Note: If you’d like to receive emails with these articles and other information, sign up here.

This article is for the coaches…

It’s not that athletes have nothing to gain from it. It’s just that if you’re an athlete interested in evaluating your coach it should be primarily on two factors — results and enjoyment. If you are getting results and enjoying the process then I would recommend that you stay where you are. If you are not getting results or not enjoying the process then it may be time to reevaluate.

Yes for the coaches…  I have some questions to ask you.

By John Garafano, 16 March 2020

While it may be great to have an expensive power rack with lots of add-ons, various specialty bars, and numerous name-brand machines in your home gym, the fact is that many people have built their elite-level strength on very minimal equipment setup. Try to resist the urge when first putting together a home gym to want to buy ‘everything’ and ‘the best’. Just know that over time, you can build your home gym up while you collect equipment (and pay less since you can buy used or take advantage of yearly sales). If you are a powerlifter, you can get by on this minimal setup:

By Mark Robb 02 February 2019

In the quest for strength, it seems that I (we) sometimes lose sight of the big picture, and the importance of various factors unconsciously shifts, without notice. This may not be an issue for some, but I think that I can safely theorize that anyone that is goal driven, that has numbers in mind, is susceptible to what I’m about to explain. If you’re a competitive athlete, this probably includes you.

By Mike Tuchscherer 19 November 2018

We all want athletes to have the proverbial “perfect technique”.  Some astute coaches even say “THEIR perfect technique” – to emphasize that “perfect” is relative to the individual athlete.  But how do we get there?

Read more…

So I’ve been talking about Emerging Strategies for a while now.  If you’re not sure what that is, you’ll want some background before proceeding.  I suggest this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdGP120e4B0

Naturally, a question to arise from a concept such as ES is something like, “Which is better, ES or a more traditional approach?”  Of course if I’m advocating for an ES model, then that’s my answer. But I also think that it depends on what you mean by “better”.

Read more…

By Mike Tuchscherer 2 April 2018

There are no magic programs. Coaching is about a lot more than writing a good program. Of course writing a good program as part of being a good powerlifting coach especially in an online setting but to think that there is just writing the program is to misunderstand the process and to do a serious disservice to all the clients who put their trust in you. Read more…

 By Mike Tuchscherer 07 March 2018

Many of us treat “what works for you” like a math problem and it’s not.  If I ask you “What is 247*53”, you likely don’t know the answer right off the top of your head.  But with a little calculation, you can pretty easily figure out that the answer is 13091.  Now if I ask you again “what is 247*53”, you don’t need to go through the same steps.  You just remember that the last time the answer worked out to be 13091 and assume it’s the same answer this time.  And as long as you did the math right, that’s a good assumption to make.  It saves you time.

Read more…

Using Block Reviews
By Mike Tuchscherer, 12 September 2017

In my estimation, there is only one good reason to keep a training log – to help you make better training decisions.  That’s it.  Lots of people keep a log just to write down what they did, but never make use of the information.  What’s the point?

Our training log is a free application that ANYONE can use.  And we’re building new tools all the time to help you make better training choices.  One feature that I really love is called the Block Review.

Purpose of the Block Review

We all know that people respond differently to training.  It’s training law – the law of individual differences.  It’s trivially obvious to observe.  So once you’re past the beginning stages the question becomes how can you optimize your training so that it’s producing the best progress it can – FOR YOU.  Unfortunately no one can tell you what it is.  There is no test you can take.  There’s no system that will find it for you.  You need to find it for yourself.  And figuring this out is where the block review proves highly valuable. Read more…

Singles for Assistance Work — Why?
By Mike Tuchscherer, August 8, 2017

Summary points

• All exercises should be placed in a program for a reason.
• If the reason is enhanced by high intensity work (i.e. singles), then it’s worth considering.
• High intensity work will cause your volume to dip, but don’t let it get out of balance. Find the sweet spot.
• There are many reasons not to do singles. Some are contingent on the exercise.  Some are contingent on the lifter.  Be smart.
• Not all tools are appropriate for all times.

Read more…

Wrong but Useful: Central/Peripheral Models
By Mike Tuchscherer, August 1, 2017

Go back and read articles from the early to mid 2000’s about powerlifting training.  Especially if the author is attempting to explain his thinking at a physiological level, you’re likely to come across the term “CNS” – or “Central Nervous System”.  And often it was in the context of “CNS Fatigue” or “CNS burnout”.

Fast forward to the 2010-2013 timeframe and “CNS” more or less left the lexicon of popular programming articles.  And that’s not without it’s reasons.  As the idea of “CNS fatigue” proliferated, too many people took it to be an absolute or factual description of what was going on.  That left many of us, me included, speaking against the abuse of the concept.  Every bad training day is not because “your CNS is fried, bro”. Read more…