training
5 Counter-Intuitive Lessons from Dave Tate That Will Reinvent Your Conjugate Training
Conjugate training is fundamentally the coupling of different methods of muscle tension, combining the max effort method, the repetition method, and the dynamic effort method. The training week is typically divided into Max Effort Lower/Upper Body and Dynamic Lower/Upper Body days, with the critical requirement that the max effort exercise must be changed every week to provide a necessary varied stimulus.
The Cambered Squat Bar Is One of the Hardest Bars You'll Ever Put on Your Back
Why the rackable cambered squat bar belongs in your training and how to use it to build a squat that doesn't fall apart under real weight.
You're Tweaking the Wrong Knobs: Why Volume and Intensity Still Run the Show
Most lifters spend their time obsessing over sleep, supplements, and nutrition while the two variables that actually drive progress sit untouched. Here's why volume and intensity are still the volume controls on your training board.
April 1980: The Rise of Kaz and the Strength Revolution
The April 1980 issue of Powerlifting USA captures a pivotal moment in the history of strength. Bill Kazmaier is on the rise, organizational politics are heating up, and the training advice is as gritty as it gets. From roundback rack pulls to the secrets of the Spanjian Supersuit, we’re looking back at the legends who built the sport.
He Who Fears He Will Suffer, Already Suffers Because He Fears
A 760-pound squat, a meet in Toledo, and the moment I learned that fear doesn't wait for the bar to come down.
The Architect’s Blueprint: Building a Professional Grade Home Gym Compound
4 Unexpected Lessons on Strength and Life from a PhD 'Meathead'
"Bodybuilders don't need sports science to be big, but it can take sport to the next level and help us iron out details".
Meta Description Dr. Eric Helms joins Dave Tate to discuss bridging the gap between "meathead" passion and academic rigor, detailing the origins of 3D Muscle Journey, the science of autoregulation and RPE, and optimal approaches to protein intake and hypertrophy for natural athletes.
The Razor’s Edge: 4 Hard-Earned Lessons from a "Suicidal" Tom Platz Leg Day
Eric Bugenhagen and the Szatstrength host take on an absurdly intense, Tom Platz-inspired leg workout at EliteFTS, relying on Dave Tate's expertise to push through extreme pain and train safely despite recent severe muscle tears.
“I’ll Worry About Health Later”… Until Later Shows Up
Most of us start out thinking strength is everything—until the bill comes due in the form of pain, surgery, or burnout. Here’s how to chase big numbers without letting them take everything from you.
Beyond the Macros: 5 Counter-Intuitive Truths from the World’s Elite Strength Coaches
Elite coaches Jon Heck, Joey Szatmary, Dave Tate, and Sam Brown share their most critical advice for upcoming fitness professionals, emphasizing deep client empathy, effective communication, and purposeful social media use.
The Road Goes Ever On by Ashley Jones
Ashley Jones' comprehensive in-season strength and conditioning program focuses on force-velocity development, unilateral balance, modified French-Contrast training, and a three-week loading cycle to keep athletes powerful, prepared, and game-ready.
Why "Blindness is Anabolic": 5 Counter-Intuitive Secrets to a Massive, Injury-Free Bench Press
"When moving heavy weight on the bench press, holding your breath through the entire repetition maximizes full-body stability, leading to the lifting mantra that 'blindness is anabolic' because staying tight and safe is more important than having perfect vision."