In the first installment of a multi-part series, this week’s Technique Tuesday begins to answer the age old question, “How deep should you squat?” Sounds like a simple question, but the answer isn’t as simple as it seems. This week, I step out of the gym and into the office to discuss why the number …
Technique Tuesday: How Deep Should You Squat? Part 1 Read More »
The deadlift countermovement is an advanced lifting technique that can dramatically improve your speed off the floor and help you lift more weight. However, I see a lot of lifters making mistakes with their countermovement that actually hurt their deadlift form. In this week’s Technique Tuesday, I cover three common deadlift countermovement mistakes, WHY you’re …
Technique Tuesday: 3 Common Deadlift Countermovement Mistakes Read More »
I’ve struggled with the deadlift for years, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned that’s helped me and my clients improve our deadlifts, it’s this: the deadlift succeeds or fails during the setup. There are plenty of ways to set up for the deadlift, but I group them into two approaches: top down and bottoms …
Technique Tuesday – Deadlift Setup: Top Down vs. Bottoms Up Read More »
Powerlifting is a journey. That’s probably a bit too profound of a statement, but becoming a better lifter takes time. Lots and lots of time and practice. But when I’m coaching clients and athletes, we don’t always have the luxury of taking tons of time to break apart a lifter’s technique. Sometimes I need to …
Technique Tuesday – 2 Quick Drills to Dial in Your Squat Technique Read More »
Head position is one of the most overlooked aspects of squat technique. Where you position your head and neck, and even where you look with your eyes, can have a dramatic impact on your squatting strength. Should you look up when you squat? Look down? Pack the neck? There’s more than one way to do …
Technique Tuesday – Head Position During the Squat Read More »
I’m a few days late with this week’s Technique Tuesday but I promise it’s worth it! We’re gonna talk about squats for the next few weeks, and today’s topic answers a question I get frequently: Should I bounce out of the bottom of the squat? My answer is absolutely, but only if you can stay in …
Technique Tuesday (Thursday? Friday?) – How to Bounce Out of the Bottom of the Squat Read More »
The overhead press is a polarizing lift. People seem to either love it or hate. There are a few reasons for that: 1) It’s really hard to do correctly and 2) it’s hard to see the direct carryover to the bench press. I’m here to tell you that a properly-executed overhead press is perfectly safe and …
Technique Tuesday: 3 Common Overhead Press Mistakes Read More »
You can learn a lot from the spotter’s point of view during the bench press. The problem? You can’t spot yourself! This week’s Technique Tuesday takes things from a different angle to show you how and when to flare your elbows during the bench press for an easier lockout. Check it out:
Does the bar drift away from you during deadlifts? It’s a problem that I see tons of lifters (myself included) struggle with. You’ll never fully utilize the push from your legs or keep your back straight if the bar doesn’t stay close to your legs. You can think about sitting back, squeezing your lats and …
Technique Tuesday: Band-Distracted Deadlifts for Stronger Lats and Hamstrings Read More »
Many people struggle with the concept of “Chest up, ribs down” during squats and deadlifts. It’s tough to extend through the upper back without hyperextending the lower back and disengaging the core muscles. It’s equally tough to keep the ribs down and abs engaged without rounding the upper back. Well, turns out bench t-spine mobilizations teach …
