Articles | coaching


Mark Rippetoe | February 28, 2024

The more weight you can squat to the correct depth, the stronger you are. It really is that simple. But when is a “squat” not a squat? When it is not below parallel – at the proper depth and therefore the proper range of motion to satisfy the purpose of the exercise. Partial squats are not squats because they do not work the maximum possible muscle mass through the longest effective range of motion, thus increasing strength. 

Continue reading


Bruce Trout, SSC | January 31, 2024

There are many different errors one might make while pressing the bar, either overhead or from the bench: poor eye gaze direction, too wide or narrow a grip, no leg drive, driving your ass up off the bench, and the list goes on. As coaches, it is our job to see which issues are happening, order them from most to least important, and instruct or “cue” the lifter to success.

Continue reading


Mark Rippetoe | January 03, 2024

If a lifter I'm coaching lets his knees slide forward at the bottom of a squat, I have to correct this critical error. I am the coach, and my job is correct movement instruction. My job is not to figure out a reason why this inherently inefficient movement pattern is really just fine if that's the way the lifter wants to do it, and thereby excuse his inefficiency and my coaching inadequacy. My job is to understand the exercise and its mechanics, to teach it correctly, to evaluate its performance, and to provide correction to the lifter when it is wrong.

Continue reading


Mark Rippetoe | December 19, 2023

The majority of the world's organized activities are predicated on history. They do it “that way” because “That's the way it's always been done, and it works for me.” The Baptist Church, the treatment of skin rashes, frying chicken, plumbing in the UK, the Marine Corps, building houses, cleaning cast iron pans, and strength training proceed from what has always been done instead of what logic and analysis would require.  

Continue reading


Mark Rippetoe | October 04, 2023

“Because that's the way we do it” is never an acceptable answer to a question. Neither is “It's always worked for me,” or “That's the way I was taught, and I've always done it this way.” If someone asks a question about what you're doing, an answer like this demonstrates that you haven't thought about why you're doing it.

Continue reading




Starting Strength Weekly Report

Highlights from the StartingStrength Community. Browse archives.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.