The Future of Box Programming (Part 2)
Right now, CrossFit faces challenges that no playbook illustrates. Here’s how I’m making sense of it all.
5 Alternatives to Olympic Lifts
I have nothing against the Olympic lifts. They’re fantastic movements that create explosive power. It’s just that there are safer alternatives that still force the lifter into triple extension.
The Single, the Heavy Single and the 1RM: Know the Difference
Where part of the problem lies is in the assumption that a single should always or usually be heavy or maxed. The single, the heavy single, and the 1RM should really be seen as three different terms entirely.
The Necessity of Olympic Lifts for Athletes
I don’t know exactly where this concept came from—that they are essential to athletes’ being explosive and strong. I do know that this concept has grabbed on tight and locked into the heads of coaches for decades. I say let’s cut to the chase and trim the fat.
Dynamic Effort and Practical Application to Football Sports Performance
In layman’s terms, dynamic effort can be described as fast, explosive movement. This seems simple, but many people get lost between “fast and explosive” and “movement.”
WATCH: Travis Mash's Barbell Life Podcast Episode 190 with Guest Dr...
In one of his most detailed podcast discussions yet, Dr. Bryan Mann shares a number of discoveries he’s made about athlete training and the use of velocity based training.
Training Triple Extension — Olympic Lifting Variations and Substitutions
The optimal way to enhance an athlete’s power is by creating a force-velocity profile designed to address the athletes’ specific needs. When time does now allow for this, there are simple, safe alternative methods you can use.
WATCH: The Strength Coach Development Center — Olympic Lifts Progression
The Olympic lifts will develop strength, speed, and power, but this is dependent on a few things you must do for your athletes.
Doing What Works
This six-month training block for a young man (program included) explains everything you need for half a year of size and strength gains.
Olympic Lifts Have No Place in an Athlete's Physical Preparation
Do these beloved training movements contribute to soft tissues injuries more than they improve athletic performance? Before you make up your mind, hear me out.
Power Training for Team Sports
Effective training programs to use on your team during the competitive season.
Increasing Proficiency in the Olympic Lifts
With attention to detail, effort, and intelligent progressions, Olympic lifts can be both enjoyable and highly effective in developing a range of physical qualities.
Is This the Single Best Sports-Specific Exercise?
My view is no other exercise delivers as much for sports performance.
Elitefts™ Mobility Drills for Olympic Weightlifting
Three mobility drills specific to Olympic Weightlifting
Elitefts™ Olympic Lifts with Pauses
Using static holds for Olympic lifts can improve technique and allow for more comprehensive coaching
Coach G: What is your Philosophy, Part 2
Coach G returns to talk about the building blocks of strength and conditioning.
Questioning Training Methodologies
It is imperative that we don’t become narrow-minded and biased when choosing how we train our athletes.
Shifting Paradigm: Strength/Power/Speed
Strength, power, and speed are all interesting concepts on their own, and each has its place in a strength and conditioning program.
Guide to Implementing and Troubleshooting the Hang Clean
Olympic lifts are one of the most polarizing topics in the sports performance world.
A Standard Template for the Strongman Competitor
The following is a program that I’ve put together over the last few years by doing research and trial and error (otherwise known as ‘under the bar’ research).
Part Two: Discussing Common Arguments Against the “Full Olympic Lifts”
I’ve heard people say it takes too long to teach the full Olympic lifts correctly and that an Olympic lift with poor technique isn’t safe or effective.
Part One: A Basis for Using the “Full Olympic Lifts” in Training
Lately, I’ve been reading many articles and different points of views pertaining to the Olympic lifts and their use in training athletes
The Holy Wars; Why I Use Olympic Lifts…Sometimes
I’ve found that I have the best alone time when walking my dogs on a nice morning. A few days ago, it was unseasonable warm here in Pennsylvania, and I was spending some quality time with two of my dogs. I started thinking about training.
EliteFTS Spotlight: Jim Steel
This week’s EliteFTS Spotlight features University of Pennsylvania strength and conditioning coach Jim Steel. Coach Steel is a former college football player with an extensive powerlifting background.
Strongman Versus Power Cleans for Football, Part 1
You might disagree, but hear me out on this. As an ex-college football player and currently a strength coach, I’ve found the utilization and teaching of Olympic lifts to be tedious, inefficient, and downright boring. As a college athlete, I hardly found the patience to learn the correct lifting technique for the power clean. Although I held the St. John’s
Incorporating the “Big Three” into Sports Training: Part 2
For as long as I have been involved in sports and training, I have seen more cookie cutter training programs than you can shake a stick at (and that’s a lot).
The Thinker Discusses Olympic Lifts
Question 1: I’d like to thank you for all of the helpful tips, but this is where we’re going to crash. As an athlete, I’ve been performing the Olympic lifts since middle school. I use them with the athletes I train from day one and haven’t had any problems.
