www.kabukistrength.com

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.

 
The Path to Anti-Fragility
The Path to Anti-Fragility

This must-listen episode features clinician, author, and speaker Dr. Craig Liebenson, who first turned me on to the concept of anti-fragility.

Strength Chat Podcast: Technical Aspects of Training During and After Pregnancy
Strength Chat Podcast: Technical Aspects of Training During and After Pr...

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.

Secrets of Faster Injury Healing
Secrets of Faster Injury Healing

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.

WATCH: Sharing Love and Leaving Scars
WATCH: Sharing Love and Leaving Scars

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.

Strength Chat Podcast: Pulling the Veil Off Blood Flow Restriction with Guest Dr. Mario Novo
Strength Chat Podcast: Pulling the Veil Off Blood Flow Restriction with ...

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.

WATCH: How the Bite of the Iron Nurtured My Growth
WATCH: How the Bite of the Iron Nurtured My Growth

Sometimes we get so caught up in the physical nature of training we forget about the other impacts it has.

Strength Chat Podcast: Bryan Mann on VBT and Developing Explosive Athletes
Strength Chat Podcast: Bryan Mann on VBT and Developing Explosive Athletes

Dr. Mann joins the crew to talk about the benefits, challenges, implications, and new research in the field of velocity-based training.

Use This ‘One Simple Trick' to Triple Your Recovery
Use This ‘One Simple Trick' to Triple Your Recovery

Two weeks after a tear in my quad, I was squatting 860 pounds again. This is how.

Why Body Tempering Works
Why Body Tempering Works

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.

Strength Chat Podcast: Seattle Seahawks Patrick Ward on Using Data
Strength Chat Podcast: Seattle Seahawks Patrick Ward on Using Data

As strength training and sports are becoming more data-driven, hear from one of the best Sports Science Analysts on the topic.

WATCH: How I Made It Easy to Rep A 1000-pound Deadlift
WATCH: How I Made It Easy to Rep A 1000-pound Deadlift

It may surprise you how great I felt, but if you actually take a look at my training leading into the event, you will understand why.

Kabuki Strength Announces New Strength Chat Podcast
Kabuki Strength Announces New Strength Chat Podcast
Watch six newly released episodes today with guests including Jeff Halevy, Dr. Stuart McGill, Dr. Kelly Starrett and more.
Breathing IS NOT Bracing
Breathing IS NOT Bracing

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.

Stop the Madness! #SMEP Single Minute Exercise Prep
Stop the Madness! #SMEP Single Minute Exercise Prep

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.

WATCH: Improving Overhead Position and Shoulder Mechanics
WATCH: Improving Overhead Position and Shoulder Mechanics

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.

Messing With the UPS Driver - and your mark on the world
Messing With the UPS Driver - and your mark on the world
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.
960x2 and 935x3 Deadlift!
960x2 and 935x3 Deadlift!
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.
WATCH: Chris Duffin and Raw Bench Phenom Leroy Walker
WATCH: Chris Duffin and Raw Bench Phenom Leroy Walker

In this second interview, Walker and Duffin discuss the life cycle of athletes, adversity, and talent.

5th 900plus deadlift workout this month - You can't have everything
5th 900plus deadlift workout this month - You can't have everything
I discuss where I'm at in my training cycle and the future plans for how this cycle fits into the greater scheme of the #grandgoals plan.
Are you doing to much Mobility or Other Prep work prior to training? #SMEP
Are you doing to much Mobility or Other Prep work prior to training? #SMEP
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.
885 x 4 Deadlift - And a Strap Review
885 x 4 Deadlift - And a Strap Review
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.
815x9 Deadlift.... yes you read that right
815x9 Deadlift.... yes you read that right
Big pulls while traveling and still leaving some work in reserve for the future.
1000lb assisted deadlifts and More crazy Lifts - 2014wk24
1000lb assisted deadlifts and More crazy Lifts - 2014wk24
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.
WATCH: Interview with Acumobility’s Brad Cox
WATCH: Interview with Acumobility’s Brad Cox

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.

650lb NO Hand Front Squats - 225x60 Reverse Grip bench - 875x4 pull of 3" Blocks - All in a weeks training
650lb NO Hand Front Squats - 225x60 Reverse Grip bench - 875x4 pull of 3...
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.
625x2 NO Hands front Squat - TRAVEL - Colorado, Mark Bell's Supertraining, & Kelly Starrett in San Fran
625x2 NO Hands front Squat - TRAVEL - Colorado, Mark Bell's Supertr...
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.
WATCH: Interview with Stan Efferding and Mike Dolce
WATCH: Interview with Stan Efferding and Mike Dolce

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.

They Can't all Be Great - 550 No Hands Front Squat - 335x20 Revers grip bench - 2016wk20
They Can't all Be Great - 550 No Hands Front Squat - 335x20 Revers ...
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.
Texas Trip - 225X56 Reverse Grip Bench - Working on Chad Aichs & Big Jess - 2016wk18
Texas Trip - 225X56 Reverse Grip Bench - Working on Chad Aichs & Big...
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.
2016wk17 - Chad Aichs & Jesse Anderson - 530x3 no Hands front Squat 225x54 Reverse Grip Bench
2016wk17 - Chad Aichs & Jesse Anderson - 530x3 no Hands front Squat ...
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 Aichs & Duffin do some Epic 4 Wheeling in Oregon
Chad Aichs & Duffin do some Epic 4 Wheeling in Oregon
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.
2016wk16 - 225x52 Reverse Grip Bench - 500+ front squats without hands
2016wk16 - 225x52 Reverse Grip Bench - 500+ front squats without hands
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.
WATCH: Chris Duffin Interviews Kettlebell Expert Joe Daniels
WATCH: Chris Duffin Interviews Kettlebell Expert Joe Daniels

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.

Week 1 of Structured Training - Full weekly Program details
Week 1 of Structured Training - Full weekly Program details
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.
Video Log of Birthday Training and final week of unstructured training
Video Log of Birthday Training and final week of unstructured training
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.
March Highlights - Video Log Updated!
March Highlights - Video Log Updated!
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.
Birthday training and finalizing my #GrandGoals training plan
Birthday training and finalizing my #GrandGoals training plan
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!
Grand Canyon, Sedona, Phoenix, broken toes, and Training
Grand Canyon, Sedona, Phoenix, broken toes, and Training
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.
Traveling from Canada to Arizona, Coaching, Teaching, Fixing Problems, and lets not forget Training
Traveling from Canada to Arizona, Coaching, Teaching, Fixing Problems, a...
This week Duffin trains in Oregon, Canada, and Arizona will coaching clients, teaching seminars, and modifying equipment all while maintaining his high volume training.
WATCH: Destroying the Paradigm of a 'Functional Bench Press'
WATCH: Destroying the Paradigm of a 'Functional Bench Press'

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.

Back to Training after putting the body through hell - Daily Doubles all week... why not
Back to Training after putting the body through hell - Daily Doubles all...
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.
A New Direction - Focusing on Epic Sh!T that gets me fired up - #GrandGoals
A New Direction - Focusing on Epic Sh!T that gets me fired up - #GrandGoals
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.
Crazy week of Photo Shoot, Travel, and working the Arnold - SHOOT IMAGES INCLUDED
Crazy week of Photo Shoot, Travel, and working the Arnold - SHOOT IMAGES...
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.
WATCH: Investigating 'The Reset System'
WATCH: Investigating 'The Reset System'

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.

Dieting Down and Prep for Photo Shoot
Dieting Down and Prep for Photo Shoot
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.
Destroying the Paradigm of what makes a "Functional Bench Press" - Presentation at UWS
Destroying the Paradigm of what makes a "Functional Bench Press&quo...
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.
Getting Back in The Groove & Spending the week with Donnie Thompson
Getting Back in The Groove & Spending the week with Donnie Thompson
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 FINALLY admit defeat in my long standing pursuit of my White Whale
I FINALLY admit defeat in my long standing pursuit of my White Whale
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.
Interview with LeRoy “The Machine” Walker
Interview with LeRoy “The Machine” Walker

Could he be the next man to bench press over 700 pounds raw?

Shoulder Flow Work - Working Stabilization Principals
Shoulder Flow Work - Working Stabilization Principals
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.
Epic Fail - Snow Training
Epic Fail - Snow Training
Chris Duffin trying some advanced Shoulderok moves, and failing in an epic fashion.
I finally had a video go Viral - Squat Fail Meme
I finally had a video go Viral - Squat Fail Meme
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.
The Week in Training with Leroy "The Machine" Walker
The Week in Training with Leroy "The Machine" Walker
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.
An Epic Gym Fail - and evaluation of goals and training stresses - 2016wk1
An Epic Gym Fail - and evaluation of goals and training stresses - 2016wk1
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.
Heavy Squats followed by Snowboarding with Weights - 2015wk52
Heavy Squats followed by Snowboarding with Weights - 2015wk52
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.
WATCH: Chris Duffin Interviews Ryan 'Bench Monster' Kennelly
WATCH: Chris Duffin Interviews Ryan 'Bench Monster' Kennelly

The record-holder and 1075-pound bench presser openly discusses technique and his comeback from injury in this Kabuki Strength Lab video.

#hardcore #inspiring #haters Christmas Training - Merry Christmas!
#hardcore #inspiring #haters Christmas Training - Merry Christmas!
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.
900x2 squat and Heavy Pulls - Possible training Changes - 2015wk50
900x2 squat and Heavy Pulls - Possible training Changes - 2015wk50
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.
Interview with All-Time Record Holder Sam Byrd
Interview with All-Time Record Holder Sam Byrd
Hear us talk about our training, history, and competing against one another.

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