Closing In Edition

Starting Strength Weekly Report

December 09, 2024

On Starting Strength

Challenges, Giblet Gravy, and College – Rip answers questions from Starting Strength Network subscribers and fans.
Improve the Deadlift’s Low Back Position off the Floor by Zohar Yermiyahu – In the deadlift, we want the bar to leave the ground with a fully extended low back. This extension ensures the back remains tight and rigid, acting as an efficient force transmitter...
Setting up the Bench Press in the Rack – Rip explains setting up to bench in the power rack for safety, with adducted shoulder blades to set the arch above the pins and provide a stable interface between body and bench during the lift.
Training vs. Practice vs. Playing Around in the Weight Room by Mark Rippetoe – Assuming you go to a gym, how do you spend your time there? I have worked in gyms for 50 years, and I know what goes on in the standard industry model health club – not much of anything productive...
How to Use Tempo Squats – Starting Strength Coach Steve Ross demonstrates the tempo squat and explains why you would add it to your program.
Weekend Archives: The Tarheel Connection by Bill Starr – There were many factors that contributed to the resurgence of activity at the York Barbell Club in the mid-sixties. One that is often overlooked is the influence brought to the York Gym by lifters from other parts of the country...
Weekend Archives: What is a "Coach"? by Dan Flanick & Mark Rippetoe – Today, everyone wants to call themselves a coach. This is both good and bad. The good lies in the fact that if there are more coaches, the sheer numbers indicate that more good coaches will work hard at their craft...

In the Trenches

Starting Strength Cincinnati's newest member Reid (14) learns how to bench press while his father Dan proudly looks on. [photo courtesy of Luke Schroeder]

Robert admires Ryan’s set of five at 350 lb. Ed the dog is more impressed with the camera than his owner’s deadlift. [photo courtesy of Phoebe Hightower]

Ken practices his power cleans on Friday morning at Testify Strength & Conditioning in Omaha, NE. Ken will also be competing in the press as part of his 4-person team at this year's Testify Barbell Blizzard event on December 14 (and then celebrating afterward at the annual gym Christmas party, of course!) [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]

jay at the bottom of a squat 300 lb triple pr

Jay squats to depth hitting a PR triple with 300 lb at Starting Strength Boston. [photo courtesy of Stephen Babbitt]

The Starting Strength Cincinnati team recently attended a tabling event where Starting Strength Coach Camisha Noble had the opportunity to teach Santa Claus how to properly pick up his bag of toys. [photo courtesy of Luke Schroeder]

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Best of the Week

Things that can kill you in Texas

Drew07

Hi Rip,

Interested to hear more about the dangers of living in Texas.

I started the thread about Twisters and had a look into the 1979 Wichita Falls tornado after you mentioned it. Bloody hell, that was terrifying. I assume it will happen again at some point.

What else is there you have to be mindful of? Snakes, spiders, other critters?

Business as usual for you, but very interesting for me as a little Englander in my "safe space" so to speak. I have distant relatives in Texas. Perhaps I should visit? Any recommendations?

Mark Rippetoe

I watched the whole tornado from a distance of less than a mile. Memorable. Everything that grows here has thorns or stings you. It would be an interesting visit for you. Come to a seminar while you're here.

Jenni

Dallas Cowboy fans.

Mark Rippetoe

Carjacking victims.

Alexander Dargatz

Old Rip is dangerous - don't squat high at WFAC.

Enjoy the seminar!

Will Morris

The summer heat is the most dangerous thing to non-Texans.

Best of the Forum

Creative ways to get coaching experience

Nic Lane

Rip, I was at the Sac State seminar and got a lot out of it. I mostly wanted to work on my own lifts, but was interested in the introduction to coaching that I'd get as well.

I was impressed by the observational skills of the platform coaches (really impressed actually) and it's something I'd like to improve in myself. The selfish side of that is I believe coaching others may make me a better lifter. The less self-serving aspect is that I'd liike to be able to help someone avoid a lot of the time-wasting pitfalls that I've waded through over the last 20 years.

If I can get some more coaching experience, I'd like to come back and retake a seminar with the goal of passing the cert. The hitch is that I don't work in the field of strength and conditioning and am busy with a job, kids, and I lift alone in my basement.

So what are some ways you've seen otherwise busy people gain coaching experience? I've thought about trying to find volunteer opportunities (a local high school, or with parks and rec), or working with friends. Any additional ideas?

Mark Rippetoe

Where do you train?

Nic Lane

In my basement. Not too many prospective trainees down there.

Mark Rippetoe

Yeah, that would have to be addressed first.

mdeshaies

I invited people from SS and reddit to lift in my basement with me and and two others. I even dug a "big pit" in the basement so we could overhead press... surprisingly no takers... I ended up starting my own warehouse gym- still sketchy as hell but the rents cheap.

Do you have any friends or family that might be interested in lifting? You could start by coaching them at your home or go to a commercial gym with them. Even if you start going to a commercial gym its not easy to just start correcting other peoples lifts so it might be helpful to have someone to coach directly.

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