My SFG Experience: From Now On, I’m StrongFirst

Beyond the proper execution of movements, through the SFG Level I Certification, I gained confidence in myself. I am now sure I am able to face every challenge that may arise for me in life—inside and outside the gym.

4 Essential Mental Tools for Passing the SFG Level I Cert

If you’ve signed up for the SFG Level I Cert, or are considering it, then read this article, put the tools to work, and know you can and will pass your test.

Understanding Combat Mindset and Mental Conditioning

The combat mindset applies to all the "conflicts" we experience in daily life. Proper mental training will help you perform better at work, home, or the gym, as well as is in confrontation.

The Will to Happiness

I learned a lesson about life and training that I would like to pass along. It comes from the book that made the greatest impression on me last year: "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" by Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi.

Marine Corps Training and the Raider Project

Here is what the Marine Corps does and does well when it comes to physical training, and also what we can do to thank them for their heroic efforts.

Zen and the Art of Barbell Training

Recently, a friend asked me what it was like to perform a max-effort lift. The closest parallel I could come up with was my time living and training at a Zen meditation center.

I Failed the SFG Level II Strength Test

I failed the SFG Level II strength test. And what I eventually realized was that passing the test had nothing to do with my physical strength.

If You Want to Get Better, You Must Think Better

Just like any movement or lift you'll encounter in the gym, getting yourself into a proper head space more strongly and consistently starts with practice. And you know what the first step toward a better mental practice is?

An Outlier on the Normal Kettlebell Curve

I do not use the kettlebell to train. I train to become the kettlebell. Let me explain the strength of this goal.

The Pause That Comes Before a Successful Press

I failed the half-bodyweight press at my SFG Level II re-certification. Then I changed two things and re-tested successfully. Here are those two things.