Competing

Should you compete in a powerlifting meet?

How do you know you are ready to do a powerlifting meet? The answer might be sooner than you think. Read more to find out why.

Powerlifting and Weight Loss

Opinion

Starting Powerlifting in your 30’s

Strength peaks well into the late 30's and early 40's, so starting powerlifting in your 30's is pretty common. Learn pros and cons here.

Training

The Best Core Exercises for Powerlifters

Learn why core work improves squat and deadlift technique and what you can do to improve core strength.

Opinion

How does the body benefit from powerlifting?

Strength and resistance training, especially Powerlifting, promotes increased bone density and positive mental health. Find out more here.

Opinion

Is Starting Strength the Best Program for Beginners?

Starting Strength works, but there are better methods that get faster results. Why? How? Find the answers here!

Opinion

Do You Need Squat Shoes for Squatting?

Squat shoes aren't going to make or break your weightlifting career. But they do have benefits you should consider if you compete.

Training

Stance Width in Powerlifting

Let’s dive into what a correct stance width should look like for most powerlifters as well as the benefits and drawbacks of certain stances.

Competing

Why isn't overhead press considered powerlifting?

Powerlifters know OHP isn't part of the game. But why not? We'll have to go back in time to find out.

Training

The Importance of Bracing in Powerlifting 

Bracing helps reduce the risk of spinal injury under heavy loads, but many powerlifters don't realize it. Here's why it matters.

Opinion

Why I Started Powerlifting

When I started, I could bench about 95lbs for reps. And I was PROUD. Things have changed a lot since then, and here's the story about how.

Training

Good Mornings: What, Why, and How

Powerlifters can't avoid putting stress on their backs, so strengthening the erectors is vital. That's where Good Mornings come in.

Training

Level up your Lifting with the Duffalo Bar Bench 

The Duffalo bar is a sure-fire way to get more pec engagement on bench press. Let's go over the benefits of it and how you can use it.

Training

Exploring The Swiss Bar Bench 

The swiss bar can be immensely helpful if used appropriately in conjunction with good programming. Here's how to use it to your advantage.

Training

The Importance of Shoulder Work for Powerlifters

Having a balanced approach to shoulder training will help keep integrity in the joint. That's a big deal for your bench. Here's why.

Training

Methods and Benefits of a Tempo Bench

Dropping the bar fast doesn't mean it'll go up fast. Here's how tempo bench teaches you control by slowing down the pace.

Training

Why A Hook Grip is Superior for Deadlifts

Hook grip significantly reduces the risk of getting too much bicep strain on deadlift, and here's everything you need to know about it.

Opinion

How to Choose a Powerlifting Coach

Choosing a coach is no easy matter. There's a lot that goes into it. How can you tell? What questions do you ask? Find the answers here.

Opinion

When to Change Your Powerlifting Coach

Switching powerlifting coaches is a decision you shouldn't take lightly, but there are plenty of good reasons to do it. Let's look at a few.

Training

Why “Bending the Bar” Might Not Be The Best Cue

I bet you've heard “bending the bar” more times than you can count. But does it really deserve to be a staple?

Training

Finding the right grip width on bench

The width of your grip has huge implications for your bench press performance. How do you find the right one? Let's find out.

Training

How to Spot for Powerlifting

How many times have you had to ask your spotter how much they helped on a bench? Probably more than once.

Training

High bar vs Low bar Squats

Both high bar and low bar have their places on your powerlifting program, but what's the difference between the two? Read more to find out.

Competing

Possible Reasons for Red Lights in Powerlifting

Learn the most common reasons for red lights in squat, bench press, and deadlifts so you can prepare yourself to for competition!

Training

The Benefits of Deficit Deadlifts

Deficit deadlifts can help address weakness in the small range of motion at the bottom portion of a deadlift. Keep reading to learn more!

Training

Leg Drive: The Unsung Hero of a Great Bench

Proper leg drive helps stabilize your core and ensures maximum strength potential on bench press. This article shows you exactly how.

Training

Pause Squat: A Way to Add Challenge and Improve Technique 

For lifters unable to maintain tension in the hole, the pause squat is an outstanding accessory for addressing sticking points.

Training

Sumo Slack Pull Explained

Pulling slack on sumo forces you to keep optimal form from the beginning, opening the door to heavier max weights.

Training

The Benefits of Paused Deadlifts

Paused deadlifts introduce a lot of challenge to the deadlift movement without changing the bar path, making them great for technique work.

Training

How to Find the Perfect Bench Rack Height

Finding the right rack height is essential to proper joint stacking on bench for powerlifters. So what's the perfect height?

Training

Understanding Conventional Slack Pull

Pulling the slack out of the bar is essential to a well-executed conventional deadlift. But how do you pull the “slack” out of the bar?

Training

The Ultimate Guide to Split Squats

Learn everything you need to know in this ultimate guide on Bulgarian split squats, the best single leg squat variation for powerlifters.

Training

No, Powerlifters, You Can’t Just Max Out Every Day

Please, please, please stop maxing out every session. It's bad for your long-term growth, and it might even stop it completely.

Training

Romanian Deadlifts: The Most Overpowered Deadlift Variation

Romanian Deadlifts aren't the only deadlift accessory, but they're definitely the best. Read this article to find out why.

Training

Best Dumbbell Tricep Exercises for a Bigger Bench

Big triceps build bigger benches. Find out what the best tricep exercises are and how to program them in your training plan.

Training

Pin Press: A Cure for Weak Chest Drive?

‍This underrated bench press variation might be the key to finally breaking through your plateau

Training

Coach Sebastian's Ultimate Guide to Sumo Deadlifts

Coach Sebastian walks us through sumo deadlift technique for beginners and helps you decide if sumo deadlifting is right for you.

Opinion

Accessory Review: Lat Pulldowns

The lat pulldown is an absolute staple back accessory, and for good reason. Let's take a close look lat pulldowns and what makes them work.

Opinion

Is a Parallel Squat ALWAYS the Best Squat?

Are you in that 1% of people who have a good reason to not squat to depth? Probably not. Read more to find out!

Training

Hatfield Squat Technique, Uses, and Benefits

By allowing you to use a ton of weight in a new and unconventional way, the Hatfield squat has its benefits. But is it right for you?

Opinion

Battle Rope Training: Useful tool? Or the next fitness fad?

Battle ropes aren't exactly a powerlifting favorite, but they're far from useless. Learn more about them in this guide.

Opinion

5 Reasons Why We Should Abolish Smith Machines

‍The day SoCal Powerlifting gets a smith machine is the day I quit. Here's 5 reasons why.

Opinion

Is the Leg Press a Suitable Replacement for the Squat?

True, nothing beats the squat for competitive powerlifters. But if all you’re trying to do is build up some muscle, do you really need it?

Training

Why We (Almost) Always Recommend Pin Squats over Box Squats

I hate these things, and 9/10 lifters should never be doing them at all. Debate me.

Opinion

The Powerlifting Mentality

Powerlifting opened the door to consistent, short-term victories. Every week, I’d be a little stronger, a little better, a little happier.

Training

How and Why to Wear a Weightlifting Belt

Get all your questions answered about lifting belts, why they're used, and when to use them.

Training

Mobility for Powerlifters: Everything You Need To Know

So how do you get the mobility required for powerlifting? The answer might involve a lot less foam-rolling than you think.

Training

Back Arch in Bench Press: Yes, It's Safe. Stop Asking.

If you arch your back on the bench press, then you’re a cheater and should be banned from powerlifting. End of article.

Opinion

Is Bench Press Enough for Chest?

Learn about volume and intensity and how both of these impact whether you're benching too much or too little.

Competing

How Do Powerlifting Meets Work?

Your first powerlifting meet can be one of the best experiences of your career. Here’s what to expect on meet day.

Training

Floor Press Technique and How It's Used in Powerlifting

This post goes over how, when, and why we prescribe the Floor Press in our clients’ programs and how it helps powerlifters bench more.

Opinion

How Often Should a Powerlifter Train?

How many days a week should powerlifters train? If you Google around, most coaches will say “3-4 times per week.” What's the truth?

Training

The Importance of a Deload

From the simplest perspective possible, we must admit that we simply cannot add weight to the bar every single week.

Training

Goals of a Good Warm-Up Routine

The goals that you should be looking for that will lead to the right Warm-Up routine for YOU.

Training

Why Hypertrophy Matters for Powerlifters

Why and how powerlifters should use hypertrophy training throughout their annual training cycle.

Training

The Benefits of Using RPE/RIR in Training

Using RPE/RIR in training allows the athlete to auto-regulate the load based on how they feel that day.

Opinion

Picking Accessories with a Purpose

Have you ever looked at your program and wondered why you’re doing the accessory work that you’re doing?

Opinion

“How Much Should I Lift?” Here’s How To Find Out

Template programs don't take your lifestyle into account, and therefore, they can fail in a multitude of ways. How do you get around that?

Opinion

The Importance of Filming Your Lifts

Filming your lifts can be a controversial topic. However, the truth of the matter is that it is essential to truly measuring progress.