How Often Should You Squat, Bench and Deadlift?
How often should you squat/bench/deadlift? The answer…it depends! There isn’t any secret or perfect amount of frequency that is going to fit everyone. However here are a few things to consider when looking at frequency of movements: How often are you currently performing the movement ? Are you making progress? If yes, milk it for…
Build Strength, Don’t Test It
BUILDING STRENGTH Maxing out every week, is a sure of way slowing down your progression, increasing the risk of injury and not allowing for enough recovery. Here are some tips to help you gain strength: – Maximal strength can be built using lower percentages (70-90%). You do not need to consistently train with maximal loads…
How Low Should You Skwaat?
How low should you Skwaat? There is much debate over how low you should squat, should it be ‘Ass to the grass’ (ATG) ? Below parallel ? Just to parallel ? Above parallel ? WATCH THIS SQUAT TUTORIAL First thing you should consider when squatting is safety. You want to be able keep the correct…
Should You Use Bands And Chains?
Should you use bands and chains? Bands & chains have been around a long time, they were popularised by Louis Simmons at Westside Barbell a very successful Powerlifting gym. Over time they have gained popularity and made it into mainstream fitness. Some people putting them to good use to build strength & muscle, some looking…
How To Start Powerlifting
Tom contributed on this article for Coach Mag ‘How to Start Powerlifting’. Getting strong in the Big Three lifts isn’t just for huge guys – weight category competitions mean anyone can impress. Powerlifting 101 What is it? Technically, it actually means competing in the Big Three lifts (bench, deadlift and squat) – it isn’t considered…
How To Ace Your 1 Rep Max (Article for CoachMag)
Here is an article Tom wrote for Coach Magazine on how to prepare for a 1 rep max test. A proper one-rep max test isn’t something to try every week but, done smartly, it’s something to work towards because it’s a good indicator of where you are in your lifting life. If you’re planning to…
Overcoaching
COACHING FOR THE SAKE OF COACHING I think this goes for both the coach & the client. Let’s say I’m coaching a client online or person I watch them squat, I see a few things we can work on so we get to working on these over the next few months with cues/technical changes. There…
Rep Ranges, What Should You Use?
Which rep range to use? Rep ranges: Heavy – 1 to 5 reps strength Moderate – 6 to 15 strength/size Light – 15+ reps muscular endurance We know that muscle can be built using a variety of rep ranges in both untrained and trained individuals. Rep ranges are important but they are one of many…
The Fundamentals Of Powerlifting
Tom was interviewed by coach mag on the fundamentals of powerlifting here is the article: The Fundamentals Of Powerlifting Whether you want to get bigger and stronger or lose some of that extra padding around your middle, it’s time to perfect your powerlifting MEN’S FITNESS 12 APR 2017 If you’re a reader of Men’s Fitness…
Member Story: Simon – My 1st Powerlifting Competition
” This is a post Tom has asked me to write in relation to competing in my first powerlifting competitor yesterday at the BDFPA Welsh Qualifier in Cardiff. I’ve been weight training for around 25 years in numerous ways of training such as specific for throwing events in athletics, bodybuilding, strength training and callisthenics. But…
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