Tag: SFL
December 3, 2020
When I teach the bench press during the StrongFirst Lifter Certification, the path of the bar section is one of my favorites. In the deadlift and the squats (Zercher, front, and back), the bar path is generally a straight, vertical line. However, in the bench press, many people curve the bar path from the start […]March 12, 2019
On the flight home from teaching a StrongFirst Lifter certification (SFL), I was thinking about the programming section and some of our discussions. One of the questions that always gets asked is: “What about assistance exercises?” My answer is simple—until you have spent at least a year working on the movements that we taught at […]November 20, 2018
How do you boost your bench press? By mastering the pause between your concentric and eccentric movements. Master SFG Dr. Michael Hartle explains why and provides two practice techniques to help teach you how. Lower. Pause. Press Up. Repeat. Four words that could describe a lot of different things going on in that order. However, […]May 15, 2018
The lifts, the preparation, the weekend itself, and priceless bits of advice—the barbell and its ultimate instructional experience, the SFL Certification—are demystified.November 28, 2017
Whether you do the bodybuilding, weightlifting, or powerlifting rack while front squatting, using your lats to the maximum is key. Once you understand the anatomy and kinesiology of this powerful muscle, you will know why.June 18, 2019
Strength is a skill…and you’ve decided that it’s time to add SFL skills to your toolbox. But you have limited barbell experience and zero access to a coach. Plus, you don’t really want to train wrong. Can you even get ready to attend an instructor certification? This article shows that you can, with two pre-requisites: […]December 31, 2018
“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” Hal Borland As we reflect on the past year and look towards 2019, the truth of this quote hits home. Even as companies (and individuals) “close out” a year’s worth of business […]August 21, 2018
With August upon us, members of the StrongFirst community from the New York City area and elsewhere have already begun their preparations for the 2018 New York City Marathon. Wait a minute. That can’t be right! Marathon training inevitably cannibalizes muscle and leads to a loss of strength. I’m not entirely sure, but I think […]April 17, 2018
Our Chief SFG Instructor and Director of Education is a great person to keep up on—particularly these moments of reflection on his own training and the lessons his insights impart to the rest of us.July 25, 2017
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.