The Education of a Powerlifter
The Education of a Powerlifter

This is one of the best and most popular articles to ever be posted on the site. After you read this you will understand what it means to Live, Learn, and Pass On.

Powerlifting Proficiency: Performance and Aesthetics Criteria
Powerlifting Proficiency: Performance and Aesthetics Criteria

Powerlifting competitions are more than big gorillas lifting weights. Consider the aesthetics, psychomotor skills, and failures.

6 Tips to Blow Up Your Bench Press
6 Tips to Blow Up Your Bench Press

If your bench has stalled, I guarantee there’s a tip in here that will start to move the barbell.

My Time Training Metal Militia Style at Adirondack Barbell
My Time Training Metal Militia Style at Adirondack Barbell

It’s all in how you execute the bench. Do you have a proper bar path? What’s the press angle? Are you in a position of power?

A Practical Guide for Implementing Block Periodization for Powerlifting
A Practical Guide for Implementing Block Periodization for Powerlifting

Block Periodization is not a one-size-fits-all training system. It is not a matter of sets x reps, exact exercises, and personal beliefs.

Cluster Training for Strength and Hypertrophy
Cluster Training for Strength and Hypertrophy

Cluster training methods, like many
of the less “traditional” methods, don’t get utilized enough in people’s training programs. Try them now!

How to Increase Your Bench with an El Gordo Fat Bar
How to Increase Your Bench with an El Gordo Fat Bar

The Fat Bar Theory can lead to remarkable improvements in your bench press performance.

The Seven Habits of Ineffective Lifters 
The Seven Habits of Ineffective Lifters 

From neglecting technique to overtraining, learn how to overcome these seven habits and pave your way to podium wins.

Why It Didn't Work Before
Why It Didn't Work Before

Explore practical tips for overcoming obstacles, structuring your training, and cultivating a positive mindset…aka get your shit together.

Is Shirted Board Work Killing Your Bench Press?
Is Shirted Board Work Killing Your Bench Press?

Learn from the personal journey of Nathan Robertson who transformed his bench press by reevaluating relying on shirted board press training.

Stretching Suits and Shirts How-To
Stretching Suits and Shirts How-To

Learn DIY adjustments for powerlifting gear to achieve optimal performance and comfort.

A High School Strength and Conditioning Program
A High School Strength and Conditioning Program

Here’s insight into our high school strength and conditioning program. Consider the principles we follow.

Live Your Outcome, Not Your Goal
Live Your Outcome, Not Your Goal

Uncover the key steps to success through outcome-focused beliefs.

A Bodybuilding  Offseason (with Full Program) for the Powerlifter
A Bodybuilding Offseason (with Full Program) for the Powerlifter

The bad news: You can’t go hard all the time. It’s the quickest way to burn out — to see your progress stall, to get injured, and to lose interest in your training. The good news: A bodybuilding-style approach to the offseason has a ton of benefits for the powerlifter.

Why I Hate the Deadlift
Why I Hate the Deadlift

The deadlift is just that thing you have to do in a meet before you go to dinner.

How to Make Gains in Your Offseason
How to Make Gains in Your Offseason

You’ve just competed, now what?Here are YOUR tips for training during the powerlifting offseason.

My Favorite PED
My Favorite PED

The benefits of this performance enhancing drug includes increased appetite, sleep, and anti-inflammatory properties.

4-Day Outlaw Program
4-Day Outlaw Program

The 4-Day Outlaw Program is a combination of conjugate and bodybuilding style training, setup for the multiply lifter yet modified for raw lifters.

Create a Whole-Body Training Program
Create a Whole-Body Training Program

In this final part of these series, let’s create a full-body training program. Rule 1…

What to Do With Your Head in the Deadlift
What to Do With Your Head in the Deadlift

Learning what to do with your neck and head in your deadlifts might give you just what you need to hit a new PR. Don’t take head positioning for granted.

Letter to a First-Time Competitor
Letter to a First-Time Competitor

Are you getting ready for your first powerlifting meet? Learn these tips and tricks now before you step onto the platform.

The Pros (and Cons) of Whole-Body Training
The Pros (and Cons) of Whole-Body Training

In the second article of this series, we look at the pros and cons of utilising a whole-body approach with your training.

Scale the Summit 6 Weeks Out
Scale the Summit 6 Weeks Out

Peaking for your meet day should happen around six weeks out. Here’s a thorough plan to make sure you get the most out of your lifts when the time comes to step on the platform.

The Lost Art of Whole-Body Training: Lessons from History
The Lost Art of Whole-Body Training: Lessons from History

Whole-body training is highly underutilized in today’s world, and yet, it’s one of the fundamental programming methodologies to date.

They are NOT Angry Birds!
They are NOT Angry Birds!

I used to hate the term “special needs,” but now I can’t stand people who say they hate the term. FACT: My son has special needs.

Gold Medal Deadlift Training
Gold Medal Deadlift Training

Deadlift technique should precede everything else. Learn the golden rules of deadlifting first, practice them hard and often, then load up the bar.

When Grips Did Not Give
When Grips Did Not Give

Travis Rogers shares his thoughts and insights after spending time with Dave Tate on a recent Table Talk.

Conditioning for Powerlifters
Conditioning for Powerlifters

Powerlifters equate cardio and conditioning with losing strength gains, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Achievements, Success, and Fulfillment
Achievements, Success, and Fulfillment

Most powerlifters chase success and fulfillment through PRs and competition, but there is success to be had in the process. Don’t forget that.

Powerlifting Federations Are a Service Industry Business
Powerlifting Federations Are a Service Industry Business

Powerlifting federations are a business first. So make sure you align yourself to a federation that speaks to your philosophy, values, and ethos.

Why Conjugate Didn't Work For You
Why Conjugate Didn't Work For You

The conjugate method is tried and true, but many will inevitably butcher execution. Learn how to course correct to get the most out of your conjugate program.

Programming For Everyone
Programming For Everyone

Anyone, regardless of experience, should be able to program workouts for themselves. Once you understand your goals, use these easy tips to build a program that delivers results.

You Are Not a Genetic Outlier
You Are Not a Genetic Outlier

Most people train like the athletes and Olympians they admire, but that’s poor practice. Train for YOU, and watch your progress skyrocket.

I Was Coached By Sheiko
I Was Coached By Sheiko

Training with Boris Sheiko changed me as both a powerlifter and a coach, and I’m forever grateful for it.

Training Considerations for the Aging Powerlifter
Training Considerations for the Aging Powerlifter

Your biological age is different than your training age. If you’ve racked up years of training in the gym, you should learn the difference between the two.

Single-Leg Conjugate Training for Athletes
Single-Leg Conjugate Training for Athletes

Want to get more out of your training programs? Include single-leg training.

16-Week Powerlifting/Bodybuilding Hybrid Program
16-Week Powerlifting/Bodybuilding Hybrid Program

If you have an equal love for bodybuilding and powerlifting with a goal to become bigger and stronger, this program is for YOU.

10 Exercises Powerlifters Should Be Doing (But Aren't) to Stay Pain-Free
10 Exercises Powerlifters Should Be Doing (But Aren't) to Stay Pain...

What do you believe you need more of in your training? More rotation? Is the low back super cranky? Pick 1-2 exercises and get started.

Strength Athletes, Control Your Variables
Strength Athletes, Control Your Variables

Consider where YOU lack focus. These things are widespread knowledge, nothing ground-breaking but surprisingly not prioritized correctly.

Future Self, Don't Forget Your Past
Future Self, Don't Forget Your Past

Did you bomb your last meet? GOOD! Tell me, what did you learn from the whole experience? USE IT to get better.

#139 Stacy Burr | All-Time World Record Holder 1400 LBS Total
#139 Stacy Burr | All-Time World Record Holder 1400 LBS Total

Stacy’s 1435-pound total at 148 gave her an astounding 668 Wilks, which ranks her as the number one powerlifter in the world.

Your Nutritional Plan for Meet Day
Your Nutritional Plan for Meet Day

You’ve done the work thus far to demonstrate your strength on the platform. Don’t ruin it with poor food choices come meet day.

#137 AJ Roberts ⎸ 1,200 Pound Squat, WSBB, and Entrepreneur
#137 AJ Roberts ⎸ 1,200 Pound Squat, WSBB, and Entrepreneur

AJ Roberts takes a seat in this 137th podcast episode of Dave Tate’s Table Talk.

The Westside I Remember
The Westside I Remember

With our Westside Table Talk episode coming up I thought I’d add more background to this article on Westside and the lifters I met there

Why I Walked Away From Powerlifting
Why I Walked Away From Powerlifting

The moving parts behind the competition life are brutal. Go all in, and know when to get out.

The Optimal Powerbuilding Split
The Optimal Powerbuilding Split

Powerbuilding is not just bodybuilding with the squat, bench press, and deadlift tacked on. It’s also not just powerlifting with accessory exercises.

How to Put 100kg on Your Total in 15 Weeks
How to Put 100kg on Your Total in 15 Weeks

Dropping from the 320s to the 250s and competing as a 308 to a 242, I was forced to switch up my training split. Here’s the split!

Louie Simmons Shocks Boris Sheiko
Louie Simmons Shocks Boris Sheiko

In 2016, Boris Sheiko met Louie Simmons for the first time. Here’s how they spent their time together and what they talked about.

The Top 3 Lessons I Learned From Ed Coan 
The Top 3 Lessons I Learned From Ed Coan 

The greatest powerlifter of all time has learned a thing or two about how to be the best in the world. He approaches life the same way.

4-Week Repeatable Workhorse Program
4-Week Repeatable Workhorse Program

This program is a combination and rewrite of a five-day cycle I followed for ten weeks (two-and-a-half blocks) after a tear in my erector and some serious knee pain.

3-Day Conjugate Split for the Raw Lifter
3-Day Conjugate Split for the Raw Lifter

A simple and practical solution for those on tight schedules. With this setup, add hundreds of pounds to your total.

I Am Jo Jordan
I Am Jo Jordan

Powerlifting is a small and fleeting part of Jo’s existence. Although one of his top priorities, the joy of life is family. Learn more!

What I Learned From Louie Simmons
What I Learned From Louie Simmons

Talk to any strength coach or trainer, and in some way, they have been influenced by Louie Simmons. Here are 7 ways he influenced me.

12-Week Omni-Contraction Program for Powerlifters
12-Week Omni-Contraction Program for Powerlifters

Use the omni-contraction method and the different contractions (concentric, eccentric, and isometric) to improve your powerlifting total.  

#114 - Table Talk LIVE with JL Holdsworth & Douglas Heel
#114 - Table Talk LIVE with JL Holdsworth & Douglas Heel

JL Holdsworth and Douglas Heel join Dave to discuss their travels and share ideas on healing and performance in serving diverse populations.

#112 - Westside Barbell Stories (Discipline and Consistency)
#112 - Westside Barbell Stories (Discipline and Consistency)

Jim Wendler and Matt Rhodes to discuss training, coaching, consistency, discipline, and past Westside Barbell stories

#108 - Season 2 Finale: Louie Simmons and the Future of Table Talk
#108 - Season 2 Finale: Louie Simmons and the Future of Table Talk

In the final episode of Season 2, Dave Tate sits down to discuss Louie Simmons’ passing and the future of Dave Tate’s Table Talk Podcast.

How to Bench 5 Plates Raw: 0 to 400 Real Quick
How to Bench 5 Plates Raw: 0 to 400 Real Quick

As long as you are meeting your caloric needs and are getting enough sleep every night, training is by far the most important thing you have to get stronger.

#105 - Training YOUR Ass Off with Dave Tate and Coming Full Circle
#105 - Training YOUR Ass Off with Dave Tate and Coming Full Circle

Sam talks about what it was like going from “Training HIS Ass Off” to “Training YOUR Ass Off” and going from a participant to an assistant.

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