Source: Creative CommonsI was listening to the Success Hotline last week on the way to work and had an ah-ha moment. Dr. Rob Gilbert, a sports psychology professor at Montclair State University, told a story about the difference between his students who succeed and those who fail. The biggest difference? Those who fail care about …
Two weeks ago, I completed my first 400 pound bench press. This had been a goal of mine since the second I hit my first 315 press, which was a LONG time ago. The journey from the 3’s to the 4’s has been fun, but not without its share of ups and downs. Every struggle …
Continuing on the theme of specialty bars, this week’s Technique Tuesday introduces the giant cambered bar. Called the GCB for short, we use this bar significantly less than the Safety Squat Bar at Cressey Sports Performance, but it still has its place. Often regarded as a shoulder-friendly bar, this video will cover why that’s NOT true …
Technique Tuesday: Intro to the Giant Cambered Bar Read More »
Last week, we discussed how to use the Safety Squat Bar to build the deadlift. This week, I’ll show you how I like to use the SSB for lower body hypertrophy training. Can’t you just use a barbell to build big legs? Sure, but there’s that whole thing about your back fatiguing before your legs. Here …
Technique Tuesday: SSB Exercises for Lower Body Hypertrophy Read More »
This week’s Technique Tuesday covers one of my favorite deadlift assistance exercises: pin squats with the Safety Squat Bar. It’s tough to train the deadlift frequently without getting worn out or beat up. SSB pin squats have solid carryover to the deadlift without having to pull from the floor multiple times per week. The key is …
Technique Tuesday: SSB Pin Squats to Build Your Deadlift Read More »
A few weeks ago, I hit my first 600-pound deadlift. Although far from a world-class number, it’s a big milestone for me. It was my first triple-bodyweight pull and marked a long road of retooling my deadlift from awful to not-too-shabby. I’ve made more progress on my deadlift in the past year-and-a-half than on any …
The safety squat bar is an awesome tool to have in your lifting arsenal. This week’s Technique Tuesday introduces you to the SSB and provides a few tips for how to use it effectively, regardless of the exercise you’re performing. Over the next few weeks, I’ll discuss different exercises you can do with the safety squat …
Technique Tuesday: Intro to the Safety Squat Bar Read More »
This week’s Technique Tuesday covers cable chops and lifts, a group of anterior core exercises that we use all the time at Cressey Sports Performance. Along with hammering the abs from multiple directions, cable chops and lifts encourage good shoulder motion, which is ideal for our baseball players and powerlifter alike. In this video specifically, …
Technique Tuesday: Cable Chops and Lifts for Core and Shoulder Stability Read More »
Ask yourself a question: what’s the number one thing standing in your way? Between you and your goals? Between you and the thing you want most? You might say time. You might say money. You might say skills or talent or resources. I’d bet that you’re probably wrong. I’ve come to learn, from experience and …
The Number One Thing That’s Standing in Your Way Read More »
The reverse crunch is a fantastic anterior core exercise that we use frequently with our athletes at Cressey Sports Performance. While things like planks and rollouts teach you to resist extension, the reverse crunch uses the abs and oblique to create flexion from a neutral position, which is a necessary motion that many athletes lose from …
