Blog

Written by: Ashley Pollard We all love to squat and deadlift. We also all know that in order to do them effectively we need to employ our core. But do we all know if squatting and deadlifting is enough core work? The good news: Squats and deadlifts are a multi-multi joint...

Written by Kelsey Kuehn PT, DPT, CSCS You killed your workout, but did you kill your recovery? There’s nothing better than that feeling after you dominate some heavy lifts in training. With the next training day coming up quickly, how can you optimize recovery to prepare your body to do...

Written by Ivy Knight Some of these you may have heard but don’t really know what they mean. Some of these might be brand new because, to be honest, I made them up but they helped me. If you know me, you know that deadlifts have notoriously been my least...

Written by Sarah Strong More people than ever are lifting in home gyms right now. And while there are many perks to lifting at home, there are also some challenges. One big challenge is being a powerlifter and doing heavy bench press on your own. I’ve been guilty of lifting...

Written by: Brittany Kohnke Injury, pandemic, or just needing to step away, there are many reasons an athlete may take a long hiatus from competing. In many cases, this lay off can be profoundly beneficial from both a physical and mental perspective. But what about when the athlete is ready...

 Written by Sarah Strong Remote coaching is very popular in the sport of powerlifting. It allows athletes to work with some of the best coaches from around the world, no matter where they’re from. This platform has numerous benefits for both coach and athlete, but it also presents some challenges. If...

Written by Sarah Strong So you’re ready to take the plunge and sign up for your first meet-- where do you start?  First, I’d like to preface this blog by suggesting that you do not have to wait to be at a certain level in order to do a competition....

New to powerlifting and don't understand the lingo? Here's a brief list of terms you should know.

Written by Brittany Kohnke Google search the phrase “beginner powerlifter” and hundreds of results will flood the page. Everything from sample training programs to “how to low bar squat” manuals can easily be accessed. The question must be asked though: is this information where beginners should really be looking? Is...

Written by Sarah Strong When strength training, it is important to incorporate variations that improve weaknesses. Many athletes have a dominant side in their lifts—like when their right leg is stronger than the left and takes more of the weight in a squat, for example. Without correction, muscle imbalances can...

Written by Sarah Strong As a coach who writes programs for athletes across the country, one of the most common questions I get from potential clients is, “can I powerlift in a commercial gym?” My answer—absolutely. I trained in commercial gyms for the first four years I powerlifted and was...

Written by Coach Ben of Big Benchas Adequate foot placement and the ability to create leg drive in the bench press is something I see plaguing lifters with difficulty. It is one of the hardest technical aspects involving the bench press. Even when you have leg drive down, you run...

  Written by Sarah Strong In powerlifting, a powerlifter can be described as either raw or equipped. “Raw” refers to lifting with little to no supportive equipment. “Equipped” lifting refers to using single-ply or multi-ply suits to support the lifter.  The suits are made from a highly tensile fabric that...

Written by Brittany Kohnke The king of all exercises: the squat.  What seems so easy for some can truly be a royal pain in the ass for others.  Perfecting your squat technique takes an understanding of biomechanics and consistent refinement and practice.  Working with a variety of athletes and being...

Written By Nick Benerakis Jen Thompson is not only considered one of the greatest female benchers but one of the greatest benchers of our time period, male or female. Her resume speaks for itself, with multiple IPF world records, and multiple championships. She has a competition best of 319.7 lbs...

Written by Precilla Navarro #kidswhopowerlift is now a thing! How cool is that?! But how do you know when your kid is ready to start powerlifting? Here are a few things to keep in mind.   Age vs. Attention Span Will your child pay attention? Are they trainable? There are children...

The first time I picked up a barbell was in 2014. My first meet was in 2016. Since that first meet I’ve competed in a few more, I’ve handled tons of athletes and I became a USPA State judge. I love meets! I love the chalk in the air, the...

   Written by Sarah Brenner Powerlifting coaching can be pretty expensive. For some, like myself, a coach is essential to progressing and totally worth every penny spent. For others, coaching may not be reasonable or necessary. I think that hiring a powerlifting coach is worth it when: You are serious...

Written by Dr. Rachel Horton Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Powerlifting Who has ever peed while powerlifting? Raise them hands. I’m not ashamed to say it has happened to me and I would say it’s a pretty common thing for women in lifting sports. And thankfully I don’t think it’s something...

Written by Chelsea Nkwodimmah Have you ever heard these words? “OMG! Chelsea, how was your competition?” ME: Oh, it went so well! THEM: Do you have videos?! ME: Of course! *shows them my squat video* THEM: Oh, you don’t do it in a bikini? I understand and respect that many...