Isometric Face Pulls
Will I ever cure my kyphosis totally? Probably not, but I can at least work on keeping my shoulders healthy.
Jack Shirt Break-in and First Impressions
I knew from past reviews that the arms were tighter on the Jack than on the Ace, although the sizes should be close.
The Art of the Trial Session
Many gyms and facilities give free trial sessions to athletes in order to get them in to test drive their program.
The Creatine Facts
One of the longest standing controversies in the world of health, fitness, and athletic performance is whether or not one should take creatine.
Training and Dietary Considerations for Women
A person’s physique reflects her genetic component compounded with the sum of the decisions she's made in regards to her health.
The Angry Coach: Interesting Ethical (Business) Question
I'm curious to know people's thoughts on this.
LTT IV: Thursday Youth Coaching Session
Anyone can learn the science, the research, and the X's and O's, but a great coach leaves the kids smiling.
Building Single Limb Leg Strength: Master the Pistol Squat
The pistol squat is one of the most valuable exercises an athlete can have in his little black book of tricks when training for strength, power, and increased muscle.
The Manifesto of Supervillainy
Whenever people question me about my religion, political policies, moral code, business ethics, training program, or any other topic that seeks to classify me in some way, I always reply, "supervillainy."
Explosive Isometrics: Speed Training with the Brakes On
Rate of force development (RFD) is king in the sporting world.
Interval Sprint Programs for Rapid Fat Loss and Muscle Growth
Most strength athletes would rather go through an all night torture session listening to pop music while being forced to eat tofu instead of doing “cardio.”
Iron Sport: Do Sumo Deadlifts Suck...or Is It Just Me?
On Friday, I had a rare opportunity to be visited by not one, but TWO of my Facebook tormentors.
More Tips for the Raw Lifter
These tips can help steer you in the right direction, but they aren't any substitute for common sense and hard work.
The Deadly Sevens Shoulder Swole
I always like springing surprise workouts on the guys that train with me.
Making the Switch from Power Athlete to Bodybuilder: Rethinking the Pre-...
The types of adaptations that power athletes have elicited through their training emanate not from one particular muscle group but rather from the entire central nervous system.
The Other Side of Things
That night, the doctors in the emergency room told me that I was looking at six months, if I was lucky, to be ‘functional’ again.
News Flash – Congratulations Sam Byrd
This was a good starting point as I ramp it up for the raw 504 in September.
The 10 Commandments of Conditioning
No matter what sport you compete in, you’ll probably agree that conditioning plays a huge factor in how an athlete performs. If athletes aren’t conditioned properly, they’ll never achieve peak performance in their sport.
The Science of Strength: Reading Research, Pt. II
Being statistically significant doesn’t mean a result has practical applications, however; it’s just measurable, and that measurable amount may or may not be of interest to you.
The Wannabe, Part Two
How you use your “down time” in 2012 will determine if you stay a wannabe or if you become the success you want to be.
All-Star Parenting
Working with youth athletes has been an experience that has taught me several lessons.
Keck's Column: Strength: Are You Building it, or Just Testing it?
There's certainly a time and place to test your strength, occasionally in the gym and always on the platform.
The Science of Strength: Reading Research, Pt. I
It’s important to know that scientific/medical papers are rarely “how-to guides.” Instead, they seek to answer very specific questions.
EFS Classic: Flexibility/Mobility: An elitefts™ Roundtable Discussion
With Jim Wendler, Mark McLaughlin, Bob Youngs, Alwyn Cosgrove, Tom Deebel, Jason Ferruggia, Julia Ladewski, Dave Tate, and Mike Hope.
The Newbie: Let There Be Pain
My hands remind me of the steel, the calluses half torn from last night’s deadlift and a sore upper back telling me that those reps were just right.
Training Around Back Pain
The bottom position of a squat or deadlift is where the lumbar spine is most vulnerable.
Throw Out the Rep Ranges: A Different Perspective
One thing I've learned in the past couple years is that all of those set and rep tables that students have to memorize in their exercise science classes should be thrown in the trash can.
The Slight Edge
The slight edge may not be much at the time, but over time, it compounds and gives you a huge advantage in life and in the gym.
Do Powerlifters Need Cardio?
Having a base level of aerobic fitness can be highly beneficial for a powerlifter.
EFS Classic: The Intermediate Deadlift Cycle
The deadlift may be the purest test of strength in the iron game. Heavy weight. On the floor. Must pick it up.
Training Concepts, Recovery and Knee Rehab with Buddy Morris
These videos made me realize what I needed to do in order to preserve longevitiy in doing what I love...lifting!!
MMA Rope Conditioning
Rope training is one of the premier tools you can use in your quest for victorious MMA conditioning.
Speed Development
An athlete with more power has greater torque, leading to a quicker athlete with more top end speed.
Weight Room Lessons from the Ladies
While not as uncomfortable as spending an afternoon watching chick flicks and melodramas (that goddamn Gray’s Anatomy), this article is about to gently nudge you out of your comfort zone.
Planning the Macrocycle: Tips for the Young Strength Coach
The idea to write this article came to me while thinking of ways to improve my interviewing skills.
Paralysis by Perfect Form
I know that Tim had dabbled a bit in powerlifting a few years ago, but neither he nor Shiloe had become ‘paralyzed by perfect form.’
How elitefts™ Changed the World View of a College Student
Next to "mid-term" and "7:50 a.m. final," the ‘"freshman 15" is the most dreaded among all incoming college students.
Quick and Easy Client Assessment/Warm Up
I’ve read mixed reviews from many different coaches and trainers on how to assess your clients.
A Twist on 5/3/1 for a Recovering Weightlifter
I don't take any credit for this but instead give credit to the mind who published his idea for the 5/3/1 program—Jim Wendler.
How to Use the Sled for Virtually Everything
How many of you in the "elitefts™ family" have a sled, Prowler®, or homemade version of one of these?
Visualizing a Lift: Before, After, Here, or There?
Sports science has taught us that visualization electrically activates the corresponding muscle groups.
Sandbag Accessory Lifts
The sandbag is a staple in serious garage gyms everywhere, but it rarely crosses over into commercial gym territory.
Mass Attack
Many people confuse the message that in order to become the biggest you, you need to become the strongest you.
The Secret to Increasing Strength & Conditioning
Are you stuck and can't seem to find a way to break though to the next level? Read on...
Simple Speed: Training the Young Athlete
For many years, speed was considered some mystified aspect of sport performance that was measurable but unchanging.
The Moat and the Spine
One of the things that I've noticed that works every single time is stabilizing the spine and the equivalent force production that comes with it.
The Booty Factors
Let's just say that glute development is a big thing for both performance and physical appearance.
Lessons from My Father
This article is about the things I learned from my father growing up and how they’ve impacted my fitness.
Spotlight: Chad Walker – The Unassuming Giant
“As far back as I can remember I’ve always felt small. I have never been one to look in the mirror and see a monster.”
Cluster Training
Cluster or rest-pause training involves using short inter-set rest periods of anywhere from 10–30 seconds to produce more powerful repetitions or more repetitions with a heavy weight.
Adding Sprints to Your Training
“Hell, yeah…let’s go run a marathon!” isn't something that you’d expect a reader of EliteFTS to say without being overly sarcastic and/or under the influence of illicit drugs.
Keck's Column: HIIT is the Best, or So They Say
Team elitefts™ Columnist Michael Keck takes on HIIT training,