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 …
One of the most common questions I get asked by clients is, “Should I use a lifting belt?” Lifting belts are often misunderstood. Do they protect your lower back? Do they make your abs stronger? Or weaker? The answer is, of course, it depends. And it depends completely on if you use the belt correctly. …
Technique Tuesday: How to Use a Lifting Belt to Brace Your Core Read More »
This week’s Technique Tuesday is about an often-misunderstood accessory exercise: the floor press. Many people are quick to trash the effectiveness of the floor press because it reduces the range of motion. It eliminates the bottom portion of the bench press, which is where most people struggle. However, the floor press still does a handful …
Technique Tuesday: Build Your Bench with the Floor Press Read More »
I’m a day tardy with this week’s Technique Tuesday but I promise it’s worth the wait. We’ve broken down all three main powerlifts, so now it’s time to explore different accessory exercises to drive your strength to new levels. This week, we’ll talk about Pendlay rows and how they can improve your deadlift by increasing upper back …
Technique Tuesday: Pendlay Rows to Improve Your Deadlift Read More »
