A Lifter's Guide to Travel Carl Raghavan, SSC | February 07, 2024 When I first mentioned my ambitious plan of traveling the world and continuing to train, people instantly doubted me. If you know a little bit about me, you’ll know those are fighting words – especially when my training is at stake. It only fueled my motivation to prove the naysayers wrong and crush all-time PRs. Continue reading
Back Angle and Spinal Position Mark Rippetoe | February 06, 2024 This is a rather fundamental issue for many inexperienced trainees, especially those people who are not gifted athletes with the natural ability to use their bodies optimally. Let's discuss the differences between the two, the reasons why they are important, and how to best clarify the procedures for using the back safely and efficiently under a heavy load. Continue reading
A Better Down, A Better Up 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
How Strong is Strong Enough? Jordan Burnett, SSC | January 17, 2024 Let me start by saying that I hate this fucking question. It’s a question that I get asked at least once a week, and rather than pulling my hair out little by little as the weeks go on as a result of my visceral reaction to being asked this question, I decided to address it here so I can conveniently say “I’ll send you a link,” and move on with my day. Continue reading
The Nature of Coaching Cues 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