As 2019 comes to a close, let’s take a look back at our most popular and impactful articles of the year. These posts sparked conversation, challenged the norm, and offered practical strategies to help you train smarter. Here are the top 10, plus a bonus: 1. Heavy Hip Thrusts Are Dangerous One of the most…
That’s 15-year-old Joseph struggling with chin-ups in the first part of the video. The second part shows the results of just five sessions of eccentric training. So how did we improve his performance? Take a look at his program: A1. Mid-Grip Barbell Bench Press: 5 x 5 @ 5-0-X-0, 90sA2. Standing Rope Face Pull: 4…
Here’s a way to make push-ups more challenging: place your hands on a wobble board, elevate your feet on a step, and wear a weighted vest to increase the load. Aim for a full range of motion and keep the wobble board level by bracing your core throughout the set. In the video below, my…
Transitioning from bent-knee to straight-leg push-ups can be a daunting task—especially for many female clients. But with the right approach, it’s absolutely achievable. Watch one of my clients in action and learn the smart, progressive way to build upper-body strength and confidence on the floor. ➡️ Check out Push-Ups: 21 and Counting for the full…
Grade 9 was quite an experience—a new school, new classmates, and new teachers. But one teacher stood out more than the others: Mr. Carter, our physical education teacher. Think of him as a military sergeant in sweats. By the end of the school year, he had whipped us into shape—and his secret weapon? Push-ups. Lots…
Many strength athletes are creatures of habit. They do the same thing day in and day out. They get big, they get strong, and sometimes they get bored! A great way to cure boredom is to set a challenge. Forget about adding more weight to the bar. Do something different. In fact, forget the bar…
The ability to perform a proper chin-up—grabbing an overhead bar and pulling yourself up until your chin clears it—is a struggle for many. Some see it as impossible, but with the right training approach, reaching 20 chin-ups is an attainable goal. Here’s how to do it. The Key Factors for Chin-Up Success 1. Body Weight…
You may recall from a recent post that my benchmark for complete recovery from distal biceps surgery was the ability to do chin-ups. For my first workout, I did one set of five reps. I performed chin-ups twice a week, adding one set per session. I stuck with body weight throughout and kept plenty in…
The push-up is one of the most poorly executed exercises. One major issue is core stability—many people resemble a dolphin “swimming” through their reps. The core must remain tight and stable with a neutral spine throughout every repetition. If form breaks down, the set should be terminated. Another common mistake is inadequate depth. Every rep…