Main Blog RSS feed

However, don't get too wrapped up in doing dips just to do dips - meaning there are a ton of great movements out there you can use for assistance work and still be awesome.

My response to a question regarding recovery:

I don't know how your surgery/back problems relate to mine but I'm going to assume that they are somewhat similar. I had trouble training, walking, sitting, sleeping... living. I had severe nerve impingement, sciatic pain and massive leg pain on both sides all the way down to the foot. However, it did give me a good excuse to fly first class...I just told me wife I needed more room. More room for free alcohol.

Did they test well in the vertical jump because they were great athletes or did they improve their vertical jump and the result was more playing time? I think we all know.

There seems to be a theme lately with people who are hurt/injured and can't do certain movements. Trust me, I know your pain.

This message will be helpful for everyone, even if it's not what they need to hear right now. It may resonate with you years from now; or maybe this is something that needs to be screamed in your ear today... it sounds easy. It sounds almost ignorant; just about everyone who lifts weights...

I serve our country abroad, and am getting ready to go back overseas. We have a yoke rack, Texas/BC powerlifting bar, and lots of plates/accessories. The weight adds up, and we are dangerously close to our maximum allowance, the exceeding of which would be no bueno for our bank account....what do you recommend?

In the last 13 weeks I also purloined the framework from Jim Wendler to construct THE strongest version of myself to date. Following a program outlined from his book I've been able to go Beyond what was once the outer reaches of my capabilities in the weight room. The ensuing words are not to recap my woes in the pursuit of adding more lbs on the bar than I have previously, its a recollection of the mindset awarded to me by having done just exactly that.

The most important thing to understand when training athletes is the difference between G.P.P and S.P.P. Also, it's important to understand that mastery in a specific discipline does not mean mastery in weight training. In fact, it is usually the opposite; master of one thing, beginner of another.  This is very lucky for you, whether you are a coach or an athlete.  What this means is that you don't need advanced or fancy training methods to achieve results.  Besides the huge pile of dung that is "sport specific training", the misunderstanding of training mastery by elite athletes is ruining training.

The main movement stays the same and keeps strength in the program. This allows you to progress from week to week and actually get stronger, something lacking in about 99% of non-assisted bodybuilders' routines.

This is a classic case of an idea that works beautifully in theory but, at least in many cases, fails to pay off in the real world. The theory behind rack pulls is that they allow you to use more weight than you normally can handle in conventional deadlifts, which helps target  certain sticking points, namely the lockout position—a real sore spot for many lifters. Sounds good, huh?

The drama that is the Great Gear Debate is overwhelming. Powerlifting is one of the few sports where men will criticize what another man is wearing. I never thought powerlifting could end up on Bravo but it certainly looks like it might.

What is the worst thing you see people doing? Keep it fitness related.

Novice lifters listening to novice lifters on message boards – it’s like two Navy recruits running a nuclear submarine.  Nothing good can happen.

This story was told to me by my good friend and former training partner, Kevin Deweese.  A young man told Kevin that he'd like to train, look and be strong like Bill Kazmaier (Kaz). 

In athletics, genetics is often used as a reason for success and failure. It is a term that is used primarily as physical modifier; he who has the body and athletic ability to play his sport has great genetics.  However, sports is filled with many people who are insanely successful despite not having the traditional physical attributes associated with his sport.