How to Perform Rear Foot Elevated Split-Squats

I’ll be honest: For several years, I was not a huge fan of rear foot elevated split-squats (RFESS)/Bulgarian split-squats/whatever the cool kids are calling them these days. My biggest issue with the exercise was the execution: If you you do a Google search for the exercise, you’ll see pictures of athletes crushing their lumbar spines, […]

RTS Coaching – Whole Foot on RDL’s

One of the key things we focus on at IFAST is feeling your feet when you train. Feeling your whole foot is critical for optimizing center of gravity, which in turn allows you to load and feel the appropriate muscles when training. I often joke that strength training is the only sport where it’s beneficial […]

Deadlift

Regardless of whether your goal is to get bigger, get stronger, or to simply shed some body fat, learning how to deadlift properly can help you achieve your goal faster. Unfortunately, a lot of people have no clue how to deadlift properly, and as such, end up getting injured. In this article, you’ll learn how […]

RTS Coaching – The Breathing Push-up

At this point, we all know that push-ups rock. They train the serratus anterior, strengthen the rotator cuff, and tie the upper and lower body together. So how do we take an awesome exercise and make it even more awesome (and a lot more challenging)? Simple – we add focused breathing into the equation. Below […]

Simplifying Your Squat and Deadlift

I don’t know about you, but I can’t stop thinking about lifting and training. Even when I’m attempting to zone out or dial in on something else, often my thoughts drift and I find myself thinking about training once again. Lately I’ve been re-visiting my thoughts on squatting and deadlifting. Not only am I working […]

Mike Rants – Exercise Technique

Last week, Kirsten (my amazing admin and the Wonder Woman of IFAST) posted a picture of me working with one of the new guys for the Indy Eleven. I’m an admin on the page, so I get a notification that another gym owner here in Indianapolis has commented: “Better check on that lunge form.” Now […]

Push-up

Every single client or athlete I train uses push-ups in their programming. And why not? They are simply a fantastic lift, whether your goal is to get stronger, burn more body fat, or become more athletic. Let’s start our journey by reviewing just a few of the reasons you might want to include push-ups in […]

How NOT to RDL

The RDL, or Romanian deadlift, is a staple exercise for Olympic lifters and athletes alike. It’s universally popular because it not only serves as a teaching tool for bigger lifts (full deadlifts, cleans, etc.), but it also builds the hamstrings and teaches people to flex and extend their hips properly. However, I will go to […]

Setting up for a Big Deadlift

Everyone loves a big deadlift. Powerlifters even have a saying – “The meet doesn’t start ’til the bar hits the floor.” Like most lifts, though, many people miss their deadlifts before they even begin to pull the weight. A dialed in and tight set-up will not only reduce the likelihood of injury, but I guarantee […]

Should You Use Manual Muscle Testing?

Manual muscle testing (MMT) can be a valuable tool in your assessment arsenal. Now I know what the naysayers are going to say: It’s not reliable enough. It’s hard to use between testers. And trust me, I agree with those sentiments. Like virtually any test in isolation, manual muscle testing is not perfect. But as […]

5 Keys to Successful Strength Training

Staying true to my theme from Monday’s post, today I want to talk about the long-term development of young athletes. Last night for part of my continuing education time, I was brushing up on som materials by the Russian powerlifting coach Boris Sheiko. If you don’t know anything about Sheiko – Google the man. He’s […]

The Myth of Neutral Spine

Neutral spine is a myth. Or at least, the way we currently have this concept burned into our brains is at least a little flawed. Let me explain… When you set someone up to squat or deadlift effectively, there is most definitely a “neutral” position you want them in. I believe this is the optimal […]

Floor Press

The floor press has been used by powerlifters for 20 years to build Herculean strength in the upper body. And if your goal is to bench press ridiculous weights, the floor press can be used as a supplementary lift to your bench to all new levels. In this article, we’re going to cover every facet […]

Round Back Deadlifts

(Photo Courtesy of Steve Gabrielsen) The arguments for and against round back deadlifting have been around for ages. Recently, however, it seems as though the back-and-forth banter has reached epic proportions. As a result, we’re left with numerous questions: Should the average fitness enthusiast perform round back deadlifts? Are we stronger this way? Are round […]

YOUR Deadlift Questions Answered!

This past week, I asked a very simple question on both my standard Facebook page, as well as my Fan Page: “I’m writing an article on the differences between trap bar, sumo and conventional deadlifts. What questions do you guys have about these lifts?”

The response was overwhelming, and not everything fit into the article. However, I didn’t want to leave you guys hanging. So if you asked a question, I’m going to answer it right here. Enjoy!