Why Powerlifters Shouldn't Train Alone
If you aren’t training with a group of serious lifters, you’re missing a lot of what you need to get stronger.
Death of a Number
I’ve seen men shoot bottle rockets out of their ass for views and women with “shorts” on using thirst trap camera angles from the rear all in an attempt to be accepted as a “powerlifter.” Sadly, it works.
WATCH: Developing Powerlifters Through the Role and Responsibilities of ...
Maggie Kuhn, owner of CBUS Lifting Co., walks through the importance of meet directors and shares the impact she wants to have on the future generation of powerlifters.
Trust the Process — Perfection
Turn into the head coach of the weight room. Come up with a plan to cover everything down to the finest detail.
WATCH: Fixing Dave Tate — The 10-Week Update Discussion
Dr. Rusin returns to the elitefts headquarters to get an update on Dave’s progress through two training phases.
The Future of Strongman
I may come across as accusatory or cynical in this article, but it’s because this sport means so much to me and I’ve spent thousands of dollars and hours trying to grow it for the good of everyone involved. If we want it to be bigger and better, there are some things we need to do.
What I Learned from Benching with Dave Tate
Based on Dave’s bench cues and progress made, I’m revising my bench goal for Reebok Record Breakers in November, from 200 kilos up to 210 — a huge jump, especially considering it’s by far my worst lift.
Championship Nature Series: The Circles of Concern and Influence
Of the many things in your life that you care about, there are some you can control and some you cannot. Being aware of the difference will not only make you more successful but also happier.
WATCH: elitefts Fitness Professional Summit — Transparency and Building ...
Taking on a young athlete that didn’t fit was a big mistake, but how DeFranco handled the situation led to an explosion in his business. This is the story of how kicking a kid out of his gym was one of the three best decisions he ever made.
Do You Eat, Sleep, and Breathe School and Sports (Like the Lions)?
When the Gateway Lions Academy approached me a few months ago to train their soccer athletes, I was excited. Almost 100% of them are just pure raw talent, and their skillset and work ethic are unreal.
WATCH: elitefts Core Values — Trust
In the world of strength training, you often see trust: between training partners, between lifters and their equipment, and between competitors and judges. But not all trust is created equal.
Three Things I Would Change About the Fitness Industry
Two decades of working in this industry—and even longer being part of it as a lifter—has shown me a lot of great things, but I’ve got a few suggestions as well.
Year One with Men’s Aspirations — Developing Social Skills with Substance
This program provides a monthly social outlet for teens and young adults with high functioning autism. As we approach year one, I want to share how I’ve made this program my own.
Why Is Everyone Suddenly Taking Collagen?
Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the human body and is part of connective tissues, muscles, bones, tendons, and blood vessels. Naturally, this means people are experimenting with its supplemental use.
10 Training Rules to Help You Learn What Works for You
Many of us would like there to be a simple answer or a go-to method to reach our goals in the shortest possible time, but in reality we have to spend time under the bar, do our homework, educate ourselves, and learn what makes our unique profile tick.
Reasons Why You're Weak — Inefficient Technique, Outcome-Focused, M...
Without question, the number one reason most lifters don’t lift the weights that they are able to is…
The Important Aspects of Training to Always Keep in Focus
Don’t get sidetracked by paying attention to insignificant details and meaningless methods. Learn to distinguish between what matters and what doesn’t.
Skip the Gym — The Scioto Challenge
Bridging the gap between immobility and action, this lesson served as another opportunity to reshape the students’ negative associations with exercise and revamp their workout creativity in OSU’s backyard.
Where Is Your Focus?
To get your strongest in the fastest way possible, you need to focus on training as a whole. Every aspect needs attention and focus.
Jeremy Frey: A Reintroduction
It’s been my privilege to know Dave Tate and be a part of elitefts since 2007. I’ve been away for a few years now, but I’m back.
Mindset: The Difference Between Success and Failure
People who succeed in this world have an iron will and a never-say-die mentality. Do you?
WATCH: Fixing Dave Tate — The Dynamic Warm-Up Sequences for Upper Body a...
Dr. Rusin has covered the purpose of the six-phase dynamic warm-up sequence. Now it’s time to dig into the specific movements in each sequence and learn proper execution.
WATCH: The New Headquarters of Spud Inc.
The elitefts relationship with Marc Bartley and Spud Inc. stretches far back into his incredible competitive days as a powerlifter. Today, the business relationship is one valued by both parties.
WATCH: elitefts Core Values — Focus
Without focus, you won’t make it far in training, business, or life.
The Contempt for Millennials: Reconsidering a Generational Divide
This hostility goes far beyond the baby boomer and Gen Xer tensions that dominated my early professional years. Those generational differences never reached this level of sheer nastiness.
5 Cable Exercises You Should Be Using
If you’re one of those guys who thinks anything outside of plates on a bar is blaspheme, give me five minutes to convince you otherwise.
The elitefts Company Story
From 1998 to today, elitefts has had one simple goal: to make average athletes great and great athletes elite. This is how the company has grown along the way to educate and outfit the strongest athletes around the world.
WATCH: Phil Matusz 2018 elitefts Sports Performance Summit Presentation ...
As Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning for The Ohio State University football team, Matusz knows what it’s like to be in a high-pressure environment. And that’s when your leadership really counts.
The Silent Partner
The weights weigh what they weigh and I can either lift them or I can’t. They never try to convince me of anything. They are what they are and that is what they will always be.
Get Your Exercises Right: Four Movements You Aren't Using Enough
These exercises are not commonly used but they deserve a place in your strength and conditioning program. We’ve tested them on our athletes and on ourselves and we believe in them.
3 Time-Efficient Assistance Work Circuits to Get You Stronger and in Bet...
These assistance work circuits are designed to be done after main strength work (primary and supplemental movements) and provide a time-efficient way to work for hypertrophy, muscular endurance, and basic conditioning.
Bodybuilding for the Powerlifter — Programming Arm Training (with Sample...
No, hammer curls and pushdowns probably aren’t going to add 50 pounds to your bench, but they very well might keep your elbows healthy enough so that you can train consistently. And getting arms big enough to bust through shirtsleeves is fun.
WATCH: Equipment Feature — Spud Inc. Tricep, Lat, Low Pulley System
This system really comes in handy for performing movements that would otherwise require large, expensive pieces of equipment. With a little creativity, you can even add a few new unique exercises.
WATCH: Fixing Dave Tate — Programming the Six-Phase Dynamic Warm-Up Sequ...
The goal is to rebuild Dave’s foundational movement patterns, and the first step is to begin each training session with one of two 15-minute sequences. Here’s the method behind the madness.
Fixing Your Feet: Integration and Loading
After addressing internal tibial rotation and stability and strength of the intrinsic foot musculature, we can now look at hip internal rotation, knee valgus, and exercises for progression.
Programming for the Strongman Deadlift
The deadlift program I’m going to outline will prepare you for both a heavy event and a high rep event. This will be perfect for those in strongman that are not given events for a specific contest.
The Coach's Guide to Programming and Periodization: Basic Principle...
We can't simply throw random exercises and set and rep schemes on a piece of paper haphazardly and then hope for the best. In this series I will teach you how to write programs, including a coach's assignment for each article.
Social Skill Integration Through Movement and Strength — Gym Training
The goal is to get an inactive child on the spectrum socially and physically strong through movement. This initial type of training, the first in a progression of eight, takes place in the gym.
7 Exercises Lost to the '80s
There's a reason techniques in the past were so widely used for so long: they worked. Go old school and give these exercises a shot.
Africa Lifts
These are the gyms of Sub-Saharan Africa, where the training environment is unsheltered and un-floored and the equipment is made of scrap iron, car parts, cement, and anything else that works.
WATCH: Table Talk with Dan Green — Training Frequency of the Powerliftin...
How many times per week should you train the main lifts?
WATCH: Jim Wendler's 2018 elitefts Sports Performance Summit Presen...
To close his presentation, Wendler discusses exercise selection, indicators of athlete readiness, and the importance of knowing the trapdoors of your training program.
Training Terminology
Trying to understand programming without knowing the terminology is similar to navigating a country without knowing the language: you can do it, but it won't be easy.
Collegiate Athlete Essentials: Parameters for Incoming Athletes
This method has worked well in the past and could help you with your starting point in the programming for your athletes.
Balance and the Big Picture
I hear all the time that balance is impossible and that to be amazing at something you have to give it up. I also hear that every person needs perfect and equal balance in life. Which is it?
WATCH: Equipment Feature — Mike Bartos' Stone of Steel
No longer do you need to go through the daunting, messy process of measuring, mixing, and pouring concrete into molds to make stones. There's now a better way.
Self-Efficacy: The Science of Getting Shit Done
According to Bandura, there are four major sources contributing to a person's individual self-efficacy. This is what coaches need to be building in their athletes.
WATCH: Equipment Feature with Josh Bryant — Neck Harness Training
These are the three best exercises you can do with a harness to build a stronger, thicker, more muscular neck.
My SPS Weekend and Visit to the S5 Compound
My recent trip to Ohio included attending the 2018 elitefts Sports Performance Summit and visiting the brand new elitefts office, warehouse, and gym. Along the way, I learned a lot about training.
WATCH: The First Time I Trained with Ronnie Coleman
The plan for the training session was to squat but the bodybuilding group had a lot more in mind.
In-Season Training Considerations to Uphold Off-Season Progress
Many programs account for energy system considerations and athlete deficiencies, but there are a number of other factors I believe are incredibly important for transitioning from off-season to in-season training.
![WATCH: Defining Autism — Beyond the Label [Documentary]](https://www.elitefts.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DefiningHeaderImages-300x250.jpg)
WATCH: Defining Autism — Beyond the Label [Documentary]
This documentary is the culmination of years of intimate interaction with a child with autism. Interaction as a father, a mother, an educator, a trainer, and a friend.
WATCH: Fixing Dave Tate — Observing Dave's Current Training Capabil...
To gain a greater understanding of Dave's current capabilities, Dr. Rusin watches a full training session of six movements.
WATCH: Table Talk with Dan Green — Deloads and Fatigue Management
Using a planned deload is one effective way to manage fatigue during a training cycle, but strategic exercise selection can help reduce the need for "off" weeks.
Bands and Underloading: The Often Ignored 'Secrets' of The Con...
There's a piece to the accommodating resistance puzzle that I don’t think anyone ever really discusses: using bands too often can ruin you for straight weight. There's also an equally overlooked method of fatigue management.
WATCH: Jim Wendler's 2018 elitefts Sports Performance Summit Presen...
In the previous videos, Wendler discussed his general mindset and approach to strength and conditioning for a high school football team. In this segment, he goes into detail about how he has designed the training sessions.
Take the Emotion out of the Bar
Motivation doesn't mean a thing if you haven't done the work. Relying on the psych up didn't work for me and this is why.