“Which Knee Sleeves Should I Buy?”
The ubiquity of knee sleeves at the weight room squat rack make them a tempting purchase for a novice lifter. Should you wear them? First meet this squat strength benchmark, and then the answer is “maybe”.
Barbell
What You Need to Know About the Lats and Your Front Squat
Whether you do the bodybuilding, weightlifting, or powerlifting rack while front squatting, using your lats to the maximum is key. Once you understand the anatomy and kinesiology of this powerful muscle, you will know why.
Training Shoes: My Recommendations and Why
Over the years, I have gathered various training shoes and each has its specific purpose, both for powerlifting and general training. In this article, I discuss each of my training shoes in detail and explain what I use them for.
How I Achieved a 3 x Bodyweight Deadlift (and You Can Increase Your Deadlift, Too)
A few years ago, my deadlift was at a crossroads. I decided to use StrongFirst principles to guide a simplified training approach. Here’s what I did and how you, too, can increase your deadlift.
The Single-leg Deadlift: The Most Underutilized and Powerful Skill
Adding the SLDL into your training will improve your balance and help you hit personal records in your pistol, get-up, and barbell deadlift, while having carryover to many other skills.
How to Get Properly Loaded in the Deadlift and Swing
We “get loaded” through an eccentric movement. Since the deadlift begins with a concentric movement, our set-up is what provides us with the opportunity to create an eccentric load.
Deadlift: To Stop or To Go
Every time I teach the deadlift, a particular question comes up: whether to perform “stop reps” or “touch and go” reps during sets. Let’s discuss the differences between them and what we can learn from each.
Quality a Mile Deep: A Strength Program Based on Skillful Practice
I have put together a strength program based on two of Pavel’s principles. You will focus on building quality, then quantity. The result is building some solid strength a mile deep.
Absolute Strength Is the True Master Quality
Relative strength is impressive, but it is absolute strength that has the effect of allowing all other attributes to become greater. So if you ask me for training advice, then I’ll probably ask you, “How much can you pull?”
A Hip Hinge Program to Help You Generate Deadlift and Swing Power
The goal of this program is to re-tool and potentiate your hip hinge for safer, stronger reps. We are building up by doubling-down on trunk stability, training deadlift variations, and focusing on speed reps.