Simple Strength for Difficult Times Part Two: Get Even Stronger in Quarantine
When I wrote the article “Simple Strength for Difficult Times” I outlined an 8-week plan, confident that within two months we would be all back to our gyms and our regular life. Unfortunately, this...
View ArticleQ&D for Senior Citizens
At 76, I’ve noticed that people my age come in two groups: those who let their vitality slip away without contest, and those who fight to remain strong and active. Growing old well takes courage and a...
View ArticleHow Over Twenty Ladies Did Their First Chin-up Within a Year
Given the absolute strength differences between men and women, a chin-up is an excellent challenge for ladies with strength goals. I train a number of women, so I decided to challenge my students (and...
View Article2020 TSC—Community Edition Recap
The Tactical Strength Challenge, StrongFirst’s opportunity to provide a challenge and “test” of our training, happens twice a year. The TSC brings together competitors from around the world who put...
View ArticleQuarantine Fitness
I grew up hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and hunting in the mountains of southwestern Montana. Following college, I joined the military and served in the US Special Operations Command for sixteen...
View ArticleThe “Revolver” Kettlebell Program
The revolver of the old West had six revolving chambers each holding a ballistic round of instant karma. The legendary six-gun or Colt Single Action Army Revolver, was the handgun of choice of many of...
View ArticleImproving Balance for Daily Life and Sport
The year is 2001 and I am training boxers in Bangkok, Thailand. That’s where I meet Pompoi. Unlike his nickname, which means “fatty” in Thai, Pompoi is small, lean, fast, and surprisingly strong for...
View ArticleKettlebell Training for the Fire Service
I first became aware of kettlebell training in 2000 and began using them two years later, when I recognized their ability to make people more powerful and flexible. One of my driving forces was finding...
View ArticleLion’s Roar Kettlebell Snatch
“Hear me Roar!”—House Lannister Would you like to improve your kettlebell snatch technique and make your snatch test easier? The simple tip I’m about to share with you will help you to generate more...
View ArticleMy Successful Training Plan for the SFB
Introduction From the outside, the StrongFirst Bodyweight Certification (SFB) may look like the least “shiny” of the three certification StrongFirst offers, but for many it´s also probably the one they...
View ArticleI Was 21: An Excerpt from A Glimpse in the Rear View
My most vivid workout memories are set against the backdrop of the Muscle Beach Gym of the early 1960s. This famous, beloved relic, once located on the unspoiled shores of Santa Monica, was relocated...
View ArticleEnter the Barbell Deadlift
Why the Barbell? At some point every person who trains for strength should learn to use a barbell. When it comes to heavy lifting, the barbell reigns supreme. Two hands on a knurled bar with a balanced...
View ArticleThe Versatility of Pyramid Training
This workout is likely as old as the pushup itself and I am not sure who created it. Maybe the Aztecs or Egyptians. Who knows? Pythagoras was into triangles and math so maybe the Greeks. Whoever...
View Article“160 Seconds a Day Keep the Doctor Away!”—Burn More Fat and Improve Your...
There is an old Italian proverb that reads “One apple a day keeps the doctor away.” I took the liberty to substitute the apple with 160 seconds. Let me tell you why I did so. The Upsides and the...
View ArticleNever Quit
I am a SFG Level I candidate scheduled to attend the certification in Las Vegas in February 2021. In truth, my goal is to reach the StrongFirst Elite status which means instructor status in all three...
View ArticleOne-arm/One-leg Pushups and the Center of the Universe
The Swing is the Center of the Universe If you have been to a StrongFirst kettlebell certification or course, chances are that you have heard this statement. It doesn’t mean that we only do swings, or...
View ArticleA Minimalist Kettlebell Program for Busy Professionals
I often describe that my personal training career took a fortunate turn in the road when I attended my very first kettlebell level 1 certification back in 2009. I had already been training for a number...
View ArticleThe Goldilocks Kettlebell Protocol
As the COVID-19 quarantine closed gyms and found many of us stuck in small spaces with little equipment, kettlebells suddenly became a hot commodity. When a single piece of equipment gives you the...
View ArticleStop Fearing Heavy Weights
Results are What Matter For decades I have heard about thousands of training related products that claimed to work magic for athletes, oftentimes supported by “abstracts” of research and clinical...
View ArticleSpecial Operations Selection—How to Train for the Stress and Ambiguity of the...
Co-authored by Jonathan Pope Special operations selection courses are not just physically challenging. They’re also incredibly mentally and emotionally stressful. One of the most common ways of...
View Article
