It’s not how much you do, but how you do it. Controlled “pin-touch” reps on the bench press are far better than uncontrolled “bounce-off-your-chest” reps. As far as load, anything above your body weight for reps is good. Unless you’re a powerlifter, it’s not the absolute amount that counts, but rather the relative amount compared…
Believe it or not, many lifters get injured just getting in and out of position before an exercise begins or right after it’s done! The lying dumbbell press is a classic example. It can be a real challenge, especially when using heavy weights. Unless you have two strong, experienced spotters handing you the dumbbells at…
Do you know what the #1 injury in the gym is? It’s a weight dropping on your foot. Don’t let it happen! Here’s the right way to load and unload a bar when squatting or benching. There’s a risk involved with any weight training exercise and deadlifts are no exception. You may get through your…
Here’s a way to decrease the stress on your shoulders during presses. Next time you’re in the gym, take a look at how people do presses. I bet most of them are using a pronated (palms forward) grip with their elbows flaring way out. That can put a lot of stress on the shoulders and…
Yesterday we looked at a simple fix to decrease the stress on your hips during wide-stance squats and deadlifts. Today, we’ll look at a way to decrease the stress on your shoulders during presses. Next time you’re in the gym, take a look at how people do presses. I bet most of them are using…
As mentioned in my Warm-Up to Strength Training DVD, plyometrics conducted prior to weight training can boost an athlete’s performance if done properly. Many successful strength coaches know it works and science agrees. Check out this study: Acute Explosive-Force Movements Enhance Bench-Press Performance in Athletic MenJim Wilcox, Rich Larson, Kevin M. Brochu, Avery D. Faigenbaum.International…
The reverse bench press is not mentioned often and I must admit, I don’t prescribe it too frequently either, but it can be a great triceps exercise. The big knock against it: comfort! It’s not a “wrist-friendly” movement, especially under a heavy load. But there’s a way to transform this into a winner, it’s called…