I’m a strength coach and a manual therapy student; so when I get the opportunity I like to take my lessons from massage school and apply them at the gym. It’s kind of like how I combine man’s best friend with exercise equipment. (Seriously, get yourself a Fit Bull.) It’s common for strength coaches to...Read More

Unfortunately, the fitness/strength and conditioning/social media industry is a bit skewed–a lot of great coaches don’t get the attention they deserve while others undeservingly bask in praise of relentless fandom. It’s not often that I start a post off with such a digression–especially one with such a distinct topic–but ironically, it’s necessary. The previous paragraph’s digression...Read More

I’m sticking with the theme of short posts with a video included. Check out the video to see how I teach lat tension to those learning to deadlift. Get Stronger, Todd (2755) ShareRead More

During the fall, high-frequency upper-body training wrecked my already football-ravaged shoulders. I ended up with a twinge of impingement syndrome in my right shoulder and an accident while overhead pressing gifted me a minor glenohumeral separation/dislocation/that shit really hurt for a while. To remedy the errors that I made, I backed down my pressing volume, had manual...Read More

I’m not going to turn this into a post about how deadlifting gives you dat booty. We met our quota with those when the first one was published/posted/put on the internet. However, in 1992 Sir Mix A Lot, without conscious effort and through his lyrics, described the deadlift in one curt line. “I’m long, I’m...Read More

If you had walked up to me on the street two years ago and told me that in 2012 I’d be the co-head presenter at two seminars, I’d have looked at you cross. Not because I wouldn’t have believed you, but because I would have been creeped out. Stranger danger isn’t cool and I don’t...Read More

Synthesizing information into something that is usefully directed is a big part of getting better as a coach. Honestly, focusing my brain and avoiding the oh, there’s something shiny effect can be tough for me. It’s my struggle, but I think I’m getting better. I think today’s post is a good example of my progress.  ...Read More

The measure of a good teacher is how well he or she can take complicated topics and narrow them to the point that anyone can understand them. It’s not about looking smart–it’s about being effective. When it comes to coaching cues less is always more. Too bad we can’t say the same for this gem...Read More

I don’t usually do this, but I am going to start this article off with a quote. Here goes, “Strength is like pudding–the proof is in it.” This gem comes to us from none other than the grand master of badassery herself, Kathy “Hot Kath” Traxler. For those of you that don’t know Hot Kath, it’s my mom. She...Read More

Week number two of Awesome Research Thursdays is here! I feel like screaming that from a mountain top, but I live in Pennsylvania and it’s cold in the mountains. I did, however, yell it in my car as I drove to work this morning. Does that make me weird? Absolutely. But Veronica (my car, it’s...Read More

Today I’m going to test drive something here on the blog. Chris and I are cooking up new ideas for a regular blog schedule for 20120 (yep, it’s three weeks away), so I’m going to hit you ladies and gents with a few ideas, take your feedback into account and keep what sticks. Our first...Read More

A couple of the athletes that I train are also required to train at the varsity weight-room of a large, Division 1 university. I won’t name names, but I live in State College, Pennsylvania. This university also has one of the largest, and most reputable kinesiology departments, in the country. It’s amazing how classroom knowledge can...Read More

I get asked to list my top [insert random number here] exercises all the time. I’m also endlessly bombarded with the, ‘if you could only do one exercise for the rest of your life what would it be?’ question. The first question is good. It allows for the explanation of my training philosophy and what...Read More

We all want to achieve something. Some of us want to be stronger and some of us want to lose weight. Either way, how successful we are in pursuing our goals is dependent upon how willing we are to prepare. Any fitness (or life) goal that we have takes specific practice that is preceded by...Read More

A lot of deadlift attempts meet their end at the knees or slightly above. What started off as a hellacious whirl of speed and fury ends in disappointment and a camelback. Next thing you know there’s money missing off your dresser and your daughter’s knocked up. I’ve seen it a hundred times (rest in peace...Read More