Plans for Building Powerful Pushups

A couple of years ago, I wrote an article, Strength in Numbers, about my journey towards a set of 100 pushups. I used ’grease the groove’ (GTG) sets regularly throughout my day to achieve a high daily volume. With Pavel’s advice, I added cycles of explosive pushups using Strong Endurance™ principles. I became a sort […]

Pullup Power: From No Reps to Getting Over the Bar with 36kg

Ah, the trusty pullup. Once a staple of every child’s PE class, it has fallen by the wayside as physical education in schools has declined. So even though pullups are still one of the best exercises you can do, for many people they’re nothing more than a distant memory of being yelled at by a […]

How to Increase your Pullups by 50 Percent (at Least)

Want to increase your pullup reps? How about improve your pullup technique? We have a program that delivers and, provided you follow its principles, is virtually foolproof. But it isn’t for the faint-hearted. Having a solid understanding of those principles will help, as will lessons learned in the field by top TSC competitor, Alex Tanskey.  […]

Podcast Episode #02: Brett Jones

StrongFirst Podcast Episode – 02 Summary: In this 2nd episode of “StrongFirst,” the official podcast of the StrongFirst School of Strength, hosts Craig Marker and Scott Iardella interview Brett Jones, Chief SFG Instructor and Director of Education at StrongFirst. Brett has been teaching kettlebells for over 15 years. He discusses the principles of strength, and […]

Stability for Greater Strength Gains

When is the last time you actually tested your stability? It might be time to re-assess. It only takes a moment, and if you happen to discover a deficiency there, some simple corrections will significantly improve your overall strength.

Hang On! The Forgotten Anti-Gravity Exercise Everyone Should Start Doing

What if I told you about an extremely underutilized movement that could improve your overall mobility, strength, and posture? One thing that, once added to your training regimen (or life in general), could remedy aches and pains, accelerate your recovery, regain lost straight-arm range and strength, and provide a powerful full-body antidote to gravity. Curious […]

What Mastering Your Bodyweight Can Teach You About Lifting Iron

A common path for our students pursuing the StrongFirst Elite designation is to start with the kettlebell instructor certifications before earning the bodyweight and barbell credentials. All four—SFG, SFG II, SFB, and SFL—earn you Elite status. But the path isn’t written in stone. Our principles transcend modalities so you can get stronger whichever way you […]

Four Mobility Drills to Fix your Performance Killing Feet

We often blame our feet last for performance problems or tension leaks. But as our main connection to the ground, they are the foundation to all movement and the vessels through which we generate power and express our strength. Neglecting them is not an option. Learn four drills by  Master StrongFirst Instructor Karen Smith to […]

Breaking Parallel in the Squat: Why You Shouldn’t Avoid It and How to Achieve It

It remains a point of contention—is squatting bad for your knees? Is it safer to squat no lower than parallel? Or are these merely myths, perpetuated by trainers who simply don't know how to properly establish a comfortable, full-depth squat pattern for those who struggle with it?

Two Powerful Methods for Improving Your Pull-Up

Transform your pull-ups from "fine" to "outstanding." You may need to step back the weight and the reps at first to get them to "outstanding" status, but this is how to do it.