Low bar squats are one of the best ways to build serious lower body strength and muscle. They let you load heavy weight, use more hip drive, involve the posterior chain, and usually allow stronger lifters to move more weight than a high bar squat. But there is one big problem. Low bar squats can … Read more
Bad shoulders do not mean you have to stop training hard. They do not mean you have to quit squatting, stop pressing, abandon barbell training, or turn every workout into a 45-minute physical therapy circuit. But they DO mean you need to stop forcing exercises your body clearly hates. A lot of basic strength programs … Read more
For a long time, deadlifts did not feel right for me. I wanted to deadlift. I love deadlifting. I wanted my back to look like a fucking Ninja Turtle shell. But every time I pulled from the floor, my lower back felt like it was taking over the entire movement. Not my legs. Not my … Read more
The trap bar has become one of the most controversial pieces of equipment in strength training. Some coaches love it. Others claim it’s dangerous, useless, or nothing more than a glorified squat. You’ll often hear arguments that the trap bar doesn’t build the posterior chain properly, doesn’t carry over to a conventional deadlift, or removes … Read more
Not every workout feels good. Some days you walk into the gym and everything clicks. The weights feel light. Your joints feel great. Your energy is high. Other days, something just feels off. Maybe your shoulder doesn’t like pressing. Maybe your squat feels awkward. Maybe your lower back feels tight. Maybe a movement that felt … Read more
I I injured my right shoulder in 2021. After that, regular barbell bench presses and overhead presses became a problem. I could still train, but every time I tried to press with a straight bar, my shoulder started barking at me. Like most stubborn lifters, I tried to power through it. Bad idea. The pain … Read more