A great way to wake up the central nervous system before a heavy lift is to stomp your feet. I picked up this tip from Dr. Stuart McGill in the book Gift of Injury. Try it the next time you do a heavy squat or deadlift—your nervous system will thank you! For more strategies like…
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…
For several weeks now, 15-year-old Joseph has been working hard on hanging-band squats and assisted chin-ups. Friday night he was able to see what effect that type of training has had. After working up to 45 pounds per side on hanging-band squats, he was ready for conventional squats with the “big plates.” No problem! Now,…
If it looks right, it flies right! I once heard a great comment from Yusuf Omar, a colleague from York University and a technical consultant for my book The Elite Trainer. He said, “An athlete’s glutes should look like half a Calabrese bread standing upright!” Yusuf has worked with elite-level athletes, including Ben Johnson, and…
For volume training with intermediate and advanced athletes, legendary strength and conditioning coach Al Vermeil recommends wave-like loading when performing squats and presses. Too much high-volume, low-intensity work can detrain the nervous system over time. This scheme works well to counter that effect: Wave 1set 1: 8-10 repsset 2: 4-6 reps Wave 2set 3: 8-10…