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My Strong First Manifesto
By Steve Freides, SFG Team Leader Why do I choose to be Strong First? Because strength kept me out of a wheelchair. From my 20’s to my early 40’s, I was a jogger but then a disc blew in my spine....
View ArticleNo Distractions
By Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman “How are you feeling?” one Russian asks another. “Worse than I used to—but better than I will be.” That about describes the state of strength today. Recently I had a...
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If You Want To Be STRONG, You Must Be TOUGH
By Mark Reifkind, Master SFG I probably shouldn’t write this. It’s not the politically correct thing to say. Some people will be offended. But that’s okay, as well as the point. Getting strong is not...
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The “Best” Squat
By Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman What squat variation will give you the biggest bang for your buck? Let us go through the list. Pistol with added weight Lunges, split squats & Co. Barbell back squat...
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Strength Through Female Eyes
By Lauren Brooks, SFG Team Leader Note from Pavel: Several weeks ago Lauren asked me: How strong does a woman need to be to be considered “strong”? I thought it was a question that should be answered...
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The “Best” Press
By Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman The contenders for the “baddest” press title are: Kettlebell military press Barbell military press Handstand pushup (wall supported) One-arm pushup Parallel bar dips...
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Merry Christmas From Strong First
Mark Toomey, CEO, StrongFirst In the Sierras, the first winter storm is blanketing the mountains with snow. What a joyous time to reflect back on the past twelve months and look forward to the promise...
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Grow Stronger!
By Dave ‘Iron Tamer’ Whitley, Master SFG The movie “The 13th Warrior” is a story of a Muslim scholar named Ahmed and his account of a journey with a group of Vikings. Like any good Viking saga, there...
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Be a Man Among Men
By Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman Why do so many men give up on being men once they have reached a certain age? (I could ask women the same question.) Not my father. A month ago seventy-five year old...
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My Journey to the Kettlebell
by Prof. Stuart McGill The kettlebell is special to me! The kettlebell has linked me to several important events in my life. And it was part of the beginning of my friendship with Pavel. (Pavel...
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Kettlebells and Deadlifts Go Together Like Vodka and Pickles
By Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman Speaks 1,000-pound deadlifter Andy Bolton: “The [Kettlebell] Swing is a great developer of the posterior chain and will teach you how to develop some awesome SNAP in your...
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Announcing the Strong First Deadlift Team
By Jason Marshall, SFG Team Leader, StrongFirst Deadlift Team Captain Eumastas the son of Critobulus lifted me from the ground. —Inscription found on a 480kg (1058lb) black volcanic stone in Santorin...
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The “Best” Upper Body Pull
By Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman This one is going to be simple. There is only one contender—a hollow position pull-up, strict and heavy. Tactical pull-up in a hollow position.Photo courtesy Tony Blauer...
View ArticleAssisting Your GAG: How to Defeat the Evil Wheel
By Doug Nepodal, Senior SFG So I have a student that has been working for some time on successfully completing a single rep with the ab wheel from a standing start. To say that the past attempts he’s...
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Why a Woman Should Be Strong
By Karen Smith, Senior SFG Women should be strong because we are capable of great physical strength. Too often, women limit themselves by thinking strength training is for men, or that it will make...
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A Word on Rows
By Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman Master SFG Mark Reifkind insightfully warned: “Don’t live in your sports posture.” Which is where bodybuilding pull-ups and rows come in. As correctives. I favor...
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To Be A Warrior
By Jane E., Founder of John Faas Foundation To be a warrior is not a simple matter of wishing to be one. It is rather an endless struggle that will go on to the very last moment of our lives. Nobody...
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A Leap of Faith Between Kettlebell Sizes
By Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman When they first encounter Russian kettlebells, Westerners are always surprised at the large jumps between sizes. The original reason for limited sizes was probably as...
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A Different Type of Training Altogether
By Bill Fox One of the most important things I learned on my way to a Masters degree in Philosophy was the “type/token” distinction. Think of it this way. A Ford 150 and a Dodge Ram are tokens of the...
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Bench to Kettlebell Press More
By Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman Here is how to set a kettlebell military press PR within weeks. You will be benching with a close grip. The CGBP is the best tool for strengthening the triceps. Its...
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