Recent Posts
The 3 Biggest Squat Set-up Mistakes
When I was in Seattle a few weeks back, my entire presentation revolved around rebuilding the big lifts. You see, I think too much of our lifting culture has been influenced by powerlifting. And while we know powerlifters are strong, is that who we should look to for coaching advice when it comes to our […]
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: Hip Postion on 2-KB Front Squats
I’m a huge fan of 2-kettlebell front squats. In fact, with a lot of my athletes that I may only have in for a short period of time, it’s my go-to squatting progression. Not only can you load it up fairly quickly, but it’s almost impossible to screw up. Almost. As with most lifts, the […]
Continue ReadingRTS Coaching: The Plate Squat
Anyone who is serious about training likes to squat. Well, let’s be honest – it’s probably more of a love-hate relationship. Maybe a better way to put it is that everyone who is serious about training respects the squat. But this leads us to a big question: How do you teach someone to squat safely, […]
Continue ReadingRTS Coaching: Knees First on Squats?
The other day I was perusing the Interwebz, and I came across this awesome tweet from my guy Mike Roncarati: Vertical tibia during a squat means anterior head and trunk displacement as the first move for most. Or a very wide BOS #letquadswork — Mike Roncarati (@RoncMike) June 8, 2016 The timing was impeccable, because […]
Continue ReadingRTS Coaching: The Quarters Cue
When it comes to training, I’m constantly searching for new cues that help my clients and athletes better understand how their bodies should move. For instance, for the past couple of years now I’ve been talking about feeling the whole foot when squatting, deadlifting, lunging, etc. The RDL is a particularly salient example here because […]
Continue ReadingRTS Coaching: The Offset Squat
I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty utilitarian when it comes to my exercise selection. When I hear someone talk about a “new exercise,” or “X new variations” of an exercise, I immediately start tuning them out. It’s not that I don’t like “new” things, or that I’m locked in my ways. I’m always […]
Continue ReadingRTS Coaching: Reset Every Rep
Many moons ago, I was attending a Perform Better seminar in Chicago. Gray Cook was giving one of his signature presentations, when he made the following comment: Stopping doing one set of five. Instead, do five sets of one. – Gray Cook When you sit back and think about it, it’s pure genius. Too often […]
Continue ReadingRTS Coaching – Feelin’ the Heels
One of the biggest issues I see when it comes to squatting and deadlifting is a poor center of gravity. Too often people get pushed forward in their big lifts, and end up on their toes. Here’s a simple cue that should make a world of difference in your lifting: Now keep in mind, this […]
Continue ReadingSpecialty Bar Training for Athletes
As a reformed powerlifter, the move away from strictly barbell exercises was not easy. Because let’s be honest – the barbell squat, bench and deadlift are fantastic ways to get strong. However, in my effort to build the most complete athlete known to man, while simultaneously keeping them healthy, sometimes the barbell falls by the […]
Continue ReadingSimplifying 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 […]
Continue ReadingSetting Up for a Big Squat
If you read enough blog posts and articles, everyone wants to talk about technique on the big lifts. And who am I to complain? I covered all of that in-depth in my Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift blog posts over the years. But you know what? I’d argue that 90+% of all lifts are missed […]
Continue ReadingArching versus Bracing
What is a superior cue to the strength coach or trainer? “Arch” or “Brace”? After discussing this via e-mail with my good friend Wil Fleming last week, I felt it was finally time to sit down and put this blog together. A cue that we’ve all used in the past when teaching someone how to […]
Continue ReadingTop 10 Blog Posts of 2011
Let the “It’s the end of 2011!” posts begin! I figure someone has to start the trend, and I’ve got a bunch of stuff to publish before the end of the year, so today we’ll begin with my Top 10 Blog Posts of 2011. Needless to say, the blog has grown exponentially over the last […]
Continue ReadingSquat
The squat may be the single most important lift you can perform in the gym. When properly executed, the squat is not only an amazing tool for strength development, but it can promote fat loss or muscle gain (depending on your nutrition), and it can reinforce mobility in almost all the major joints of the […]
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