Brainstorm: Was "Back in the day" Really That Good?
Brainstorm: Was "Back in the day" Really That Good?

If so, were the early-day strength athletes stronger, faster, and more powerful than present-day competitors? Studies about nostalgia suggest the answers to these questions root in nostalgic accounts from both positive and negative emotions.

4 Mistakes Fallen Leaders Are Prone To
4 Mistakes Fallen Leaders Are Prone To

Wealth, power, and fame. Some might say those are inherently negative characteristics. I, however, believe the way those characteristics are wielded determines whether they are good or bad.

LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #25 with Casey Williams
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #25 with Casey Williams

Dave Tate’s bringing yet another amazing athlete to the table… Talk Podcast! (See what we did there?) This time, it’s elitefts athlete Casey Williams.

LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Justin Harris Explains Carb Cycling
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Justin Harris Explains Carb Cycling

Carb cycling: A fancy phrase for rotating calories. Nutritionist Justin Harris breaks down why you should be carb cycling and why it works in simple terms.

Competition Report: Brute Strength Gym’s Spartacus Strongman
Competition Report: Brute Strength Gym’s Spartacus Strongman

This competition was preceded by my dad’s unexpected death, a delay in his death certificate, and burying him the Monday before my wedding. It’s been a tough year, and my training and diet reflected that. Still, I did pretty well all things considered.

Stirring the Pot, Volume 1
Stirring the Pot, Volume 1

I’ve been told I do a good job of being a heretic of the strength and conditioning coach profession, so I might as well keep it up and stir the pot with some of my hot takes on sumo deadlifts, box squatting, and more.

The Running Shoe Caste System
The Running Shoe Caste System

“Buy nice; don’t buy twice.” That saying might apply to elitefts equipment, but it might also apply to running shoes when it comes to doing cardio… Any suggestions for replacing a 27-year-old pair of sneakers?

WATCH: Matt Rhodes Gives Advice to Young Coaches
WATCH: Matt Rhodes Gives Advice to Young Coaches

A few pro tips from Coach Matt Rhodes: Not everything you learn in a book can be applied to strength and conditioning. Open your mind to new ideas and influences, and learn how your mentor wants things down.

WATCH: Dave Tate's Definitive Guide for Wrapping Wrists
WATCH: Dave Tate's Definitive Guide for Wrapping Wrists

Learn the secret that we’ve kept under wraps until now: How to properly wrap your wrists for the Big Three: bench, squat, and deadlift.

The Best Bang for Your Buck: Wrist Wraps
The Best Bang for Your Buck: Wrist Wraps

Want to get the most out of your wrist wraps? Or maybe you don’t know where to start when it comes to all of the wrist wraps elitefts offers. Look no further than this article, which rounds up some of the best wrist wrap guides and related workouts.

Understanding Groin Injuries: Complex Groin Injuries
Understanding Groin Injuries: Complex Groin Injuries

When a doctor who knows how I train gave me his diagnosis, I had no idea what to do because I hadn’t met anyone that had this constellation of stuff. Neither had he. The best foundation we came up with was based on the same principles in the previous articles.

Build a Professional Rugby Team Through This Academy Program
Build a Professional Rugby Team Through This Academy Program

I am currently working as a consultant for a pro rugby team, and I was asked about the type of player I would require moving into a pro team. Fair warning: What I wrote here may be considered heretical in the strength and conditioning world…

Putting Our Equipment to the Test at Monster Garage Gym
Putting Our Equipment to the Test at Monster Garage Gym

It’s one thing to read about elitefts equipment, but it’s something altogether different to see it being used in the hands of competitive powerlifters at Monster Garage Gym.

8 Levels of Delegation for Successful Management
8 Levels of Delegation for Successful Management

Your employees are like your clients in the gym. They want to build their skills and strengths and hopefully, are able to do it on their own. If you’re unable to manage your management, you are doing your employees and yourself a major disservice.

WATCH: Joe Sullivan Demonstrates Crocodile Breathing
WATCH: Joe Sullivan Demonstrates Crocodile Breathing

The cue “push into your belt” has lifters focusing on the front of their bodies. But this operates under the assumption that the torso will expand in 360 degrees, not just out toward the front. In order to have the best brace, we need to rework our understanding of doing so in the first place.

The Scale is Ruining Your Physique (and Bodybuilding)
The Scale is Ruining Your Physique (and Bodybuilding)

In bodybuilding, numbers aren’t represented on stage; you’re scored based on your overall look or (I almost hate to use that phrase for reasons I won’t get into here). It makes no sense to add 20 pounds of muscle only to have your midsection increase by 4 inches or more.

LISTEN: Table Talk Clip — Are Cheat Meals Worth It?
LISTEN: Table Talk Clip — Are Cheat Meals Worth It?

It’s better to have one cheat meal a week than to go off of the program and eat on a day that you’ve burned off a lot of calories and now have taken in more calories than lost. Don’t turn a fat-burning day into a fat-gaining day.

Plyometrics for Group Programming
Plyometrics for Group Programming

Plyometric work is easy to teach, and depending on the variation you choose, easy to recover from. It doesn’t need a huge investment of time from both a learning curve and application perspective. Its inclusion is a no-brainer!

WATCH: I am Vincent Dizenzo
WATCH: I am Vincent Dizenzo

“To be able to give back is a much bigger legacy than anything you’ll leave on a platform.” elitefts coach Vincent Dizenzo finds his calling in helping others by passing on knowledge, especially when it comes to dieting and weight loss.

LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #24 with Clint Darden
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #24 with Clint Darden

Clint Darden is taking some time to travel out of Cyprus and to the U.S., where he’s finally made his way to the elitefts S5 Compound as a Table Talk Podcast guest.

What A Powerlifter Can Learn From An IFBB Pro
What A Powerlifter Can Learn From An IFBB Pro

As strength athletes, we care only about lifting the weight from Point A to Point B, but from a bodybuilding perspective, that is dead wrong, but how does that translate to powerlifting? The idea is to challenge the muscle — not just focus on completing reps and sets.

How Many Times A Day Do You Train?
How Many Times A Day Do You Train?

One of the hardest things I’ve ever done was train less. But thanks to a little advice from Dave Tate, I started looking at training in a whole new light. Strength comes from so much more than lifting heavy weights in the gym.

Have Young Athletes Really Changed?
Have Young Athletes Really Changed?

Enough with the “back in my day, kids did this…” crap. Today is today. Things haven’t changed that much, and if you can’t adapt to what has changed, maybe you shouldn’t be a strength coach.

These Four Walls
These Four Walls

Recording a podcast episode with my mentor (and cousin) John Alvino made me reflect on the pivotal role training has played in my life. Quite frankly, without it, I don’t know where I’d be. Inside these four walls, training has been my therapy, my drug, and my anchor.

3 Things Physical Therapy School Taught Me About Being A Strength Coach
3 Things Physical Therapy School Taught Me About Being A Strength Coach

I could write a big article covering every detail about physical therapy and strength coaching, but I’ve chosen to spare your computer screen space and discuss the most important topics about what physical therapy school taught me about being a strength coach.

A Career Development Plan for GAs and Interns
A Career Development Plan for GAs and Interns

Although this article is directed at those supervising GAs and interns, if you’re a student reading this article, you can use these strategies to help to plan your own professional development as well.

Concepts of High-Level Strength and Conditioning Methods Applied to the Sport of Powerlifting
Concepts of High-Level Strength and Conditioning Methods Applied to the ...

Over the last few years, I’ve had more time to visit some major universities and professional teams and talk shop with some very good strength and conditioning coaches, and these are some of the trends we’ve noticed in the weight room and think powerlifters should start implementing.

The Mind-Muscle Link: Learn Muscle Attachments
The Mind-Muscle Link: Learn Muscle Attachments

I am personally giving you permission to skip today’s workout — but only if you learn about muscle origins and insertions and how they move. Watch some videos about this instead of binge-watching Stranger Things or whatever. Just sit down and educate yourself.

Everything You Need to Know About The Max Effort Method
Everything You Need to Know About The Max Effort Method

As with anything in training, the answer always is “it depends.” With the max effort method, I can do one of these things for two hours just on advanced principles that deal with the max effort method, or I can do one very that’s simple. I choose simple.

LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — John Meadows' Favorite Physique in Bodybuilding
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — John Meadows' Favorite Physique i...

It was in the year of 1993 and he weighed somewhere between 218 to 220 pounds. Who does that narrow it down to?

Vincent Dizenzo's BAMF Program
Vincent Dizenzo's BAMF Program

A few weeks ago I blogged about how I was mistakenly looking for a one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with my injuries, and my circumstances are different. But with the help of four friends (and my wife), we came up with a BAMF program. Here it is.

WATCH: Doctor Deadlift Teaches The Hook Grip
WATCH: Doctor Deadlift Teaches The Hook Grip

The doctor is in! Specifically, Doctor Deadlift (whose real name is Cailer Woolam) is here to teach you why you should switch over from your alternating grip to a hook grip and show you how it’s done.

The Travels of a Strength and Conditioning Coach — Jonathan Leitch's Story
The Travels of a Strength and Conditioning Coach — Jonathan Leitch'...

I quit my personal trainer job to become a strength and conditioning coach. I lived in my car, slept on a couch, and I even had a raccoon living in my apartment wall at one point. But all of these struggles and sacrifices were worth it.

It's On Us to Become Better Strength Coaches
It's On Us to Become Better Strength Coaches

I’m here to remind everyone that we all have a part to play in making our field better and safer for our athletes. It’s on us to ensure our athletes, schools, and overall profession are all the best they can be. Start by implementing these 5 simple steps in your program.

LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #23 with Joe Sullivan and Janis Finkelman
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #23 with Joe Sullivan and Janis Finkelman

Joe and Janis are returning for another episode of Table Talk Podcast with host Dave Tate. Expect all sorts of thoughts, questions, and answers for all things powerlifting-related.

Meet Attempt Considerations For Every Situation
Meet Attempt Considerations For Every Situation

When it comes to selecting meet attempts, there are a lot of things to take into account. The big one is your goal, but the strategy for getting that goal varies depending on lots of factors. You wouldn’t use the same process for selecting your opener and for winning — at least, I hope you don’t.

The Definition of Insanity
The Definition of Insanity

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again to get a different result. That pretty much sums up the strength and conditioning industry, doesn’t it?

WATCH: The Definitive Guide to Hill Sprints
WATCH: The Definitive Guide to Hill Sprints

Before you go find yourself a hill to sprint up via Google maps (steep hills, such as those in landfills, are ideal), don’t forget to warm up and stay hydrated. It’s a sprint, so go all out!

Training for Strongman in a Commercial Gym
Training for Strongman in a Commercial Gym

Most strongman competitors I work with don’t have a strongman gym nearby — but they do have a commercial gym. This 4-week program will help just about anyone in that all-too-common situation.

Editor's Letter for August
Editor's Letter for August

The content calendar for August is packed with special content from Justin Harris, Vincent Dizenzo, JM Blakely, and Jordan Shallow that’ll bring you gains in muscle, strength, and knowledge. For a sneak peek at what’s to come, read on ahead!

The Characteristics of Mastery
The Characteristics of Mastery

It’s hard to think of a word that has been devalued in the strength and healthcare industry as much as the word “expert.” Luckily, “mastery” hasn’t taken the same hit. But what does it take to become a master? What defines mastery? Read on to find out.

Social Media Eliminates the Small Pond
Social Media Eliminates the Small Pond

I love the Internet. I really do. But at the same time, I can tell you that I absolutely miss those days where I was able to feel like a big fish in a small pond before the Internet came about. It’s a paradox for us as we’re all small fish in a very big pond.

Can A Hickey Help Your Recovery?
Can A Hickey Help Your Recovery?

This isn’t a hickey from your teenage years; the kind of hickey I’m talking about is created from a recovery modality known as “cupping.” Does cupping work, or is it just a fad that could leave you bruised and broken? OK, it DOES leave bruises, but broken? Not so much.

LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Cailer Woolam Bombed Out of His 1st Meet
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — Cailer Woolam Bombed Out of His 1st Meet

Even Doctor Deadlift has bombed out, and for him, it was at his first meet as a 15-year-old in high school. Cailer Woolam was ready to quit, but he kept on pushing, and look at him now: one of the youngest people to make the deadlift world record.

Why You Should Pull the SSB Handles In While Squatting
Why You Should Pull the SSB Handles In While Squatting

The Safety Squat Bar is a great tool to help build strength in the upper back, but if you’re looking to get the full effect out of this bar, you should consider applying this subtle cue in order to load the erector muscles of the spine in their purest function.

LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #22 with Justin Harris
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #22 with Justin Harris

Dave Tate sits down with bodybuilding contest prep guru Justin Harris, who helped bring Dave down to single-digit body fat levels — a feat few people thought possible.

The Geology of Power
The Geology of Power

To this day, that month-long experience of a geology class at Yellowstone helped shape how I look at duration, time, patience, and longevity. That experience helped me apply the view of time to virtually all facets of life, including strength training.

WATCH: Why You Should Check Out Yessica Martinez's Training Log
WATCH: Why You Should Check Out Yessica Martinez's Training Log
Doing more gen pop or accessible workouts doesn't make someone any less strong. Just ask elitefts athlete Yessica Martinez. Or, better yet, read her training logs to see how doing yoga or some gen pop exercise could lead to some bigger numbers in the squat.
The Myths of Iron
The Myths of Iron
My niece and nephew recently took weightlifting classes, and I am baffled by what they are being taught. This information is not only wrong, but it puts them at greater risk of injury. Quality knowledge is easily accessible, so why are we stuck in this loop of bad information?
45 Minutes or Your Money Back
45 Minutes or Your Money Back
Someone once told me when it came to programming, their objective was to be able to get as much bang for your buck as possible. That stuck with me, so I ensure my programs are of good quality and don't last more than 45 minutes.
Make Box Squats Work for a Stronger Raw Squat
Make Box Squats Work for a Stronger Raw Squat
I found the most success when I box squatted, and I applied what I learned box squatting to my raw squat. On meet day, I felt the most dialed in, the most explosive, and the strongest that I ever have on a raw squat. Here's how.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #21 with Dave Tate
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast #21 with Dave Tate
In this episode of Table Talk Podcast, Dave Tate is hosting solo once more and has plenty to say about a variety of subjects, such as JM Blakley not knowing how to use the Internet and things he's learned in his training career, and more.
Conjugate For A Little Old Man
Conjugate For A Little Old Man
People have asked me to write about how I train. I haven't done it because I figured you guys thought it'd be boring... until now. Here's a look at my training and the process behind it.
Conditioning Without Running
Conditioning Without Running
Stop killing kids by making them run so much. Stop running them into the ground with running... and in general, stop it. It defeats the purposes of building them up.
Off-Season Conditioning Lanes
Off-Season Conditioning Lanes
These off-season lane options are meant to keep them in the ballpark of being in game shape without beating the crap out of them. They don’t have to be ready all the time; just ready to get ready. If you think they are not sport-specific enough or intense enough, that’s why.
Powerlifting Takes More Than Just Brute Strength
Powerlifting Takes More Than Just Brute Strength
Powerlifting is so much more than physical strength. Yeah, that's part of it, but only a fraction of the big picture. Are you strong mentally? Are you strong intellectually? Are you strong emotionally? Let's find out.
4 Things I Learned in Prison
4 Things I Learned in Prison
My bodybuilding mentor invited me to run a training seminar for inmates at the second-largest prison in Washington state. Let's say I learned a few things while I did my time... teaching inmates, that is.
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — What Lift Are You Most Proud Of?
LISTEN: Table Talk Podcast Clip — What Lift Are You Most Proud Of?
While Dave's AWOL, Jim Wendler, Matt Rhodes, and Vincent Dizenzo fill in and answer questions. This question (what lifts are you most proud of?) sparks a conversation about coaching and fond memories this trio of friends shared and are now sharing with you.
How Stuff Works: The Knee Sleeve
How Stuff Works: The Knee Sleeve
Beyond the notorious odor knee sleeves omit when soaked with sweat and stored in your gym bag for days on end, what don't you know about them? Four parts in this personal equipment series, let's find out.

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