Chris Duffin is the Co-Founder, Chief Engineer and Visionary at Kabuki Strength, an organization devoted to optimizing human performance and making the world a better place through strength. Chris is arguably one of the strongest pound-for-pound humans in the world with a 944lb squat and 1002lb deadlift, the latter standing as the Guinness World Record which he completed almost 3 repetitions with. He is also one of the most respected strength coaches in the industry. Chris’ educational background is in engineering and business management, and he has previously worked as an executive in the automotive, aerospace, heavy equipment,
and high-tech manufacturing industries.
Chris Duffin was previously ranked number one in the world in various powerlifting disciplines and has held numerous world records. Now retired, he is known for his industry-changing innovations and education in the strength and clinical worlds. He’s a leading speaker on topics related to strength and human movement, and performs insane feats of strength to help charities and organizations whose work he believes in.
In addition to Kabuki Strength Chris has also co-founded BuildFast Formula for supplementation and nutrition and Bearfoot Athletics to optimize the human to ground interface. Chris is also a best selling author detailing his incredible upbringing as well as his approach to mindset,
philosophy, and tools he uses for success in The Eagle and The Dragon.
Through their four pillars and a growing nationwide network, BIRTHFIT is helping thousands of expecting moms prepare themselves for childbirth while staying healthy, mobile, and strong.
There are several things to understand when putting together a rehabilitation protocol, but if you create the right plan and stick to it, you’ll be recovered in no time.
In this piece I reflect on my stepfather and his impact on me, trying to understand how a person who loved his children so much could also inadvertently created a great deal of difficulty and strife in their lives.
If you’ve wanted to understand more about this topic or just get a technical yet easy-to-understand introduction to BFR, this is the episode you need to listen to.
With all the buzz going on about body tempering, a lot of questions come up about why it works or what makes it different than other types of treatments. Here’s the answer.
A hot water balloon and a balloon for a child’s party can both be filled with air, but that doesn’t make them equally strong or stable. This is how you need to think of your training.
You don’t need 45 minutes of mobility work for a 30-minute work out. Here are some general guidelines and an approach to effectively employing preventative and corrective work.
In this video, Brad Cox and Chris Duffin provide corrective strategies to improve range of motion and shoulder stability with a strongman athlete who recently injured his shoulder.
The biggest mark you will make on this world isn't how much you lifted, how much money you made, or how many toys you accumulated. How you will be remembered, the legacy you will leave, is written every day with the impact you have on this around you.
Big pulls this week for my final heavy week before deadlifting. I marked my 6th 900+ deadlift session this month with 935x3 followed by 960x2 off the floor, with one more block pull session left before I deadlift.
As the founder of a popular movement website called www.Kabuki.MS I feel it’s my duty to tell you that I want you to limit the amount of exercise prep that you perform. Yes, I said limit your exercise prep, not do more. In recent years I’ve seen a trend for mobility, movement priming, and other means of exercise preparation. While this trend is very positive over the just ‘grind through the pain’ mentality of the past, by many it has been taken too far. Just like anything else people seem to jump right to the “if a little bit is great, then more must be better” approach.
I hit some heavy pulls with 15 reps over 845lbs total over 5 sets finishing at 885x4. Also did a review on straps and how the several different ones I used felt.
Returning from travels and a challenging week I somehow crushed some incredibly heavy weights all week long with two heavy deadlift sessions and two heavy squat sessions.
Cox and Duffin discuss hip shift and pelvic tilt in the squat and deadlift, giving quick fixes and demonstrating five assessments to improve your performance.
Solid week of training with some good PR's across the board even if some of what I'm doing is "odd lifts". In addition to the lifts in the title I also hit a 350x20 reverse grip bench after the 225 rep out. And I'm interested to know if anyone has front squated more without hands before.
Traveled to Colorado to work with some Olympic Hopefuls. Went to SuperTraining and shot some great tutorials and a podcast. Then ended up in San Francisco shooting some amazing discussions with Kelly Starrett! Oh yeah... 625x2 no hands front squat, 225x58 reverse grip bench, and 855x6 wagon wheel dead.
Alongside the World’s Strongest Bodybuilder, Mike Dolce and Chris Duffin discuss a plethora of training topics: nutrition, lifestyle, recovery, proper movement principals, and advanced methodology.
While it wasn't a stellar week I did some battling with myself and I believe I won. I completely walked away from one workout coming back to hit a PR session the next day when I finished it. In my training plan you can see how the core lifts are being managed via velocity measurements. These velocity measurements are built off of my individual profiling sessions of these lifts. Then using a reps in reserve to manage my accessory work as well as tracking of the perceived workout difficulty which are all visible in the training log.
Did some Work with Chad Aichs and Jesse Anderson then Traveled to Texas and trained at MetroFlex Fort Worth while presenting at CSCCa Seminar. In my training plan you can see how the core lifts are being managed via velocity measurements. These velocity measurements are built off of my individual profiling sessions of these lifts. Then using a reps in reserve to manage my accessory work as well as tracking of the perceived workout difficulty which are all visible in the training log.
Chad Aichs and Jesse Anderson visit while I Bench 225x54 Reverse Grip. In my training plan you can see how the core lifts are being managed via velocity measurements. These velocity measurements are built off of my individual profiling sessions of these lifts. Then using a reps in reserve to manage my accessory work as well as tracking of the perceived workout difficulty which are all visible in the training log.
Chad came into town and of course we got some training in and lots of talk about lifting and the strength training industry. But most importantly I fed him lots of food to make him fat and also took him out wheeling in the Pacific Northwest.
Hit 225x52 rep reverse grip bench and some big pulls and (no hand) front squats. In my training plan you can see how the core lifts are being managed via velocity measurements. These velocity measurements are built off of my individual profiling sessions of these lifts. Then using a reps in reserve to manage my accessory work as well as tracking of the perceived workout difficulty which are all visible in the training log.
In this first interview within a 3-part series, we discuss the commonalities in our training philosophies and address methods for staying in touch with your body.
In my training plan you can see how the core lifts are being managed via velocity measurements. These velocity measurements are built off of my individual profiling sessions of these lifts. Then using a reps in reserve to manage my accessory work as well as tracking of the perceived workout difficulty which are all visible in the training log. This training plan will be updated every couple weeks as its refined. Currently I'm in a hypertrophy block and will be cycle between hypertrophy and strength phases for awhile before moving to peaking phases.
Training log was previously posted on this. But finally catching up on my video logs! Here is the last week of training before beginning my structured training plan for my #GrandGoals plan.
Finally getting back on track with compiling my footage on a weekly basis. Since March was so hectic with travel and testing of approaches for finalizing my training plan I just did a highlight reel for the month.
This is my last week of experimentation and testing before finalizing my training plan for my #GrandGoals plan. It was also my first week back from traveling constantly the last month and my Birthday as well. And all lifters celebrate with some training on their birthday... or at least should!
This training week I went all over Arizona on family vacation and yes I did get some training in although much less than I'm used to. Started playing around with No-Hands front squats... and broke my toe.
This week Duffin trains in Oregon, Canada, and Arizona will coaching clients, teaching seminars, and modifying equipment all while maintaining his high volume training.
This presentation from the University of Western States Chiropractic College breaks down the bench press and examines why there is a benefit to performing the movement outside of a posturally correct position.
After a tough couple weeks of prepping for a photo shoot, being sick, traveling with long hours and little sleep I jump right back into training. And of course why not take it to far and start out with daily doubles all week to help kick the cold out of my system... or something like that.
Chris talks about a big shift in his competitive focus after 16 years on the platform. Its not retirement by any means, and you'll understand once you hear what he has in store with his #GrandGoals plan.
WHAT A WEEK! Pictures from last weeks photo shoot as well as my approach heading into the shoot. Also includes updates about the trip to the Arnold and training that happened in off hours.
Talking with founders Shawn Sherman and Jonathan Loos, I learned of the benefits and limitations of this restorative system that aims at pinpointing and eliminating joint dysfunctions.
Working on bringing my body into photo shoot ready condition following my most recent meet. Discuss my training approach and a little bit on the diet along with some videos of current condition.
Here is my presentation to the UWS students and faculty on my theory and approach on the using a loaded frontal oblique sling and the addition of a grounded horizontal vector to improve shoulder stability. Thinking of it as a grounded frontal oblique sling throw instead of a press explains how the arched bench improves shoulder stability and reduces injury risk while begin 'postural incorrect'. The 'postural correct' flat or sternal crunch bench press simple removes the shoulder-core stabilization mechanisms by having only a vertical force vector with stability coming directly from the scap riding on the bench pad.
Chris spends the week with Donnie Thompson and does his best to get back into the groove of lifting and staying active after the prior weeks challenging meet and weight cut.
I've had a big gnarly goal in my head for many many years that I have yet to even come close to hitting. Its on a board in my gym that has occasionally made it into some of my video's. The goal itself isn't worth mentioning as I've never come close with loosing my deadlift due to arm issues and spending years and multiple surgeries to try and overcome the problems it caused.
This last training cycle I finally thought I had it licked and my one nemesis, my deadlift was making comeback. And I was sure so would my total. I decided to give myself ONE LAST shot at the 220's to go for my goal and try and slay that whale.
This week Duffin takes a break from his normal lifting videos and provides some footage of some of the recovery or preventative drills he works into his training.
So this meme ended up getting made off of my instagram post and got shared on Facebook. I believe it had a couple million views last I looked. Of course it sucks that my first Viral video has nothing to due with the content I produce or a lift that I did. But oh well.
This last week I had the pleasure of hosting Leroy Walker for a visit. Leroy is an incredible raw bench presser and we spent several days talking training, eating good food, and lifting weights. Leroy did some fun stuff for the camera and played with the new Duffalo Bar which he fell in love with. Here are some snippets of our training for the week.
In this weeks post I discuss the potential of competing again, the stresses involved on the body and mind with the competition ramp up, and also have an EPIC gym fail that I probably shouldn't post... but I do.
For some changes I’ve dropped out my accessory work right now and bumped up the volume on the higher intensity lifts. I’m continuing with my dieting that I touched on a few weeks ago and down 10lbs so far but not pleased with where I’m sitting at this time. Oh yeah... Also got in some snowboarding. And just to have some fun I took along some fatbells and a shoulderok. Did both while boarding, and shirtless of course for no good reason.
Here are some thoughts on mixing training in with the Holiday’s. It has been influenced by what I have seen on social media the last few years. Where a few individuals seem to take their training s a little to seriously and have lost either some balance or perspective.
The last two weeks of training are detailed with some great lifts including an easy 900x2 squat and a solid strap less deadlift. Chris also discusses some upcoming projects and potential training changes.