Valerie Smith’s path through powerlifting proves that the platform is only one part of the education. From bombing out at her first meet to becoming a lifter, coach, referee, and meet director, she learned that better lifting comes from better decisions, sharper standards, and a broader view of the sport.

"Just like your feet on squat, you're going to be taking your hands and rooting them into the bench press, they should be getting all of that tension, and this barbell is not leaving my hands".

A stripped-down, no-BS guide to conjugate training structure: how to organize max effort, dynamic effort, secondary work, accessories, bands, chains, and auto-regulation without overcomplicating the system.

What if being driven has nothing to do with knowing where you're going, and everything to do with knowing what you refuse to become?

The barbell builds you, teaches you, humbles you, and eventually demands something back. Inspired by Elitefts Table Talk Episode #422, this article breaks down the hard-earned lessons Jim Wendler, Matt Rhodes, and Vincent Dizenzo share on aging under the bar, coaching the next generation, training for longevity, and redefining strength when max-effort lifting is no longer the goal.

The 2026 systematic review on long muscle-length training is real research with real limitations, and the internet is applying single-joint findings to powerlifting in ways that can get people hurt.

By predicting a lift's perceived exertion and comparing it to the actual physical outcome, athletes develop crucial "neural encoding" that trains the central nervous system to consistently achieve true high performance.

Table Talk #346 with Dr. Todd Lee breaks down the exact checklist to run before assuming you've hit a real plateau

A training method built on Paul Anderson's original overload principles that lets advanced lifters break through strength plateaus by systematically raising neurological force output.

Build a bigger chest and back by learning how elbow path, grip angle, wrist freedom, and joint position determine where tension actually goes. This article breaks down smarter pressing, dips, pulldowns, rows, and EliteFTS gear choices for more precise hypertrophy training.

From teenage lifter to burned-out founder, Mike Stratton’s story is a raw look at strength culture, hormone health, entrepreneurial sacrifice, and the wake-up call that reshaped his mission with Marek Health.

Most missed benches are not just strength problems—they are position problems. This guide breaks down how to use elitefts bands to create controlled “chaos,” build a tighter unrack, strengthen the upper back, improve lat engagement, and develop the bracing capacity needed to stay locked in under heavy weight.

The max effort method is one of the most powerful tools in strength training. It's also one of the most misunderstood.

The method that built your best results can become the thing holding you back — here's why most lifters stay stuck and what to do about it.

Build a stronger, faster, more explosive lower body with a sport-focused training model that blends maximal strength, contrast training, plyometrics, sled work, unilateral development, and force–velocity profiling for better transfer to the field.

 "All of these different diets at the end of the day do their thing because of how they influence the actions of insulin," meaning the best nutritional approach is simply the one that allows you to remain consistent within the demands of your specific lifestyle and budget.

Every strength athlete eventually faces the question: Can I come back, or should I? Tyler Desplenter, PhD, reflects on 14 years of strongman, serious injuries, lessons in rehabilitation, and the moment when the pursuit of strength becomes bigger than the platform.

Most of what wrecks you never actually happens. It's the thinking about it that does the damage.

"It's just always constantly trying to improve your situation, you know, constant and never-ending improvement all the time; that's just what it's about to me".

What does it take to hit PRs for 10 straight years without burning out? Marcellus “The Swolefessor” Williams breaks down competing often, building work capacity, treating powerlifting as a skill, protecting your mental battery, and using strength to build a better life—not just a bigger total.

Four traps will end most training careers before they start — here's how to recognize them and what to do instead

You are broadcasting pain to people who cannot change it, while avoiding every conversation that could.

A practical guide to neck training for lifters, combat athletes, and contact sports. Learn when to train the neck, how to progress neck bridges safely, and how to use harness extensions, lateral flexion, and banded protraction to build a stronger, more resilient neck.