The Most Important Principle for Strength
The Most Important Principle for Strength
With all of the information we have at our fingertips, it's easy to lose track of some of the basic principles of strength training. One that's easy to forget: Balance training and recovery as evenly as possible.
WATCH: Table Talk — Mental Health with Dave Tate and Joe Sullivan
WATCH: Table Talk — Mental Health with Dave Tate and Joe Sullivan
"Training is my therapy" should sideline a powerlifter from competitions. If training really is your therapy, you're going to get hurt. If that's the case, you need to see an actual therapist. Seriously.
WATCH: Why Do I Always Wear a Belt?
WATCH: Why Do I Always Wear a Belt?
This question makes me want to bite someone's head off. But then I remember it’s one of those questions that also requires me to take a step back and reflect on how I got to where I am today. That’s an extremely valid question and one I haven’t answered in many years.
Make it More Than Just a Warm-Up
Make it More Than Just a Warm-Up
When it came to warm-ups, I didn't always practice what I preached. As it turned out, warm-ups have done me a solid and increased my strength, endurance, and recovery. Plus, they're a great way to hone your techniques.
Bench training
Bench training
*shoulder warm up Bench - bar x 15 x 2 - 145 x 3 - 195 x 2 - 235 x 1 - 285 x 1 - 325 x 1 - 325 x 1 - voodoo flossed - 375 x 0 - catapult Db bench - 60 x 10 - 70 x 5 - 85 […]
WATCH: CBUS Lifting Co. Featured on Good Day Marketplace
WATCH: CBUS Lifting Co. Featured on Good Day Marketplace
"Oh, yeah, look at these guns." -GDM co-host after one session at elitefts VIP gym.
A Question of Strength
A Question of Strength
Sixteen questions covering the basics (and often neglected) beginning with bench press templates to dimel deadlifts.
The 14-Day Program: An Interview with John Bott
The 14-Day Program: An Interview with John Bott
What did your training look like before you began this training? Give us a sample week/template that would be fairly typical of what you did.
Why Powerlifters Shouldn't Train Alone
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.
The B.T.H. Program — Three-Week Jump Start Phase
The B.T.H. Program — Three-Week Jump Start Phase
The other day I was sitting in my office working on the 2006 marketing plan and in busts Jim with a huge grin on his face and a handful of reports.
Top Training Tips For Advanced Lifters — Technique, Injury Scale, and Shutting It Down
Top Training Tips For Advanced Lifters — Technique, Injury Scale, and Sh...
There's no doubt that there are times when you have to push through because you're just not “into it” but there are other times when you really need to shut it down. The trick is knowing the difference.
Training Is Where Your Life Happens
Training Is Where Your Life Happens
There’s nothing that will ever replace good old-fashioned hard work and practice. Not only that, this is where your life happens one plateau at a time.
My Indicators
My Indicators
My key indicators (as well as yours) take time to know and develop. They also will change over time, so always be on the lookout and always monitor your training.
The Science of Winning According to Vasili Alexeyev
The Science of Winning According to Vasili Alexeyev
This is a repost of what Dave feels is one of the most educational articles we have ever posted.
WATCH: Blast from the Past — Dave Tate's Presentation at the 2006 Syracuse Strength Seminar
WATCH: Blast from the Past — Dave Tate's Presentation at the 2006 S...
There are four components of a weight room atmosphere: coaching, equipment, training, and athletes.
Four Rules for First-Time Competitors
Four Rules for First-Time Competitors
Many first-time competitors end up as only-time competitors because they neglect to take the right precautions before beginning their prep. Follow these rules to avoid letting your first show be your last.
Building the Yoke
Building the Yoke
A big yoke equals instant respect. No one wants to screw with a guy that has a big neck and a thick yoke.
Seven Tips to Get Your Ass Back in the Gym
Seven Tips to Get Your Ass Back in the Gym

This article is for the grizzled veterans who are now getting up in years. If you’ve fallen off the exercise wagon here are seven easy tips to get your training back on course.

Competing Requires Management Skills
Competing Requires Management Skills

Having a good meet means accounting for every aspect of your performance. Mismanage one aspect and you’re not going to have a great day.

Just an Ordinary Guy. Kind of…
Just an Ordinary Guy. Kind of…

Out came the foil and a “tooter.” That was the first time I smoked Heroin.

Spot Tots & Spot Minis
Spot Tots & Spot Minis
The Spot Athletics is offering a new program for children 18 months - 7 years old. This program is designed to help build special skills and confidence in your "tots and minis."
Real People, Real Results — 8 Lessons in Training, Nutrition, and Business
Real People, Real Results — 8 Lessons in Training, Nutrition, and Busine...

I’ve spent the better part of these last two years working with hundreds of new clients and continuing to meet and learn from seasoned coaches.

Contest Prep Aftermath: Reverse Diet and Training Gone Wrong
Contest Prep Aftermath: Reverse Diet and Training Gone Wrong

In this second part of the series I am going to discuss the top-three nutrition and training mistakes I see when competitors reverse out of a show, how they may affect long-term progress, and what to do if you make them.

Using Velocity-Based Training Dynamically
Using Velocity-Based Training Dynamically

With dynamic effort work, we use the guidelines that Bryan Mann has written about extensively. I’ve tweaked his approach to fit our small budget and large team setting.

Build the Back, Spare the Spine
Build the Back, Spare the Spine

The healthier you can keep your spine, the longer you can train heavy and grow muscle. Here are my top-10, spine-friendly exercises.

elitefts Classic: How to Set Up A Program — A New Look at Weak Points
elitefts Classic: How to Set Up A Program — A New Look at Weak Points

I don’t know how many questions we’ve gotten about how to train certain weak points. Of course, almost every question is in regard to a weak muscle group or a certain portion of a lift.

Reset Your PR's
Reset Your PR's

In a perfect world, you’re always getting stronger and your PR’s are always moving higher. Well, this world isn’t perfect, and you need to remember that if you want to get stronger.

Relentless Hypertrophy Protocol: How Sequencing and Repetition Stimulate Growth
Relentless Hypertrophy Protocol: How Sequencing and Repetition Stimulate...

The goal was to create a training model that would maximize hypertrophy in minimal time and that would be “low tech, high effect” in its design.

Parallels of Lifting and Life — Confidence, Arrogance, Priorities
Parallels of Lifting and Life — Confidence, Arrogance, Priorities

Chad shares how difficulties in a personal situation had him look to lifting for answers.

Signs You're Overreaching (And What to Do About It)
Signs You're Overreaching (And What to Do About It)

But even the strongest of minds cannot pick up the slack when your body inevitably cracks, splinters and breaks.

Are You Just Going Through the Motions?
Are You Just Going Through the Motions?

Life is meant to be lived. Stop sleepwalking through life and waiting for things to happen.

Top Four: What Are Your Priorities?
Top Four: What Are Your Priorities?

Dave has always said that elitefts is for those who place training as a top priority in their life. But what does this really mean?

Three Days at Kabuki Strength Systems
Three Days at Kabuki Strength Systems

Through our many adventures, Chris Duffin and I trained, went four-wheeling, ate A LOT, and talked about many aspects of coaching and programming.

Are You Asking the Right Questions?
Are You Asking the Right Questions?

If you aren’t getting stronger or making gains, you’re doing something wrong. Your first job is figuring out what that is.

Summer Programming — Eliminate the Two Steps Back
Summer Programming — Eliminate the Two Steps Back

You took a step forward and now it’s summer. This time of year means nine weeks of strength and conditioning bliss and nine weeks of scheduling, programming and executing our own version of “the master plan.”

Why Comfort Can Kill Your Progress
Why Comfort Can Kill Your Progress

Familiarity and comfort aren’t always bad things — I drive the same route home every day. But in your diet and training? Be ready for change.

Do You Believe?
Do You Believe?

Was I able to do these things and reach the level that I did simply because I believed?

Don't Romanticize Self-Destruction
Don't Romanticize Self-Destruction

What must competitors put themselves through to attain championship notoriety? Being confined to a wheelchair? Torn relationships? Shortened lifespan?

Football Testing Season — Five Weeks to Gain Strength
Football Testing Season — Five Weeks to Gain Strength

Entering the time period away from pre-season or in-season training, our head coach made his expectations clear: “I want to see bench presses go up by 20 pounds and squats by 40 pounds in the next five to six weeks.” Easy, right?

Ignorance Can Be Bliss
Ignorance Can Be Bliss

An overload of information may tempt you to abandon your plan when something new comes along. Pick a program, one program, and stay committed.

Fix These Simple Mistakes to Lift Heavier Weights
Fix These Simple Mistakes to Lift Heavier Weights

These mistakes in the squat, bench, and deadlift seem small on their own. But add them to together? You’re leaving pounds off your total.

Recognize Your Weaknesses and Limitations
Recognize Your Weaknesses and Limitations

This could be the simple rule to great strength — are you following it?

Nontraditional Training Methods of the NFL
Nontraditional Training Methods of the NFL
There's more to a professional football player's preparation than scrimmages, weight rooms and film sessions. These are some of the more unusual training methods of NFL athletes.
My 30-Year Love Affair with Lifting
My 30-Year Love Affair with Lifting

If I never did another meet, wrote another article, or coached at another seminar, I would still love lifting.

Here and Now: Mindfulness and Being in the Moment
Here and Now: Mindfulness and Being in the Moment

Your time in the gym is precious. If you don’t summon the iron will to shut off the outside world, get out.

Everything Starts at Zero
Everything Starts at Zero

For most things in life, you start with nothing. Get comfortable with this.

Is Stress Killing Your Progress?
Is Stress Killing Your Progress?

Life stress is unavoidable. It can overwhelm you and have a negative impact on your training…if you let it.

Big Is a Byproduct of Strong
Big Is a Byproduct of Strong

A proper weight room strategy provides adequate attention to the development of strength and size — two qualities necessary for your team’s improvement.

The Nines and Tens of Training and Nutrition
The Nines and Tens of Training and Nutrition

The things to which you devote your time fall into one of two categories: those that are building your future or those that are holding you back.

The Sticking Point: How To Find Your Weakness and Fix It
The Sticking Point: How To Find Your Weakness and Fix It

A logical process of elimination begins by considering all possible causes of your sticking point. I don’t have the answer but I can help you find it.

Four Sure-fire Ways to Harvest Calf Meat
Four Sure-fire Ways to Harvest Calf Meat

Building calf size takes time—a lot of it. This is the system I’ve used countless times to bring up my calves and the calves of my clients.

RMU Strength and Speed Conference Recap
RMU Strength and Speed Conference Recap

Instead of telling you about the event, I’ll do you a favor: here is an eight-hour video of every presentation.

Training Women: There Is A Difference
Training Women: There Is A Difference

Men and women have different needs. Pay attention to these eleven factors when programming for your female clients.

The Four Steps of Establishing Your Program
The Four Steps of Establishing Your Program

The success of your program depends on your ability to balance what your head coach wants to do, what you want to do, and what your team really needs.

Rehab and Training: Forward-Thinking Prevention, Retrospective-Thinking Treatment
Rehab and Training: Forward-Thinking Prevention, Retrospective-Thinking ...

You’re always going to be in one of the three phases of training. Your goal is to find a way to stay in Phase One as long as possible while avoiding Phase Three at all costs.

Personal Training Is NOT Easy
Personal Training Is NOT Easy

To be a successful trainer, it takes more than showing up and looking the part. It takes more than you think.

Recovery Training: Tedious, Yes, But Simple and Effective
Recovery Training: Tedious, Yes, But Simple and Effective

It’s taken me a while to grasp just how necessary these blood pumping sessions can be. Ditch the excuses and start doing these today.

My SWIS 2015 Experience
My SWIS 2015 Experience

The best come together for a weekend to educate each other on business, strength training, rehab, and nutrition. My head is still spinning.

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