You step up to the bar, lock in your deadlift setup, and let it rip from the floor. But something doesn’t feel right. Your grip loosens, and your lower back says, “No, thank you.” You could grind through it, but heavy deadlifts don’t leave much margin for error. Some days, your body has second thoughts,…
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…
Many people dismiss planks as too dull or too easy. With other effective core exercises to choose from, planks often get thrown in the gym trash. Besides increasing the amount of time you hold it, it’s hard to make progress without tying yourself up in knots. To progressively overload a plank, you need a way…
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…
The standard face pull variation is excellent for shoulder health, better posture, and improved presses and pulls. However, your shoulders, traps, and upper back muscles run at different angles, but if you train only them at one angle, you’re leaving potential gains behind. Some lifters rely on one or two variations, thereby possibly neglecting certain…
Lifters want to see gains sooner, but often blow past a vital part of the lift, the setup. It’s the time when you set yourself up for success, but some don’t take it seriously. It might be okay not to worry about your biceps curl setup, but it’s different for the barbell bent-over row. The…