Are powerlifting shoes a thing? Sort of. Powerlifting shoes exist in the context that some shoes are better for powerlifting than others, but for the most part, lifters wear either a.) hard-soled sneakers, b.) weightlifting shoes, or c.) deadlift slippers, which might as well just be repurposed Wushu slippers. There aren’t really any specialized powerlifting […]
Are Powerlifting Shoes Worth It? Read More »
I’ll be honest, I think body types are pretty stupid. The three major “somatotypes” are based on the outdated musings of a 1940s American psychologist and have no real basis in fact or evidence. You can’t roughly categorize people into three basic shapes and doing so ignores the fact that outside of generally having two
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If good programming is a lifter’s bread and butter, then Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 is sourdough and grass-fed ghee. I wouldn’t say it’s the best program in the world, but that’s because a.) there is absolutely no such thing as the “best program in the world”, and b.) Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 isn’t a program, to begin
What is Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 Powerlifting Program? Read More »
Our capacity to build muscle tissue is, in terms of its potential for remodeling, adaptation, and change, endlessly fascinating. Our muscles adapt to resistance training almost immediately, albeit slowly, and these gains manifest themselves not only temporarily but permanently. Yes, the progress you make through strength training is permanent – to a degree. More on
How Long Does It Take to Build Muscle? Read More »
If you’re interested in the sport of powerlifting and want to start powerlifting, it helps to make some friends in the weight room. The first piece of advice that I can think of is to find someone at your gym who regularly trains and befriend them. Don’t just hit them up in the middle of
Here’s How You Start Powerlifting Read More »
At first, you’d be led to believe that the key to be a great powerlifter is strength alone. But most powerlifters can tell you that it’s not enough to have the talent and/or capacity to lift heavy – you need to make the most of that talent, as well. Given the rule of specificity, then,
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Injury prevalence is higher among the deadlift than any other lift, yet studies on injuries are quite low for deadlifting, versus squatting or bench pressing. From what we do know, however, research points to high load and overall intensity rather than bad form as the primary factor behind injuries (with poor form simply accelerating the
What Injuries Can You Get from Deadlifting? Read More »
Let’s get the rivalry out of the way. Yes, bodybuilders are big while powerlifters are strong. But have you noticed that many bodybuilders are strong, and many powerlifters are big? While the two like to make fun of each other (and it’s usually all good-natured), most experienced powerlifters and bodybuilders understand that bodybuilding and powerlifting
Bodybuilding and Powerlifting Differences Read More »
The human body is really complicated. It relies on redundancies, fail-safes, and countless mechanisms to survive. Unlike, say, most man-made machines, which typically rely on a single input for power and are built to be efficient, the human body can make do and live off of nearly anything. We don’t need a single fuel source,
What Should I Eat to Build Muscle? Read More »
Shoulder and rotator cuff pain is the most frequent upper body pain a powerlifter can encounter, matched by lower back pain and knee pain for the torso and lower body respectively. Whether you’re currently recovering from a shoulder strain or just want to avoid creating or aggravating a shoulder problem, it definitely pays to learn
How to Bench Press Without Shoulder Pain Read More »
Front squats are a tougher variation of the back squat, with the barbell held in a “front rack” position resting on the lifter’s anterior deltoids. However, for many lifters, it isn’t quite clear why the front squat is tougher. Some presume that it’s the fact that the front rack demands much more of a lifter’s
Why are Front Squats Harder Than Back Squats? Read More »
The deadlift is an exercise that’s explicitly made effective with heavy weight, and there are few true deadlift alternatives. Heavy weight, in this case, is relative. I’m probably not alone when I tell you that the conventional or sumo deadlift is an exercise that makes you exert maximal force and not something done for reps
Deadlift Alternatives at Home Read More »
