This 6-week cycle is for the beginner and intermediate lifter who has reached a plateau. You’ll rely on core, plyometrics, and squats to achieve a new max.

When we talk about the Big Three, we’re usually talking about squats, deadlifts, and bench presses. Well, guess what: There are even more bigger and better Big Three movements out there. Find out what they are if you dare…

Most intermediates that have come to me without ever working with a qualified coach before are lacking a few qualities in their technique, especially on big lifts. Lacking these qualities can potentially lead to injury at one point or another. These two qualities are tension and torque.

Do you teach them the squat, bench, and deadlift the same way you would teach a powerlifter? If not, what differences are there?

Muscles never work in complete isolation, especially during competition, which makes this specialized band rotation a great way to minimize risk of injury and improve performance.

If you can’t get clients through your door, your expertise doesn’t matter.

If your glute ham raises aren’t increasing your squat or deadlift, chances are you’re cheating. Clint gives you a few variations to try,

JL Holdsworth instructs his athlete on how to properly perform a plank for better transfer to walking out heavy squats and pulling heavier deadlifts

Two variations of the Pallof Press performed with elitefts™ pro bands and blast straps™

Doing a crunch or a sit up is NOT one of them.

Vincent Dizenzo offers advice on how to modify your training so that you can still work on bench press, even with a back injury.

I’m a huge fan of stabilization exercises, standing ab exercises, and the like.

This exercise, like most sporting activities, is done standing which all of the “sport specific” guys will love.

Begin this exercise in the same position as the suspended push-up.

After hundreds of hours working toward a better stomach, I’ve either prescribed or witnessed every crunch, leg lift, and torso twist variation known to man.

Wouldn’t it be beneficial to incorporate some exercises into your training regimen that allow the athlete to stand while challenging the strike zone in stability, balance, rotation, and linear and lateral movement?

Stability Ball Knee In’s

Justin sets the record straight on what the “core” is…

This is another great exercise to do with limited equipment or with beginner athletes.

Perform the plank by holding yourself on your elbows and toes, keeping your body in a straight line

The plank exercise is a simple, yet difficult exercise that will work on the stabilization of the abdominal muscles.

Perform the plank by holding yourself on your elbows and toes, keeping your body in a straight line.

This is an old favorite from high school.

Short on time or simply want a more challenging pull movement.

This exercise is designed to strengthen your abdominals.

The double bar version loads the rotation more and on this version I definitely prefer the natural rotation of the feet.

I’m not going to explain this exercise because everyone has done it before and there are a million places and people (at the gym, on the internet, on DVD’s, your grandmother) that will tell you how to do this exercise.

This isn’t an exercise for everyone as it requires great core strength.

Leave it to Martin Rooney to show me a bunch of stuff I have never seen before.

Don’t let the name fool you. This is a very difficult ab exercise.

Hips up and posterior chain engaged throughout the movement.

This version of the plank will target the obliques.

For this exercise, you can attach a band to the bottom of the power rack.

This version of the side plank is more difficult than the standard version.

This version of the side plank is more difficult than the standard version.

Maintain upright, neutral torso posture throughout the execution of squat.

Torso Stability and Coordination

This is a great shoulder mobility movement and serves as a great warm up exercise

I have no idea what to call this movement.

This is another great variation of the pushup to make it harder and involve your abs more.

Place your knees on the stability ball.

Great exercise for core stability

This is a great way to strengthen and condition your abdominals.

This is a great way to add a little twist to your normal push ups.

Perform a side plank and hold a kettlebell in your top hand, with your arm extended straight.

This is one variation of throwing a medicine ball.

This one is as old school as you can get.

Torso Strength and Stability Supplemental Means

Stand next to a higher object (table, barrel, tires, etc).

I tried really hard to like ab pulldowns.

This movement is performed on your standard lat machine with the use of a single D-handle.

The Zercher squat has been one of the biggest secrets of powerlifters over the years.

I will admit it. This is one movement I discovered just screwing around in the gym.

These are pretty tough.

This is a variation of the traditional side bend that can really be difficult.

Place the bar on the floor or on the safety pins of a power rack.