Stability for Greater Strength Gains
Students often rush through their sticking points. And I get it—it’s tempting. But the wiser tactic is to slow down. Take note. Assess and correct those errors or problems. The number of potential...
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Should Kettlebells be Used in the Clinic? (Considerations and Applications...
Kettlebells. Do they have a role in the clinical setting? Should they be used in a rehabilitation for patients in the outpatient physical therapy clinic? This is a burning question that has not been...
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A Look Inside the StongFirst Lifter (SFL) Barbell Instructor Certification
Which came first in your strength training experience—the barbell, or the kettlebell? Kettlebell, barbell, and bodyweight (the third branch within StrongFirst) strength practices have many skills in...
View ArticlePodcast Episode 03: Travis Jewett
StrongFirst Podcast Episode – 03 Summary: In this episode Craig and Scott interview Dr. Travis Jewett about what it means to move right and to be strong at the same time. Show Notes: 00:55 Dr. Travis...
View ArticlePodcast Episode #07: Derek Toshner
StrongFirst Podcast Episode #07 Summary: In this episode of the StrongFirst Podcast, Craig Marker talks with Senior StrongFirst Instructor, Derek Toshner about endurance and winning the Tactical...
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Make Every Rep Count: Preparing for the TSC
The next Tactical Strength Challenge is on October 27, 2018. Register before August 31, to get your free T-Shirt. In October of 2017, I competed for the first time in the Women’s Elite Division of...
View ArticleWhen Tension Is a Beautiful Thing
I am neither discussing different types of headaches, nor the strength properties of a barbell and its ability to resist bending and becoming permanently deformed. I am talking about what your body...
View ArticlePatience: The Unexpected Key to Power
You may consider patience as something that comes in handy when dealing with money, traffic, or children. But perhaps you have not yet considered it in relation to physically expressing power. The post...
View ArticleHow to Prepare for, Pass, and Get the Most Out of the SFL
Like the SFG, one of the biggest challenges for SFL participants can be figuring out how to prepare. This article is meant to serve as a guide to help you develop a plan to be ready for and get the...
View ArticleAdjust Your Sails (and Your Stance) with the Lock and Rock
I want to focus on one particular area of our anatomical structure and the impact of variations. I am going to suggest a way to individualize foot position for symmetrical stance exercise (swings,...
View ArticleFall 2016 TSC Results
The Fall TSC results are final! Thank you to everyone who took part in this day of worldwide strength, spirit, and camaraderie—and we would like to especially welcome all of our first-time...
View ArticleSpring 2017 TSC Results
Ladies and gentlemen, the Spring 2017 TSC results are final! Congratulations to all who participated and let us acknowledge the highest combined scores in each of the ten categories. The post Spring...
View ArticleA Hip Hinge Program to Help You Generate Deadlift and Swing Power
The goal of this program is to re-tool and potentiate your hip hinge for safer, stronger reps. We are building up by doubling-down on trunk stability, training deadlift variations, and focusing on...
View ArticleAbsolute Strength Is the True Master Quality
Relative strength is impressive, but it is absolute strength that has the effect of allowing all other attributes to become greater. So if you ask me for training advice, then I’ll probably ask you,...
View ArticleDeadlift: To Stop or To Go
Every time I teach the deadlift, a particular question comes up: whether to perform “stop reps” or “touch and go” reps during sets. Let's discuss the differences between them and what we can learn from...
View ArticleHow to Get Properly Loaded in the Deadlift and Swing
We “get loaded” through an eccentric movement. Since the deadlift begins with a concentric movement, our set-up is what provides us with the opportunity to create an eccentric load. The post How to Get...
View ArticleControlling Gravity for Better Squats, Deadlifts, and Presses
The very definition of a lift is moving load upwards against gravity; but what goes up must come down. If you’re only paying attention to one half of every squat, deadlift, and press, you’re missing...
View ArticleBox Clever—How to Unlock your Range of Motion
Serious strength is best built on a solid foundation of fundamental compound lifts, such as deadlifts, squats, and pressing. To ensure safety and maximize the benefits, that strength needs to be...
View ArticleDairy Cows and Burrito Bowls—How to Win the TSC
The StrongFirst Tactical Strength Challenge returns around the world on Saturday, October 26. The TSC is a personal challenge held twice a year, but the October instalment also sees men and women in...
View ArticleAvoid Common Deadlift, Pull-Up, and Snatch Mistakes to Own your TSC
Co-authored by Ryan Toshner The TSC is StrongFirst’s bi-annual strength challenge, where participants put their training pedal to the competition metal. Judged on performance while adhering to solid...
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