Powerlifting

Join Shane Sweatt and Laura Phelps-Sweatt of Westside Barbell as they demonstrate bench-press set-up and technique. Phelps-Sweatt’s best bench is an incredible 530 lb.

The first cue Sweatt has Phelps-Sweatt demonstrate is to set her shoulders back in their sockets, pinching her shoulder blades behind her so her shoulders are well supported to reduce the risk of injury. She gets under the bar and lifts it to hold it over her chest, not her… Continue Reading

The lift doesn't stop when the bar is at the top. CrossFitting chiropractor John Zimmer provides advice on how to properly deadlift to avoid injury.

If you’ve ever picked up anything from the floor, you’ve deadlifted. And after you pick something up, chances are you’ll need to put it down. Returning the bar to the floor often is the forgotten part of the deadlift.

CrossFit prides itself on its training methods… Continue Reading

“This is a perfect workout for sports,” says Louie Simmons, owner of Westside Barbell in Columbus, Ohio. “The volume is going to be extremely high and the intensity zone extremely low—about 40-45 percent.”

The speed bench-press workout consists of 16 sets of 3 reps using 185 lb. on the bar and 85 lb. of bands at the top of the lift. Lifters press every 30 seconds for 4 sets, then rest 1 minute and repeat. The sets are performed using different grip… Continue Reading

Bill Starr explains how to sensibly integrate limit lifts into a strength program.

There are definitely two schools of thought in terms of doing singles in a strength routine. Some coaches believe athletes shouldn’t do them at all because they pose a much higher risk of injury than higher reps.

I’m very much in favor of utilizing singles in any strength program, and this includes programs for females and young athletes. Older… Continue Reading

CrossFit Games 2008 champ Jason Khalipa says lifting heavy takes a special environment.

Several months ago, I competed in a powerlifting competition in Northern California. As a CrossFitter, I knew going in that my numbers would be nowhere near the numbers the powerlifters would put up, especially those wearing gear. But I wanted to take myself out of my comfort zone and put myself in an… Continue Reading

Bill Starr explains how to create a strong, balanced upper body.

There was a time in the not-so-distanct past when everyone who lifted weights possessed wide, powerful shoulders. Bodybuilders were actually strength athletes back in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, and all of them believed wide shoulders added to their physiques. And they were right.

The reason why athletes in a wide variety of sports possessed such imposing shoulders is… Continue Reading

Powerlifting affiliate owner Chris Moore challenges the CrossFit community to train strength way more often.

For some reason, I recently recalled a memory of watching Kickboxer, the old Jean-Claude Van Damme fight-fest. I don’t remember much about the plot, and I really don’t care to. The movie’s probably as terrible now as it was then. But I’ll tell you what was great about it: the training montage.

Some of the details… Continue Reading

Mark Bell explains how you can lift more weight by lifting less weight.

When you first get into strength training, it’s to get chicks or to make the football team—which could also lead to chicks. In addition, you also realized that with a better and stronger body you can probably kick the crap out of that jerk who punted your New York Jets football into the woods and then ride… Continue Reading