The First 700-Pound Bench Press at Westside Barbell
Kenny Patterson shares his intense training to his historic event of being the first to bench press 700 pounds representing Westside Barbell.
Brilliance in the Basics for First Responders
Our jobs as tacticians, cops, nurses, EMTs, and firefighters are complex enough. Focus on the basics in the weight room without convoluting it.
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
Louie Simmons Shocks Boris Sheiko
In 2016, Boris Sheiko met Louie Simmons for the first time. Here’s how they spent their time together and what they talked about.
What I Learned From Louie Simmons
Talk to any strength coach or trainer, and in some way, they have been influenced by Louie Simmons. Here are 7 ways he influenced me.
#112 - Westside Barbell Stories (Discipline and Consistency)
Jim Wendler and Matt Rhodes to discuss training, coaching, consistency, discipline, and past Westside Barbell stories
#108 - Season 2 Finale: Louie Simmons and the Future of Table Talk
In the final episode of Season 2, Dave Tate sits down to discuss Louie Simmons’ passing and the future of Dave Tate’s Table Talk Podcast.
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.
Chad vs. The World: An Old Soul
I’m a little behind for writing about my thoughts on Westside Vs. The World, but I have a lot of thoughts to add. Better late than never, right? Maybe I’m too old for this social media stuff, but I’m not too old to write about my powerlifting exploits.
Conjugate For A Little Old Man
People have asked me to write about how I train. I haven’t done it because I figured you guys thought it’d be boring… until now. Here’s a look at my training and the process behind it.
Westside vs The World Now Available on Vimeo
The documentary Westside vs The World lives up to its name, as the documentary isn't available everywhere — though it's a bit more accessible to watch via Vimeo now.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #11 with Kenny Patterson
In this episode of Table Talk Podcast, Dave Tate and Kenny Patterson talk about Louie Simmons, their time at Westside Barbell Club, the documentary “Westside vs The World,” and more.
Going on the Record with ATWR Holder Heidi Howar
I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing and training with Heidi, and I can say with absolute certainty that she is the real deal, an ATWR-holding meathead who’s willing to do what it takes to become, and in her case, stay the best.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #2 with JL Holdsworth
In this episode of Table Talk Podcast, Dave Tate and JL Holdsworth reminisce about their time at Westside Barbell, perspective and the meaning of “going all in,” figuring out band and chain percentages, and more.
The ABCs of My Life in Strength, Conditioning, and Fitness
I started my career as a strength and conditioning coach nearly 40 years ago. Throughout those 40 or so years, I picked up and learned a lot from other people. I tried to name as many of these people and their ideas as possible, so here it is, in an easy-to-read ABCs format.
5 Items to Make This the Fattest Christm-ass Ever
Volunteering at the local mall as the jolly fat man in red? Want to convince your kids that you are the one in charge of the naughty and nice list? If you want to look like Santa Claus himself, stop gobbling your kids’ cookies and milk on Christmas Eve and look no further than what’s on this list.
Physics Made Easy to Increase Your 1RM
Acceleration is one of the most important components for building maximum strength. However, you should not confuse acceleration with explosiveness.
Best Caliber Athletes
‘’Westside only gets the best caliber athletes to work with,” is something we’ve heard over the years. What does this mean?
I Know Squat — Five Keys to Squatting Big Weight
I’ve squatted with some of the strongest squatters in the world at Westside Barbell. I’ve squatted with three-time World’s Strongest Man Bill Kazmaier and I was coached to a 700-pound raw squat by Josh Bryant when I was 22 years old. Here’s what I know.
Boris Sheiko's Thoughts on Westside Barbell
Two giants in the world of strength. Two very different training styles. How can both be so successful?
WATCH: How to Set Up Bands Correctly for the Squat, Bench, and Deadlift
Your setup will vary depending on the equipment you’re using and the lift you’re performing. This article includes a step-by-step video guide to ensure you’re getting the most out of your bands.
Team elitefts Competition Schedule for 2018 XPC Powerlifting
Columbus Ohio is the place to be March 1-4. Here’s the running itinerary for elitefts competitors and coaches.
5 New elitefts Items Worth Checking Out
Check out the new line of Westside Barbell equipment, elitefts tee's and tanks and the Airex Balance Pad that is a must-have for any functional training enthusiast. Add these new items to your cart today!
All In — When I Got to Westside
Before I started training at Westside, I told my wife I was going to shut off my brain and do whatever I was told, no matter what. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
Elitefts And Westside Barbell Announce Content-Sharing And Product Distr...
Two of the strength world’s leading brands join forces to broaden their reach.
New eBook by Nate Harvey Available for Purchase: ConjugateU
The Proven and Practical Guide for Using the Conjugate Method with Athletes
Screening Date Announcement: Westside vs the World
The wait is almost over! Click here to find out where the first screenings of Westside vs the World will be held!
Strength 101 from Westside Barbell
If people would take their heads out of their asses and set their egos aside, they would see that what Louie teaches has nothing to do with multi-ply powerlifting.
WATCH: Table Talk — Back-Down Sets
After you’ve reached the heaviest set of the day, is there a reason to reduce the weight and do more reps?
WATCH: elitefts Fitness Professional Summit — That's It?
Two words forever changed JL’s perspective on what it means to grow a business.
WATCH: Westside Misconceptions — Athlete Recruitment Process
You’ve probably heard it said that Westside became the strongest gym in the world by bringing in the best lifters from outside. This is a lie. What made Westside great wasn’t recruiting.
Circa Max Phase for Throwers
Each time I use this method myself I feel like I could run through a wall come meet day. Now after six years of using this cycle, we have proof that it works for our athletes.
The Road to Westside Barbell
I had only one goal and nothing else mattered: to make it to Westside and get as strong as I possibly could.
How I Trained When I Was at My Best
There are two categories for max effort exercises: strength builders and strength testers. Every lifter has their own. Once I found mine, I built an 1160 squat and an 850 deadlift.
The Deconstruction of a SHW Powerlifter
I have two options: keep going in the same direction and die, or make changes to my life and start dropping weight.
Building An All-Around Team: Find Your Role
In any successful group or team, there are three key positions that must be filled. Does your team have them?
Hip Squatters vs Back Squatters — What is the Proper Way to Squat?
There are two types of squatters: hip squatters and back squatters. The proper way to execute the lift depends on which technique is best for you.
Squat and Deadlift Coaching Lessons from the XPC Training Cycle
With a limited time frame and many issues to fix for these three lifters, I had to target their specific weaknesses with training adjustments. This is how we did it.
Finding Peak Performance in Powerlifting Through Personal Coaching
The key to breaking my long-term training plateau was turning to someone with more knowledge and training experience than me. He knew exactly what I needed.
Who Influences You?
How you learn and who you listen to will determine whether or not you keep growing in this industry.
WATCH: Louie Simmons on Grit Media
Louie speaking on why Westside is the best, athletes and coaches he has worked with, what's wrong with the strength and conditioning industry and why steroids should be legal in sport.
My Westside Barbell™ Experience
The Mental Aspect of Westside Barbell: How I lived it, learned from it and pass it on.