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Shredded, Savage, and Dense—Myogenic Tone

by: Josh Bryant Ever wonder why the physiques of pump and pose fluffers have a different look than the old-head lifters that routinely slay the heavy pig iron?Success leaves clues. Look at the physiques of top-level sprinters, whether it’s Ben Johnson or Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. Or, hey, just go to a high-level track meet and watch a…

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Get Huge with Hyperplasia

by: Josh Bryant Hypertrophy is the accepted mechanism of increased mass. Basically, you are born with a certain number of muscle fibers; these can increase in size but not in number. But what if the number of muscle fibers could increase? During the late ’60s and early ’70s, European scientists discovered that the muscle cells…

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5 Proven Ways to Boost Your Bench Press

by Josh Bryant World’s Strongest Man Competitors, gym bros and Chippendales dancer are asked one question when venturing into public, “How much ya bench?” As a powerlifter, the bench press is one of your competition lifts. If you were an inmate in San Quentin in the 1970s, your bench press strength determined your position in…

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Just Released

In elite iron game circles, nothing is more coveted than a big bench press! In high school, the bench press is your bragging right. In the collegiate and professional ranks, athletes use the bench press to build upper body strength and mass. If you are a powerlifter, a great emphasis is placed on the bench…

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Shane Hunt—Strength Strategies

by: Josh Bryant Beginners build strength and muscle at a faster rate than experienced lifters, aka, newbie gains.  Shane Hunt, while just 24 years of age, ain’t no newbie; he has been competing in powerlifting for 10 years.  In February, at the WRPF Ghost Clash, weighing 268, Shane totaled 2160 raw, with a 755 squat, 501…

A man lifting heavy makeshift weights

Safe Execution of Strongman Events

By: Josh Bryant Strongman training is lifting heavy, awkward objects and moving  them from point A to points B – whether that is from the ground to overhead, or from a designated start point to a finish point. Strongman training helps SWAT team physical preparedness, the aging Mrs. Jones carry in grocery bags, the linebacker, and the…

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Olympic Lifts—Fun, not Fundamental

by Josh Bryant Explode for Strength Go to your local “strength and conditioning center” or trendy chain gym and see the poor souls   hitting bastardized cheat curls that, in their warped world, moonlight as power cleans. Even scarier, more ambitious members will hit snatches and then the ambulance hits the gas.  It takes strength coaches with…

A handbook on explosive bench pressing

Bench with Maximum Power

Straight from Julius Maddox’s own coach Josh Bryant, a manual with the info that will blow away your plateaus! In this manual Josh covers a simple concept in expert detail to help you overcome sticking points and bench with maximum power. In addition, the manual includes a 12 Week Program to get you in the strongest shape of your life! What are you waiting for?…

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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…

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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…