Let me take you on a trip through my "coaching brain". You see, I've been training with weights since 1989. in 1988, I began my obsession with push ups. In 1995 I began coaching at a hospital fitness center. I've seen and experienced THREE decades of training and movement which is more than some coaches age. I'm about to share with you a bit of a brain dump after training in a globo gym. If you're a Coach, pay CLOSE attention. If you're not a Coach, pay CLOSE attention to the mindset … [Read more...]
How To SQUAT Properly + My Disdain For Low Standards In The High School Weight Room
I love Squats, especially when I see someone doing them properly. But I'll be brutally honest, I get fired up hearing the athletes we work with at The Underground Strength Gym telling me what they do at their high school weight room. Why do I get fired up? Because the standards have been dropped. The technique has been given a lower standard. Because standards are dropped and technique is ignored, the results that come from the squat are dramatically reduced. For 9 years now, I … [Read more...]
Squats: The KING Of Lifts – 7 Squat Tips From Chad Wesley Smith
Guest Post by Chad Wesley Smith The squat is the best! Plain and simple. If you want to run faster, jump higher, tackle harder or just be stronger and hence, more awesome, the squat is your best ticket. The squat is the ultimate developer of quad, hamstring, glute and hip strength and these are the muscles most responsible for sprinting and jumping ability. So whether your goal is powerlifting dominance, weightlifting supremacy or improved physique and athletic performance, you need to squat … [Read more...]
How to Squat: DEEP Squats and Dinosaurs – Are BOTH Extinct?
Walk into a typical high school weight room and you'll see a 1 rep max test on the squat every month. Typically, you'll see kids hitting 315 to 495 on the squat. Kids that weigh 185 lbs are doing this, some weight 135 lbs and squat 315. Amazing. On the bar is a THICK Pad to cushion the back. The thick pad replaces the need to build up the traps. After all, who needs a set of BIG, thick traps to support the neck and reduce chances of neck injuries while playing football? Perhaps you'll … [Read more...]
Mark Rippetoe Interview on Building Functional Muscle & Brute Strength
Enjoy the audio interrogation with Coach Mark Rippetoe. Apologies for the little static during the first 2 minutes but it clears up after the 2 minute mark. Have mercy on me as my office is out of a military back pack since moving out and awaiting for our new home to be ready and I don't have a land line :) Regardless....The information in this interview is Golden and make sure you READ the article linked below. It is what I would call EPIC!!". … [Read more...]
There Are NO Secrets
Some say they have secrets for packing on freakish amounts of ripped muscle and insane amounts of strength. Continue reading if you want the truth. Freak Strength, Brute Strength, Functional Strength & Rugged Muscle - if you want ALL of these traits, then you better Squat and Deadlift. I've been using these terms for well over a decade now and I'm sure you see other Coaches trying to be market savvy using the same words with their training courses. These words came about with me countless … [Read more...]