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Progressive Overload—
There is No Other Way
By: Josh Bryant When I was 14 years old in 1995, my first powerlifting mentor, Steve Holl (RIP), took a cursory glance around Santa Barbara Gym and Fitness Center. In disgust, Steve squinted his eyes and said, “Look around this gym. The same people lifting the same weights, doing the same exercises, and looking the same…
Put a Little Old in the New School: Forgotten Dumbbell Exercises
By: Josh Bryant Legendary strength coach Al Vermeil says, “You show me the exercise, I will show you what we used to call it.” The two exercises I am going to share have recently made a small resurgence. I am not suggesting you execute these movements; I am not suggesting you avoid them. I am…
Perception is Reality
by: Josh Bryant A picture of Popcorn Sutton’s White Lightning ain’t West “By God” Virginia’s best moonshine, a road map is not a map and menu is not a meal. Regardless, people often confuse their perceptions with facts. When you are donating money to charity, your perception is either: it is an expense or an…
Calm After the Storm
by: Josh Bryant Some people are so uptight, if you stuck a lump of coal up their ass, in two weeks, you’d have a diamond! Think about the Karen that heads up the local HOA, the powerlifter that takes a 1000 mgs of caffeine before a deload workout or the linebacker always over pursuing. These folks are all sympathetic…
Neck Training—When, Why & How
by: Josh Bryant Baptiste Deodati, a long time user of Tactical Shield Training. 1990s oversized sweats can cover up missed leg days. Baggy t-shirts can hide the recent Asian Fusion Buffett Binges, but ain’t no hiding a stack of dimes neck. It’s not just all about the aesthetics of a no-nonsense physique. In tennis, if you…
The Texas Extreme Powerbuilding Program
by: Josh Bryant Get the best of bodybuilding & powerlifting to develop size, symmetry, & strength. Over a decade ago, I co-authored with the legendary, Brian Dobson, the iconic, best-selling, Metroflex Gym Powerbuilding Basics. The powerbuilding principles have stood the test of time. Over time, I have refined the powerbuilding approach by logging thousands of…
Training Adaptations—Fitness Fatigue Model
By: Josh Bryant Meeting of the Minds at an Undisclosed Location As a teenager I remember this 35-year-old bodybuilder we will call Jimbo who lived in his van. This cat was a total disaster and did 70 sets per body part in training; “Two sets for each year” was his mantra and at 14 years…
Derek Thistlewaite—Strength Strategies
by: Josh Bryant Often, strength coaches like using big words, but, unfortunately, they also lift small barbells! These mullets unwaveringly defend their favorite mode of periodization because it worked best on hungover, malnourished, jabroni college kids in a study. This circle jerk stimulates academics in the ivory tower, but won’t cut the mustard in building…
Genetic Engineering: Modifying your genetic destiny
by: Josh Bryant Nature gifts one athlete and he gets splinters in his ass from riding the pine. Another athlete, written off as subpar, is playing on Sundays and riding around in Bentley. Why? A trust fund baby now doesn’t have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of and the storybook…
Strongman Training—Why?
by: Josh Bryant Harry Walker, Green Beret, Executing a Real-World Tire Throw Google “functional training” and you will see exercises that look straight out of a three-ring circus sideshow; at best, these bizarre exercises entertain the easily entertained but often they cause injuries. So, what the hell does functional training really mean? Functional training is…