LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — What's Missing From Younger Lifte...
“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room…” — Socrates
Becoming of a Female Powerlifter
I’ve recovered from the trauma of competitive bodybuilding, the trauma of being a young girl, a teenage girl, a 20-something girl, I think, as well as I ever will. And now, I eat the extra hotdog and I haven’t run a mile in years. I am a powerlifter.
You Need to Feel Pain
If you never train until you puke, how can you know your limits? If you never felt like you had nothing to give and forced you to move that shit anyway, how can you be proud of what you have achieved?
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #52 with Chris Lambert
Chris Lambert joins us to talk about gym closures in New Jersey. Listen as he explains the news-breaking controversy at Atilis Gym in Bellmawr.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #51 with Chris Bartl and Scott Paltos
A fresh new layout with new cohosts kick off episode 51 with guests Scott Paltos and Chris Bartl.
The Memorial Day Murph Experience
In honor of Lieutenant Michael Murphy, it’s time to rep out our yearly tradition. But remember, the volume of this hero WOD is brutal even if you’ve been training consistently for the last 12-weeks. Instead of trying to go “all-in” being mindful of scaling, pacing, and NOT worrying about your past times is important.
Make Your COVID-19 Training Better
Let’s go over the different categories of at-home training that you can begin adding to your routine right now: Bodyweight Training, Make Light Weights Feel Heavy, and Get Create and Go Outside.
Stop Self-Sabotage
Every day can be a battle when you are trying to change your habits. Here are some things to do when you really want to make a change.
INTERVIEW: Fighting Illini Football Assistant S&C Coach Micah Cloward
Coach Micah Cloward has experienced invaluable lessons nearly paving the way for his strength and conditioning career. Read his 13-year journey that continues to unfold.
Division Differences in Jumping Ability
In this article, I’d like to present some research that we did examining a BCS Division 1 University and an NAIA University that existed within 15 miles of each other.
A Social Experiment Gone Wrong
Why can’t you speak to people face-to-face like you can on social media?
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Dave Tate on the Risks and Rewards of ...
Every action has a reaction. If you remain indifferent to the negative reactions while only focusing on the positive reactions, you’re likely going to experience a major wake up call sooner or later.
Gut Check Rule of Fives
Here’s to increasing our “power endurance.” To “Prefontaine” our training. To go hard, go heavy, and go forever! Or, at least a few sets more than what is normally accepted!
How a Small School Strength Coach Becomes a Big School Strength Coach
The weight room that I worked in was a 3,000-square-foot facility that housed 20 teams and more than 400 athletes. Even though the weight room was built to optimize the space, as you can imagine, things got really tight.
The Best-Laid Plans
Were you on the right track before quarantine? We had more players squat in the 600s than we had in all of our years combined! Here’s the plan I devised before the home orders were in effect and what we’ll be doing once we return.
At-Home Conjugate Training With Household Items
We’re gonna use everything from books, bricks, blocks, and buckets, to water softeners, siblings, and soccer balls. Convenient, right?
Rugby Wants You!
Where do all of the football players go when they are unable to reach their playing goals in college or the National Football League?
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind at Home
This is not me trying to sound like a meathead lifter and talk about how I’ll go psycho if I don’t get my swole on at the gym. But kinda…
11 Medicine Ball Exercises to Improve GPP
You down with GPP? You know, General Physical Preparedness. If not, it’s time to get back in shape to dramatically and positively affect your total strength. You can start this process with a medicine ball.
Shoulder Saver Bench Warm-up
Since starting this recovery routine, that I do on both of my upper body days per week, I have had far less pain and nagging injuries. Save your shoulders!
The False Idol
We all have struggles, and at times we don’t want to do the things we need to do to get strong(er). In fact, I have never met a top athlete of any kind who did not have times where he or she struggled to keep doing what he or she needed to.
The Hurley Power Couple's Basement Upgrade
The best gyms maximize every inch of space they have available. Sometimes at the cost of a window frame. Rachael and Toby Hurley have a beast of a setup with all the essentials and beyond.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Yessica Martinez Discusses JM Blakley ...
In hindsight, what was Yessica Martinez’s biggest takeaway from working with the bench press wizard JM Blakley?
Setting Up Your Training Plan During the Apocalypse
Here’s the program you can try out and do in the coming days and weeks to help you become a better conditioned and robust athlete.
Remaining Jacked and Tanned During the Apocalypse
Maintaining as much muscle mass as you can should be right up there on your priority list. Here’s what this means for your training as you train with little to no equipment.
How to Adapt Your Training and Plyometrics During the Apocalypse
When you don’t have access to high external loads (i.e., a barbell and weights), then training for maximal strength is pretty much impossible. So we should forget about that as a direct outcome of our training for the time being.
Thyroid Health Update
The intricacies of the thyroid are complicated, so I wanted to triangulate my advice versus just taking one opinion and rolling with it. When I did so, I found that they all had very similar conclusions. Here’s my treatment plan.
Goal Setting and Adjusting Your Nutritional Plan During the Apocalypse
This a long timeframe to let yourself get down and to slide backward in habits and work ethic. So we need a focus, and it needs to be a change of focus. We need goals in short.
Who Are the Saviors of the Hardcore Gym?
What is intriguing today with the backdrop of COVID-19 is observing the few remaining relics of an era gone by. The hardcore lifter-built gyms. These modern-day dinosaurs that refused to become extinct…
Editor's Letter for May
Last month, the bulk of our content wore many hats: squats, legs, COVID-19, autism, home gyms, and home exercises. Here’s what you can expect for May.
Skipload Manifesto
I am providing this information in detail in one location, not so much for people to use the information themselves (though this will obviously happen), but to explain the methodology to those who still don’t understand it or feel that it isn’t an effective way to get lean.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — This One Time, at Westside Barbell…
Great coaching, brawls and talking trash all go hand in hand at elite powerlifting gyms. When Dave Tate has a story to tell about Westside Barbell, it’s a good idea to stop and listen.
Attitude Reflects Leadership
Anyone who has overseen a staff (especially a large one) has probably run into situations where you’ve faced the frustration of attitudes not being what you want them to be. Our attitudes as leaders play an incredibly important role in the attitudes of our staff.
COVID-19 and the Gym Rats
“Well, Lifetime Fitness is closed for now. They are freezing memberships – I am getting bloated as hell. I was wondering if you wanted some company in the garage gym and (long pause) maybe I could come and train with you a couple times?”
Home Gym Training Splits for Leg Day and Recovery Day
We were both a little green around the gills and looked like two wobbly penguins walking around my kitchen trying to get food after this leg day. Try the other workout (recovery day) at the nearest track and field.
20 Questions
Time to play “20 Questions” to help you see the better side of the effect this pandemic has on your training. Bonus: Learn of an alternative household item you can use instead of toilet paper.
The #BAMFW Home Training Plan
Chris Janek and Steve Konopka collaborate to alter their #BAMFW program to those with no training equipment so you can have a clear plan to increase your athleticism.
To Go or Not To Go?
The IPA, one of my favorite federations, held the Tennessee State Championships in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on March 14th. I went.
Storage Unit Training for Strongman
Storage units make for excellent workout facilities, but there are several things to consider when choosing one: Location, size, cost, terrain, amenities, and more.
Scott Paltos' Ever-Expanding Home Gym
Literally. His home gym takes up multiple rooms in his living space! Ever hear of someone having a posterior-chain room? Now you do.
The Garage Gym Guide
With a garage gym, every square inch of space matters, and over a short period, our garage gym has evolved quite a bit.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Swede Burns & Dave Tate Discuss Ba...
Being jacked as hell got your shoulders a little tight? Here’s how you fix your squat bar position for better performance, less pain, and a bigger total.
INTERVIEW: UW Head Assistant S&C Coach Shaun Snee
Don’t just know the strength and conditioning coaches you hope will help you out. Invest in the world of strength and conditioning, powerlifters, strongmen, weightlifters, athletes in your desired sport, and check out their routines and habits.
Beginner Gains for Advanced Lifters
Here’s how you can quickly jump through your current plateau and advance to the next stage of strength.
All I Need Is One Bar
Many of my online clients and members of my gym don’t have a squat rack or bench at home, unfortunately. However, many of them have access to a barbell. Are you in this same predicament?
No Non-Sense Guide to Team Sport Sprint Training
What I’m presenting is what’s worked for my athletes. This 12-week program is based on principles involving anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, psychology, and neurology along with 10 years of experience coaching.
How-To: Specialty Squat Bars
Let's take a closer look at specialty bars and explore the REAL reasons you'll want to use them for squats.
Anchored Band Squats for Unmatched Quad and Glute Power
A cluster 6-second pause execution as Dr. Serrano demonstrates with patients in the video combines to create excellent conditions for muscle growth and body fat loss at the same time.
Bodyweight Training for Lower-Body Strength and Power
We should not lose sight of the benefits that bodyweight training provides. Take a break from the barbell and machines and try Prison Squats, Nordic Leg Curls, Jump Squats, and Jump Tucks for newfound strength and explosiveness.
Top-55 Prowler® Workouts
Buddy Runs, Death Rallies, Prowler® Mile, Prowler® Suicide, Prowler® Marathon... with this list, your Prowler® options are endless.
How to Build Your Dream Home Gym
Two words: in layers. As you'll see, it took Matt Goodwin six years to accumulate everything he has in his gym. His message to you: start small and start now.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — What Age Should Kids Start Lifting Wei...
Did you miss out on your peak potential by picking up powerlifting too late? Or would you be nowhere near where you are by starting too early?
Pink Floyd and the True Lifters
The song is called Time, and the album is The Dark Side of the Moon. Read Roger Water's words…
Seminar Squats
Do yourself a favor and focus on technique; don’t get too wrapped up in band tension, percents, etc. Get your technique down and worry about the other things later.
World Record 12-Week Squat Cycle
You can take plenty away from this program on how to structure a meet prep training program to peak a particular lift, and alternate accessory work and supplemental work to aid in building the squat.
WATCH: Equipment Feature — Spud Inc. Econo Triceps and Lat Pulley
This item is one of the most cost-effective ways to add a ton of variation to your training and enable you to perform a greater number of exercises.
Flow Chart to Assist in the Determination of Physical Training Content i...
Here's the standard week-long plan with a seven-day turnaround between games, optimizing a balance between recovery both physiologically and psychologically.