
If you train gen pop, how do you get into your clients’ heads? What exercises do you choose? Dave Tate answers these questions based on his experiences from training gen pop.
Editor's Letter for October
If you’re after Gobstoppers, Reese cups, Jolly Ranchers, Snickers, or Candy Corn this October, knock on your neighbor’s door. If in fact, you’re after exercises to strengthen your spinal erectors, a conjugate triphasic program, an injury equation, intramuscular pressure, and alternatives to the Olympic lifts, click here. And of course, you’ll find the most popular content from September in here