Starting Strength Weekly Report November 9, 2015

Starting Strength Weekly Report

November 09, 2015

Articles

Is Physical Therapy Fraud? We pull up Rip's article from 2013 discussing how major errors in approach make it completely ineffective for so many, so often.

SS Coaches' Updates & Blogs

Listen to Jonathon Sullivan discuss health, strength training, and building strength in older populations on the CRO Podcast.
Brent Carter on the Importance of Culture and Community in Training

Under the Bar

Lietennant Eric Ernst warming up for deadlifts at the Starting Strength Seminar that took place this weekend at the San Antonio Fire Department Training Academy. [photo courtesy of Tom Campitelli]

Capt David Tundel at the top of a deadlift

Captain David Tundel at the top of a deadlift at the Starting Strength Seminar that took place this weekend at the San Antonio Fire Department Training Academy. [photo courtesy of Tom Campitelli]

Blain Squats a PR of 385 at Feral Fitness in Saratoga Springs, NY. [photo courtesy of Feral Fitness]

Emily Lori, a three time cancer survivor, returns to strength training 5 months post bone marrow transplant. Here she finishes her final set of power cleans. [photo courtesy of Fivex3 Training]

Chris Kurisko hands off to Sidd Gotti for 5 second paused reps at 405. He's preparing for the upcoming LA Expo where he will compete as a 275 lifter. [photo courtesy of Black Iron Training]

Nick Sacco has been making great progress with the Starting Strength phone app and recently decided to improve his technique with the help of coach Cody Miller. [photo courtesy of Cody Miller]

Gardiner Athletics Starting Strength intern Brendan training the overhead press. [photo courtesy of Kelli Nielson]

Mom/daughter Lisa and Hannah deadlift together at Westminster Strength and Conditioning. [photo courtesy of Eric Shugars]

Sarah squats 60kg. [photo courtesy of Carl Raghavan]

Click images to view slideshow.
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Submission guidelines to enter this month's Under the Bar prize drawing.

Best of the Week

What is the correct way to prepare psychologically for a new PR?

Supraspinatus

I would like to hear your opinion regarding the right way to prepare myself psychologically for a new PR, getting "in rage" and removing any sings of hesitation and fear before approaching the new weight.

Mark Rippetoe

Depends on who is making the PR. Karwoski had his own method. A 75-year-old lady on her third week of the program just lifts a heavier weight because her coach loaded it on the bar. You will develop your own methods as you work through the program, as part of the learning process.

Chris Kurisko

You have to master the execution of the lift and do the requisite preparation work. As long as you have done that, you just have to not mess up. If you have followed the steps of linear progression, you should know what you are capable of doing.

A big mistake I see novices making is forgetting about what the hell they are doing. Almost all tweaks and errors I see during heavier attempts come from not paying attention. Stay focused on every single rep.

Mark Rippetoe

One of the biggest mistakes I see conventional (non-technique-trained) lifters make is the focus on what they are lifting -- i.e. what's on the bar -- instead of how they plan to lift it. The heavier the weight, the more focus there must be on the technique, specifically the part of the lift you know you must pay attention to. Psyche can be a huge distraction. Focus on the technique you must execute.

Best of the Forum

Is the low bar squat sufficient for strength development in the receiving position for snatches?

Grinder

I have a question regarding low bar squat (LBBS) preference versus high bar squat (HBBS) when training the olympic lifts. Do you believe it is unnecessary to train the full range of motion for the movement being performed in competition with the squat? In other words, do you feel that cleans, snatches, and front squats, alone, are adequate to train the body in the deepest positions?

I would think that it would be beneficial to train the deepest portion of the squat, the receiving position, in order to develop maximal strength for the lifts, but then again, I don't know as much as you--and I really don't mean that sarcastically. I realize that LBBS allows more weight to be lifted, and thus, builds more strength, so I can see it being a reasonable trade-off. I'm just curious to hear your perspective.

Mark Rippetoe

I believe it is necessary to train the full ROM in the competition movements, and that it is necessary to train the front squat separately. I believe, with all my heart, that if a person can squat 350 with the bar in any position on the back, that a 200 snatch will not be a problem for SQUATTING in any position or ROM. It may be a holding-overhead problem, but that is a PRESSING strength problem.

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