Introduction One of the very first principles learned in the school of hardstyle kettlebell training is that “power comes from the hips.” In the kettlebell ballistics (swing, clean, and snatch), the hips are largely what drives the lifter’s ability to move a weight from back between the legs to the end point of the movement. […]
“If something is important. Do it every day.”—Dan Gable. The most feared and revered barbell lift. The most neurologically taxing exercise. The “king of all lifts.” The list of ways to describe the barbell deadlift goes on and on. In December of 2021, the question that wouldn’t leave my mind was: “Is it possible to […]
Brett Jones, StrongFirst Director of Education, has a saying, “I can be talked into just about anything.” Brett is referring to your individual context for doing something—the reason WHY you choose to do what you are doing. The same question can be applied to your barbell front squat training: Why are you doing front squats? […]
An Excerpt from Deadlift Dynamite If you know your way around the kettlebell, you have an unfair advantage when it comes to learning barbell skills. Start with a barbell half-deadlift because it is less demanding of skill and flexibility. And it really teaches you to drive the hips forward, an essential element of Andy’s competition […]
The kettlebell jerk is one of the most misunderstood lifts. Many people believe it takes a ton of upper body strength in order to execute heavy weights. This is where the misconception lays. The purpose of a jerk is purely to move a weight from the rack position to the overhead lockout. What makes the […]
The final step in your journey towards the StrongFirst Lifter Instructor Certification is mastering the squat. If you are committed to building as much muscle as your frame can carry, you must back squat—there are no “ifs” or “buts” about it. Done right, the Back Squat is a builder with no equals. Done wrong, it […]
Barbell 201 is old school at its best: the Military Press and the Zercher Squat. The Military Press is a classic that ought to be treated right. Others will show you how to press strict and weak—or how to put up a lot of weight sloppily. We press strict and strong, the way Soviet weightlifters […]
Either you never touched the barbell, or you dabbled in the past. Now you choose to be strong and to do it right. At Barbell 101 workshop you will learn: Develop total body strength with just two highest yield lifts (Fact: some of the strongest athletes in the world are ultra-minimalists) The Deadlift—the most “functional” […]
The one-arm strict barbell press is a challenging press that will build strength and muscle stability. Pavel recommended the side press in Power to the People! and this stricter variation is a valuable addition to your strength training regimen. The prehabilitation and rehabilitation benefits of the strict barbell press are tremendous as the grip and […]
