What you are about to read is a truly loving portrait of a powerlifting legend, written by one of the few who knew him best (and a great powerlifting coach in his own right).

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.

I think a lot of people who’ve never used anything like these in training have a negative perception of people who use gear. It’s easy to think it’s cheating since you can lift a bunch more with gear or that it makes the lifts easier. But these are misconceptions, and they’re gravely wrong.

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.

There are a whole shitload of really good reasons you should get as jacked as you possibly can.

Two things piss him off. Lifters that hate gear and people that call him "Shirello."