How Many Reps? That people still ask this question confounds me as much today as it did when it was first asked of me by one of my very first training clients, way back in the day. Back then, one of the biggest hurdles the newfangled personal trainers—who, at the dawn of the fitness boom,…
The Bulgarian split squat is one exercise many lifters love to hate. It burns, and it exposes every weakness from your hips to your ankles. But some of these challenges may just come from improper setup. If you’ve ever felt wobbly, not getting enough depth, or like your front knee is taking a beating, it…
There’s no lift more satisfying than gripping and ripping a deadlift. It’s you versus the barbell, and you either move it or you don’t. It’s arguably the king of the gym because every muscle from head to toe works in unison to overcome gravity. It never tickles. It’s raw. It’s heavy, and it’s primal. Lifters…
Most lifters learn to judge progress by the number on the bar. Add weight, complete more reps, and the workout feels productive. That mindset works well early on, but anyone who trains consistently eventually realizes that performance isn’t perfectly predictable. Sleep quality, stress, travel, nutrition, and accumulated fatigue all influence how strong you feel on…
Most lifters view strength as if it were all about the muscles. Bigger chest and glutes, and more “time under tension.” And sure, muscle matters. But strength doesn’t start there; it starts in your brain. The brain sends the command, the muscle carries it out, and the clearer that signal becomes, the stronger you get….
The front rack position sets up key lifts, including the front squat, push press, clean and jerk, and power and hang clean. When you have it there, you realize this position creates internal pressure that feels like no other exercise. That’s why Dan John calls this core internal pressure anaconda strength. But to get it…