Posts categorized in:
Lifting Technique
Discover the RDL Magic: 7 Pro Tips!
The Romanian Deadlift – or RDL – can be one of the most difficult exercises to master. For instance, many new clients will struggle with locking their knees and rounding their back, turning the lift into a reverse squat, and everything in between. But when done well, the RDL, is a fantastic exercise for strengthening your […]
Continue ReadingHow to Sumo Deadlift – 7 Steps for a Bigger Pull and Healthy Lower Back
If you want to learn how to pull bigger weights while keeping your back healthy, here’s exactly how I coach and cue the sumo deadlift! But let’s start with a moment of honesty – deadlifting is just flat out FUN. I don’t know about you, but there’s no better feeling than having some loud music, […]
Continue ReadingLift More Weight and Reduce Stress on the Body with THIS Simple Technique
Everyone loves to squat, deadlift and split-squat in the gym. Okay let’s be real…no one LIKES to split-squat, but we do it anyway because they’re good for us 🤣 Now when it comes to those big lifts, here’s one thing you might not know: A lot of the technique issues that happen when you lift […]
Continue Reading5 Deadlift Variations You Can Use WITHOUT Hurting Your Lower Back
As someone that’s coached for 23 years and competed in powerlifting for 11, I love seeing a strong conventional deadlift. Not only are they a foundational exercise for strength development, but they can also help you build muscle and shed body fat as well. But let’s be real – just like the back squat isn’t […]
Continue ReadingThe Complete and Step-by-Step Guide to Front Squat Technique
The front squat is one of my all-time favorite exercises for gen pop clients and athletes alike. You can lock in your technique, stay tall and upright, and crush your hips, quads and core in the process. Now that’s not to say that I don’t love back squats – because I absolutely do. But the […]
Continue ReadingWhat’s the Difference Between a Squat and a Deadlift?
It may sound silly to us as coaches, but a lot of the clients and athletes I’ve worked with over the years are confused about the difference between a squat and a deadlift. And here’s the thing – if the people you’re coaching don’t understand the difference between the two, chances are they aren’t going […]
Continue ReadingSuper Simple Progression to Help You Lunge Pain-Free
If you love to lunge but are struggling with knee pain, I’m going to show you why it happens and how to fix it! After coaching clients and athletes in the gym for over 20 years, there are 2 primary reasons people have pain when lunging: They don’t find their heel and/or Their torso gets […]
Continue ReadingThe 5 BIGGEST Deadlift Mistakes Clients and Athlete Make
Do you want to build a bigger deadlift? Or just learn how to deadlift without tweaking your back in the process? If so, make sure you’re not making one of the 5 BIG mistakes! After competing in powerlifting for 11 years and coaching clients and athletes for the last 23, I wanted to share with […]
Continue Reading7 BIG Step-up Mistakes (And How to Fix Them!)
Step-ups may not be the sexiest option in the gym, but they are fantastic for building single-leg strength, stability and control. But here’s the thing – a lot of times I see clients and athletes making the same mistakes with their step-ups time and time again. So in this video, I’m going to break down […]
Continue ReadingQ&A: Why Does Elevating the Heels Make My Squat Look Better?
Today, I’m going to answer one of the most common questions I get from trainers, coaches, and athletes alike: Why does my squat feel so much getter when I elevate my heels? Now the most common answer you’ll hear in this regard is that you have “tight” or “stiff” ankles. Or more specifically, that “your […]
Continue ReadingShould You Squat Tall Athletes?
One thing that truly bothers me about our industry is black and white statements, all-encompassing statements. If you look at it from a global view, everything we do is a shade of gray – there are rarely “good” or “bad” things to do. So when the following post came up last week on Instagram, I […]
Continue Reading4 Squat Variations You Should Try ASAP
A few weeks back, someone on Instagram asked me the following question: “Why would you want to load your quads on a squat?” Now I did my best to contain myself, but let me tell you – it wasn’t easy. If you want to know why squatting is a good thing, or why we should […]
Continue ReadingRTS Coaching: Snatch Grip RDL
As I’ve mentioned numerous times in the past, I’m pretty vanilla as a coach. I want to teach my athletes to squat, hinge, push, and pull – but I want them to do so with impeccable technique. But just because I’m vanilla, doesn’t mean I’m unwilling to change. Case and point – I’m a huge […]
Continue ReadingTraining the Overhead Athlete (and Meathead)
Note from MR: I’m slooooowwwwwwllllyyyyyyy recovering from the Physical Prep Summit this weekend, but I wanted to make sure I got some fresh content to you ASAP. Tony Gentilcore is a guy I’ve known for years, and it’s been cool to watch him grow and evolve. In today’s post, he’s going to give you the […]
Continue ReadingRTS Coaching: Simple Step-up Progression
Step-ups are an incredibly common exercise, regardless of your goal. Whether you want to build muscle, lose body fat, or improve your athleticism, a step-up variation can help you achieve any of those goals. Being such a common exercise, it’s also one that I get questions about all the time. Should I keep my foot […]
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