Testify Journal - August 26, 2024

THIS WEEK'S SUBMISSION

From our video Starting Strength Squat Looks HORRIFYING, Here's Why (click the title to watch):

EatMeatandLiftWeights
What I find horrifying, even more than death, is to end up weak, frail and dependent on others for basic needs when I am older. I am a 61 yo woman and love lifting heavy, I will never give it up, it's a game changer.

Phil
That's fantastic that you love lifting heavy, and absolutely - it's a game changer.


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ARTICLES & VIDEOS

Shoes, Wraps, Belts, and more...STOP Making These MISTAKES With Your Lifting Gear - Part 2
You're making some mistakes with your lifting gear, and you don't even know it. In Part 2 of this series, we cover 7 more errors (and how to fix them) that lifters make with their equipment. Click here to watch.

 

What is a Hang Power Snatch? | Olympic Weightlifting Technique
What is a hang power snatch? How is it different from a snatch, power snatch, or hang snatch? Phil covers it all here in this brief article. Click here to read.

 

Blast from the Past: FIX Your Press in less than TWO MINUTES! | Get Your Focal Point Right
Is your focal point - or lack thereof - destroying your press? In this video - our sixth in the series of Saturday Shorts on fixing the press - we quickly discuss and demonstrate how to solve this problem. Click here to watch.

 

Blast from the Past: The Deadlift: You're Doing This Wrong - Part 6
Stop yanking or jerking the bar off the floor. It's not efficient, and it won't help you when it gets heavy. In the 6th article in our series on fixing the deadlift, Phil helps you identify and fix this problem. Click here to read.


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WHAT'S COMING UP

Congratulations to everyone who competed at this past Friday's Deadapalooza and thank you so much to everyone who helped out! Judges, loaders, table officials, those who helped set up and tear down - you all were great, and we couldn't have wonderful events like this without you!

Reminder: We will be closed for training on Monday, 09/02/24, in observance of Labor Day.

Below are a few of our upcoming events, and you can find out what else is on the calendar by heading to our events page at www.testifysc.com/events.

Minneapolis, MN: Starting Strength Squat & Deadlift Camp

  • August 31, 2024

  • Spend the day learning the theory and practice of the low bar back squat and the deadlift.

  • Participants will spend lots of time on the platform receiving coaching and instruction on the squat and deadlift in a small group setting. We will also have a lecture and discussion on programming and cover how to identify and correct common technical problems.

  • Click here to register or for more information.

Starting Strength Self-Sufficient Lifter Camp

  • September 28, 2024

  • Spend the day learning the Squat, Press, and Deadlift and how to self-evaluate your lifts while training in your garage or commercial gym without a coach.

  • Click here to register or for more information.

Benching Bonanza! The Annual Testify Bench Press Jubilee

  • November 22, 2024

  • Benching Bonanza is a strength meet wherein the only contested lift is - you guessed it - the bench press. There will be one bar, and the meet will be conducted in a "rising bar" format, so the weight on the bar only goes up! It'll be a ton of fun, so come on out!

  • Click here to register or for more information.


THIS WEEK’S CONDITIONING

Option 1
“Prowler Base+1”
1. Load up a manageable weight.
2. Sprint 40m at 85% intensity.
3. Rest 30 sec.
4. Repeat 5-15 times.

Courtesy of “Death by Prowler” (on Starting Strength).

Compare to 2024.06.24.

Option 2
Bike/row:
4 x 3 minutes

Rest 3 minutes between each round. Score = lowest distance.

Compare to 2024.06.03.

Option 3
Outdoors:
5-10 rounds:
10 sledgehammer strikes (5R, 5L)
50 yd farmer carry (25 yd down-back)
Rest 1 minute

Indoors:
5-10 rounds:
10 sledgehammer strikes (5R, 5L)
100 ft farmer carry (50 ft down-back)
Rest 1 minute

Compare to 2024.05.06.

Option 4
1. 5 yoke carries @ 30 yd (15 yd downback) – work up to heaviest carry
2. 5 rounds of 5 reps on the axle “clean and press away” – work up to heavy set of 5

Compare to 2024.05.06.


As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better!