A Conjugate-Triphasic Program for a PR Squat
A Conjugate-Triphasic Program for a PR Squat

It’s hard to argue that triphasic training produces results. But what happens when you combine triphasic and conjugate training methods? I decided to find out with an experiment and apply it to my squat. The result: I added more than 50 pounds to my squat in 4 months.

Peak Week for the Physique Competitor
Peak Week for the Physique Competitor

You’re at the point where you have nothing left, but you still keep going because you see yourself at the end of this crazy 20-plus-week diet complete with one month of self-induced torture, a week full of waterboarding, starvation, and a pissy temper. Welcome to peak week.

Specialized: The Baseball Training Manual
Specialized: The Baseball Training Manual

I’m no wizard when it comes to baseball, but I’m about to blow your mind: My team lifts heavy, keeps volume down on max effort work, does a lot of speed work, and I don’t condition the strength out of them.

WATCH: Back Training with Justin Harris
WATCH: Back Training with Justin Harris

“Dumbbell rows are bodybuilding burpees.” For more wisdom and the full post-Table Talk Podcast workout with Justin Harris, read on. This back workout is complete with pull-overs, pull-downs, deadlifts, and multiple row variations (one by which Justin deems as the best lat exercise there is).

How to Effectively Train Core Strength
How to Effectively Train Core Strength

My idea of developing core strength is by both locally and globally training all the musculature that is attached to the hips, specifically by focusing on programming planks.

12-Week Conjugate Deadlift Cycle for a Raw Lifter
12-Week Conjugate Deadlift Cycle for a Raw Lifter

Remember Cody, my client I talked about in my last article about benching? He absolutely destroyed at the Iron City Open and got a 10-pound deadlift PR total. The secret to his success? It’s in this program… because it IS this program.

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…

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Best Conjugate Training Plan
The Best Conjugate Training Plan

If you understand the conjugate method, can devote 4 to 5 hours of training per week, not competing in sports but is trying to look and feel better, boy, have I got the perfect program for you!

Let's Get Awkward
Let's Get Awkward

Through the use of unconventional movements (or awkward movements), you can really force yourself to utilize better form and recruit numerous additional muscle fibers. Here are a handful of Big 3 variations you can try out.

Conjugate in College: My First Experience with the Conjugate System in Division I Women’s Soccer
Conjugate in College: My First Experience with the Conjugate System in D...

For the first time in our head coach’s time at Indiana State, the entire roster passed their fitness test before the start of the spring season — and did zero conditioning outside of morning practice sessions. Thank you, conjugate method!

Add 10 Pounds to Your Bench With This 15-Week Conjugate Cycle
Add 10 Pounds to Your Bench With This 15-Week Conjugate Cycle

When a Union Fitness client approached me for training, I was foaming at the mouth. He had experience in powerlifting and wanted a conjugate training approach. With this program, he added 10 pounds to his bench! You might as well give it a try.

Guidelines For Injury-Free Progress: Controlling Intensity
Guidelines For Injury-Free Progress: Controlling Intensity

“If I train strength and conditioning at the same time, will both suffer?” Unless you are taxing your recovery or training in completely disparate ways, you can train both domains. Here are a few ways you can do that.

Simple 8-Week Barbell and Bike Conditioning Program
Simple 8-Week Barbell and Bike Conditioning Program

Tired of the same old training program? Want a break from your normal training specificity? Why not mix things up with this program? All you’ll need is a barbell, plates, a bike, a box for squatting, and a bench.

Don't Peak Too Soon: Strongman Training 2 Weeks Out
Don't Peak Too Soon: Strongman Training 2 Weeks Out

You have to learn that 2 weeks before the competition, you aren’t going to get stronger. All you can really do is screw things up. Don’t lift 1RMs; instead, deload or train with lighter weights. You want to peak at the competition, not in training.

4 IG Exercises That Don't Suck
4 IG Exercises That Don't Suck

Out of all of the crap floating around on the Internet, I’ve only found 4 exercises to be worthy of mentioning. By the way, that says a lot because 2 of ’em use bands, and I am not a band guy.

The Most Important Training Article You Will Read This Year
The Most Important Training Article You Will Read This Year

elitefts has a strong focus on the freedom of education — so strong that we’re willing to invest in all of the content we provide for you. For 20 years, the strength of this value has enabled us to earn your trust, and therefore, produce more content.

The Vault: Do the Stuff You Suck At
The Vault: Do the Stuff You Suck At

Do you ever wonder where your weak points come from? What to learn how to overcome them? This FREE resource is for you…

20-Week Raw Dog Yoke Program Cycle
20-Week Raw Dog Yoke Program Cycle

To call this program hard is an understatement. The volume is high, the work is heavy, and you’ll want to quit. But I can promise you, your back will never be thicker and your PRs will become something of the past.

How to Progress in Your Strength Program
How to Progress in Your Strength Program

Ask yourself: “Is my training program based on me being strongest at every session?” If your answer is an honest yes, you might need to reconsider your program. Here’s how you can improve it.

Personal Training Through Pregnancy
Personal Training Through Pregnancy

I’ve trained around 10 women during their pregnancies, and my keys to success have been keeping open communication and making sure I’m setting a good movement and pace with my clients.

8-Weeks-Til-Camp Summer Program for High School Football
8-Weeks-Til-Camp Summer Program for High School Football

You won’t ever find my old programs on a typed-out card. Why? Because I don’t run the same program each year. I meet my kids where they’re at, which is why this program isn’t a program. It’s an outline.

WATCH: Build Your Press 9 Ways
WATCH: Build Your Press 9 Ways

Don’t be afraid to mix up your workout routine with something new. Try a new exercise and see if it works well for you. That’s what I did today, and it ended up being a solid workout session. Plus, my bench press has felt stronger every week. Try it! What’ve you got to lose?

How to Use Blood Flow Restriction with a Knee Injury
How to Use Blood Flow Restriction with a Knee Injury

Indoor soccer took a toll on my knee, so my training has been a bit limited. But that didn’t stop me from using Blood Flow Restriction on leg day, which I highly recommend using when working around injuries that force you to use lighter weights.

Push/Pull/Legs Split for Muscle Size
Push/Pull/Legs Split for Muscle Size

Try out this very effective program for hypertrophy that’s ideal for beginners and intermediates alike. All you’ve got to do is train four days per week using this three-day split: push, pull, and legs.

Back and Biceps Workout of the Day with Kneeling Biceps Cable Curls
Back and Biceps Workout of the Day with Kneeling Biceps Cable Curls

There are no cheat days here. Naturally, this workout of the day includes a movement that makes it harder to cheat. Go grab your kettlebells, dumbbells, and cable attachments so we can get started.

Overcoming Isometrics: Myelination to Reach Maximum Potential
Overcoming Isometrics: Myelination to Reach Maximum Potential

During my time working under the University of Minnesota’s Cal Dietz, I saw the impact of the myelination phase in athletic performance. I also found it’s most effectively programmed with Overcoming Isometric variations of the big lifts.

A Workout of the Day That'll Hammer Your Chest, Shoulder, and Tris
A Workout of the Day That'll Hammer Your Chest, Shoulder, and Tris

This workout left me hammered. Part of that’s on me for joining a co-ed indoor soccer team, and let’s just say bodybuilding and soccer don’t exactly mix. But that didn’t stop me from doing my Workout of the Day.

How to Prepare for a Strongman Death Medley
How to Prepare for a Strongman Death Medley

Programming for a death medley event can be tricky. Many people make the mistake of going too heavy right away with maybe one top set — a recipe for disaster. Instead, try out my recipe for a successful death medley.

Introduce Blood Flow Restriction to Your Leg Workout of the Day
Introduce Blood Flow Restriction to Your Leg Workout of the Day

This leg workout of the day was brief, but let me tell you something: it kicked my ass. You don’t have to be new to Blood Flow Restriction Training for it to do that, let me tell you!

Take the Red Pill
Take the Red Pill

Here’s a red pill for you to swallow: The conjugate system is like an XL shirt that fits differently on different people. With a few modifications, that shirt can be made to fit just about anyone. Same goes for the program in this article.

Back and Bis Workout of the Day with Decline Dumbbell Pullovers Supersetted with Farmer's Carry
Back and Bis Workout of the Day with Decline Dumbbell Pullovers Superset...

The big takeaway from this workout is that I have poor grip strength stamina. After this back and bis Workout of the Day, your forearms should be SMASHED.

Chest, Shoulder, and Triceps Workout of the Day with 30-10-30 Cable Presses
Chest, Shoulder, and Triceps Workout of the Day with 30-10-30 Cable Presses

There are only two sets here but with a significant emphasis on the eccentric on the first and last rep. Select a weight in which you can get 12-14 reps. Begin each set with a 30-second negative, followed by 10 normal tempo reps, finishing with a final 30-second negative.

Alwyn Cosgrove's Rest-Pause Program
Alwyn Cosgrove's Rest-Pause Program

This program was based on a study that burned 450% more calories post-workout than a traditional workout. Are you ready to feel the burn?

Leg Workout of the Day with Cambered Bar and Ground Base Squats
Leg Workout of the Day with Cambered Bar and Ground Base Squats

If you’ve got lower back issues and want to up difficulty without adding pounds like I do, then this is the Workout of the Day for you. Today, the goal was to increase time under tension.

Back and Bis Workout of the Day with Banded Pullovers and Spider Crawl Superset
Back and Bis Workout of the Day with Banded Pullovers and Spider Crawl S...

Don’t let those creepy eight-legged critters stop you from getting a good workout. Instead, use them as inspiration as you do spider crawls and spider curls in this workout of the day. Or pretend to smash them. Yeah, that’ll work.

Start Building Aerobic Capacity for Your Sport
Start Building Aerobic Capacity for Your Sport

Science has proven time and time again that having a football player running endless 100-yard sprints isn’t the best option. In fact, it shouldn’t even be thought of as an option. Instead, use current information about energy systems to improve training.

Leg Workout of the Day with a Goblet Squat Death Drop
Leg Workout of the Day with a Goblet Squat Death Drop

It’s not all that often you can say you made up a type of exercise… but that’s exactly what I did. Enter the Goblet Squat Death Drop, a Mark Dugdale Original. Or exclusive. Whichever one you prefer to call it, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that it’s brutal and will complete your leg workout.

WATCH: 8x8 Chest and Biceps
WATCH: 8x8 Chest and Biceps

This part of the 8×8 program is brought to you by the Chippendales, coming to a workout near you! Just kidding — we’re going to build those pecs and biceps and make you, yes, you, look better than the average Chippendale stripper. (Program results may vary.)

Alwyn Cosgrove's 4-Week Program for Busy Times
Alwyn Cosgrove's 4-Week Program for Busy Times

We get that training is a top priority for most of our readers, but we also understand that life is messy and complicated. School and/or work can get in the way of training. It’s not realistic for training to come first all the time, which is why this realistic program was made.

Back Workout of the Day with Rows, Pulldowns, and Pullovers
Back Workout of the Day with Rows, Pulldowns, and Pullovers

Another day, another back and bis workout. This one includes one of my favorite pulldown variations: Alternating Hammer Strength Pulldowns. You can do it from a stretched position or from a fully contracted position. Click to find out which one I chose and watch me do it in action.

Leg Workout of the Day with 8x8x8 Banded Leg Extensions
Leg Workout of the Day with 8x8x8 Banded Leg Extensions

No, you’re not seeing deja vu. This workout features: 1. Lying Leg Curls 2. Leg Extensions 3. Cambered Bar Squats 4. Banded Leg Extensions 5. Dumbbell Stiff-Legged Deads. Per the usual, click to see the sets, reps, equipment used for this leg workout, and find out what’s super-setted.

Workout of the Day: Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps with Mark Dugdale
Workout of the Day: Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps with Mark Dugdale

1. Incline Bench Press 2. Banded Dumbbell Flat Bench 3. Dips with Chains and Machine Flyes 4. Shoulder Press and High Lateral Plate Raises 5. Machine Laterals 6. Rear Delt Swings and Close Grip Bench — click to see the sets, reps, and equipment I used for this chest, shoulders, and triceps workout.

Workout of the Day: Back and Bis with Mark Dugdale
Workout of the Day: Back and Bis with Mark Dugdale

1. MAG Scapula Retraction Pulldowns 2. Max Tension Hammer Strength Rows 3. Decline Banded Pullover 4. Away Facing Pulldowns 5. Isolation Curls 6. Incline Dumbbell Curls — click to see the sets, reps, and equipment I used for this back and biceps workout.

12-Week Strong(wo)man Program for the Off-Season
12-Week Strong(wo)man Program for the Off-Season

This month’s featured program is great for those who’ve recently finished training for a contest and are getting into the nitty-gritty of off-season training. It’ll keep your gains coming in at a steady pace, improve your base strength, and help you peak while training for your next contest.

Workout of the Day: Legs with Mark Dugdale
Workout of the Day: Legs with Mark Dugdale

1. Unilateral Leg Curls 2. Cambered Bar Squats with Chains 3. Blood-flow Restriction Leg Extensions and Goblet Squats 4. Cable Pull-Through — click to see the sets, reps, and equipment I used for this leg workout so you can enjoy the same pump.

Performance Drive Response
Performance Drive Response

Reading Al Miller’s “The System” made me think about my most successful program. I’ve dubbed this hodgepodge of six years in strength and conditioning “Performance Drive Response,” which is a culmination of a bunch of different systems I’ve used, seen, and been in or part of.

Six-Week Wave Bench Progression
Six-Week Wave Bench Progression

This month’s featured program should help build confidence by benching with low rep sets with lower percentage weights and practicing higher percentage singles. Feel free to toss in some assistance work while you’re at it, too.

The Coach's Guide to Faster and Stronger Female High School Athletes (with 12-Week Template)
The Coach's Guide to Faster and Stronger Female High School Athlete...

Dear strength coaches: Stop treating female athletes like they’re fragile little babies. They’re not. From my experience, they’ll be some of the best athletes you’ll ever have the pleasure to work with.

Build Bigger Legs and a Bigger Squat (with 6-Week Accessory Split)
Build Bigger Legs and a Bigger Squat (with 6-Week Accessory Split)

This isn’t about any unusual angles, movements, or attachments. This is just a meat and potatoes approach to building bigger legs and a bigger squat. Try this out for 6-8 weeks and see how it works for you.

Minimal Effective Dose and the Search for Magic Bullets
Minimal Effective Dose and the Search for Magic Bullets

To paraphrase Ronnie Coleman, “Everybody wanna be strong but nobody wanna lift heavy weights.” Ain’t that the truth. News flash: This is what you need.

Bodybuilding for the Powerlifter: The Big Picture (With Sample Routine)
Bodybuilding for the Powerlifter: The Big Picture (With Sample Routine)

Instead of just trying to get strong by getting as big as humanly possible, many lifters are paying more attention to their muscularity. Just take a look at Larry Wheels or Dan Green, and you’ll immediately know how successful this strategy can be.

3 and Out Method Setup
3 and Out Method Setup

Based on the previous article, a lot of you were asking how to best set up the program – ask and you shall receive. I will cover one simple way and two in-depth ways to set it up.

3 and Out Method
3 and Out Method

Wearing 30 hats as a coach? Working long hours? Use this training method to become bigger, faster, and stronger if you’re struggling to find personal gym time.

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