training

The sport of powerlifting changed forever in January 1980. With the official adoption of the USPF name and Joseph "Doc" Rhodes revealing his world-championship peaking program, this issue is a masterclass in old-school strength and political drama.

What I care about is that the lower back is frozen in space and that it doesn't move. The best way to do that is to bring the ribs down, provided that they're flared, aiming for a neutral position where the ribs, diaphragm, and pelvic floor are stacked directly over each other.

Joe Jackson argues that modern powerlifting must evolve beyond a niche participant activity by prioritizing compelling storytelling and head-to-head battles that engage a wider audience. He also reflects on the mental demands of the sport, warning lifters that they cannot "out total a bad relationship" with themselves and must separate their self-worth from the numbers on the bar to survive the plateau periods following the initial "honeymoon phase" of strength gains.

The guys who laughed at online training now rely on it to pay their bills. That’s not hypocrisy — it’s evolution. If we return to the pre-Internet era, it’s the same story told through different technology.

 Dave Tate argues that while the fitness industry hyper-focuses on the "black margin" of complex nuances like peptides and exact RIR, the vast majority of progress actually comes from the ignored "white space" of common sense fundamentals. He contends that mastering basic compound lifts, training with sufficient effort, and maintaining consistency are far more critical for growth than obsessing over the optimization minutiae often found in online discourse.

Paul Carter argues that because every set accumulates fatigue, which can hinder performance, lifters must mitigate this fatigue by utilizing more extended rest periods to ensure high-threshold motor units are recruited in subsequent sets. He challenges the traditional belief that fatigue is a stimulus for growth, suggesting that straight sets with adequate rest are mechanically superior to intensity techniques, such as drop sets, for maximizing effective reps.

If you’re a powerlifter, whether you compete seriously or love chasing PRs in the gym, there’s a good chance you’ve dealt with some level of aches, pains, or maybe even full-blown injuries. It comes with the territory, to some extent.

 Emphasizing that he is just "happy to be here" and views the sport as simply lifting weights, powerlifter David Raymond explains why he maintains a positive mindset and smiles even after failing a world record attempt. The conversation spans his decade-long journey, detailing his coaching relationship with Dan Bell and wild personal stories ranging from rating public bathrooms to meeting Muhammad Ali.

The deciding factor for success in lifting is confidence, requiring lifters to work on their inner dialogue and reframe negative thoughts, such as the limiting belief of a sticking point that "always" happens.The only consistent variable among top strength athletes across all disciplines is the ability to autoregulate training, a crucial skill that prescriptive programming often inhibits.

Survivorship bias is the reason you keep copying the strongest freaks on the internet and wondering why you’re beat up, burned out, or stalled. This article breaks down why extreme programs “work” for the rare few who can survive them—and how to train in a way that actually builds strength for the long haul.

Those promoting the safest, injury-free training solutions become rehab specialists.

"Dieting is a skill set learned solely through repetition, much like identifying cues to improve a squat, and must be designed to plug and play into an individual's specific lifestyle to ensure success. Ultimately, the goal is to condition the body to hyper-respond to the stimulus of nutrients while ensuring the nutrition plan is realistic enough for the athlete to maintain consistency regardless of their daily responsibilities."