Restoration Edition

Starting Strength Weekly Report

March 24, 2025

On Starting Strength

The World Needs Stronger Women – Rip and team discuss the importance of strength training for women, common misconceptions that can block proper training, and why Starting Strength for women is... Starting Strength.
Answering the Critics: Weight Training for Speed by Kim Goss – When I began weightlifting in the 1970s, strength coaches had to confront numerous misconceptions about lifting weights. Sports coaches and the medical community warned about squats hurting the knees...
Gym Bags at the Wichita Falls Athletic Club – Gym bags are customized by each lifter so all essential equipment and supplies are sure to be there when needed, every time. Rusty, Stormi, Nick, and Hank each share what they keep on hand.
My Apology to Clients by Carl Raghavan – I owe you an apology. I’m sorry you thought this was going to be easy. Strength isn’t easy. If it were, everyone would be strong. But the process – the daily effort, the discipline, the setbacks, and the victories – will shape you...
New to the Squat? Start Here – The Starting Strength teaching method for the squat is the first step for beginners in barbell training. Watch as SSC Steve Ross of Brussels Barbell takes a trainee through this process and explains why we do what we do along the way.
Weekend Archives: An Examination of Control of the Supine Hand in a Heavy Deadlift by Mia Inman – In heavy deadlifts, the limiting factor in being able to complete the lift is often the ability of the lifter to hold onto the bar. It is fairly well known that what the hands can’t hold, the back won’t lift...
Weekend Archives: Nothing New Under the Sun by Mark Rippetoe – As the old saying goes, and it indicates the timelessness of good ideas. Starting Strength takes advantage of good ideas, like basic barbell exercises and arithmetic. We didn't invent either one...

In the Trenches

There are 43 muscles in the human face, and you can see some of them in contraction on Zack Dannawi as he deadlifts 440x5 at Starting Strength Atlanta. [photo courtesy of Dave Tomczak]

Ryan, an online coaching client, came into Starting Strength Boston and set a squat PR of 400 lb for 2 reps. That’s one of the “sticker lift” benchmarks down, three more to go! [photo courtesy of Michael Shammas]

CJ has been having shoulder pain the bench, but at the Starting Strength Indianapolis Press and Bench Camp, Andrew helps him keep his shoulder blades back with his chest up, and he has no shoulder pain even at heavy weights. [photo courtesy of Niki Barkley]

Andrew works through the grip with CJ as he make sure to load the bar directly onto his forearm instead of taking a grip that bends his wrist. CJ was able to learn all the details of a correct grip to prevent wrist problems at the Starting Strength Indianapolis Press and Bench Camp. [photo courtesy of Niki Barkley]

SSC Chris Palladino supervises trainee Simon as he executes an impressive 180-pound squat. During this past weekend’s Starting Strength Squat Camp, Simon made a conscious effort to maintain his back angle and midfoot position throughout the squat. [photo courtesy of Chris Palladino]

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Best of the Week

Strength Training - Zero Gravity

Panda

I was watching these two astronauts with muscle atrophy after 9 months in space thinking the SS team would surely be able to develop a better program than whatever they’re using at the moment ! Could be a growing future market !!

Mark Rippetoe

We already have. They're not interested. After all, they have Exercise Physiologists at NASA.

neilc1

I'm curious what that looks like, some kind of hydraulic, pneumatic, rubberband contraption? "push the ceiling away"?

Jason Donaldson

Just a thought...what about approaching SpaceX with it?

Mark Rippetoe

It was a very lightweight device that used isometric resistance for the barbell exercises.

How do you "approach SpaceX"?

Jason Donaldson

I have no idea. Twitter? DOGE? Have Rogan hook you up?

How did you approach NASA?

Mark Rippetoe

How do I get Rogan to hook me up? He doesn't even know who I am.

And I was in Vegas for an event years ago, and a guy that worked for them invited me to the facility to talk to them about using the program. They we not receptive.

Best of the Forum

Imbalance

AaronMBond

How do you teach your SSCs how to deal with muscle imbalances: left side/right side or front/back?

Mark Rippetoe

We teach them to instruct bilateral exercises correctly.

AaronMBond

So should I believe an SSC that says "imbalances aren't a thing" and "shoulders rounded forward aren't improper"? Also, would you recommend uni-work to bring up a weak side(25yrs of overhead wrenching), or let the strong side lag while bilaterally letting the weak side catch up?

Mark Rippetoe

Core Stability Training | Mark Rippetoe

Is Physical Therapy Fraud? | Mark Rippetoe

Squat Mechanics | Mark Rippetoe

Strength Training, CrossFit, and “Functional Training” | Mark Rippetoe

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