Enter the Barbell Deadlift

Why the Barbell? At some point every person who trains for strength should learn to use a barbell. When it comes to heavy lifting, the barbell reigns supreme. Two hands on a knurled bar with a balanced load; it doesn’t get any better than that when it comes to getting strong. There are also many […]

Avoid 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 lifting technique, the upcoming TSC is the perfect opportunity to focus your training on new goals—learning to lift, beating a previous personal best, or ascending the podium. […]

Box 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 accessible across the movement’s full range of motion. Since not everyone starts off with perfect mobility, here’s a simple strategy to make you stronger […]

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 StrongFirst’s Tactical Strength Challenge (TSC). I was happy with my results—Deadlift 136kg, Pull-up 7, and Snatch 120—but felt I could […]

Podcast 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 Jewett is a chiropractor, Beast Tamer, SFL and SFG. He teaches the Mobility WOD courses and runs the StrongFirst […]

How to Win the TSC? With this Program

Co-authored by Ryan Toshner Participant registration is now open for this spring’s Tactical Strength Challenge on May 9. Register here. In our previous article, we laid out the most common snatch, pullup, and deadlift technique and tactic flaws that leave a lot of TSC performance potential under-realized. And because our goal is to see people […]

Dairy 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 the Competition Division vie to be crowned annual TSC Champion. What does it take to reach the top of the scoreboard? Someone […]

Controlling 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 out on a heap of strength and stability, and likely setting yourself up for injury down the road. It’s time […]

Podcast 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 Strength Challenge (TSC). Derek is best known for dominating the TSC, a three exercise competition: A max powerlifting deadlift (three attempts); Pull ups for max reps (palms forward, […]

A Look Inside the StrongFirst Lifter (SFL) Barbell Instructor Certification

The lifts, the preparation, the weekend itself, and priceless bits of advice—the barbell and its ultimate instructional experience, the SFL Certification—are demystified.