The Testify Christmas Chronicle - December 22, 2025
/THIS WEEK'S SUBMISSION
From our video Deadlift Pro Tips (The "Don't Stand Up" Trick) (click the title to watch):
Dennis J
Dont you always have to pull the bar around the knees?
Phil
Solid question, and no, you want the bar to travel in as vertical of a path as possible, so it is the knees' job to get out of the way of the bar as opposed to vice versa.
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ARTICLES & VIDEOS
Your Arms Are Ruining Your Deadlift. Here Is Why. (3 mistakes)
If your deadlift is harder than it should be, your arms might be the reason. Phil covers 3 mistakes lifters make with their arms, cues that lifters often use incorrectly, and one fix to solve the entire problem. Click here to watch.
No Deadlift Jack? THREE Tips for Loading Your Deadlift SUPER Easy
Struggling to load your deadlift? Deadlift jacks can be pricey, so here are three tips to make loading your deadlift super easy without any special equipment. Click here to read.
Blast from the Past: What is a Hang Snatch? | Olympic Weightlifting Technique
What is a hang snatch? How is it different from a power snatch, hang power snatch, or snatch? We cover it all here in about a minute. Click here to watch.
Blast from the Past: 5 Ways You're Ruining Your Bench Press!
Quit making these mistakes when bench pressing! Phil covers 5 common bench press errors as well as how to fix these mistakes. Click here to read.
“GET STRONGER - LIVE BETTER” SHIRTS ARE AVAILABLE!
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Click here to head to the Testify Store.
WHAT'S COMING UP
Reminder: Below are the hours for this week as well as New Year's week (you can also find these on our Location & Hours page). Any days not listed retain their normal hours.
Christmas Week (2025)
Wednesday, 12/24/25: 5:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. (closed in the evening)
Thursday, 12/25/25: Closed
Friday, 12/26/25: 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (closed in the morning)
New Year’s Week (2025-2026)
Wednesday, 12/31/25: 5:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. (closed in the evening)
Thursday, 01/01/26: Closed
Friday, 01/02/26: 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (closed in the morning)
Below is one 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.
Testify Strengthlifting Challenge
April 11, 2025
The annual Testify Strengthlifting Challenge is back, and we invite you to be a part of it! This is a strengthlifting meet, which means the contested lifts will be the squat, press, and deadlift.
Click here to register or for more information.
THIS WEEK’S CONDITIONING
Option 1
Sled
Outdoors:
10 rounds of:
Push sled 100 ft
Pull sled 100 ft (hand over hand)
Indoors:
20 rounds of:
Push sled 50 ft
Pull sled 50 ft (hand over hand)
Compare to 2025.11.17.
Option 2
Bike/row:
4 x 800m
Rest 3 minutes between each round. Score = slowest time.
Compare to 2025.09.29.
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 2025.09.01.
Option 4
5-8 rounds:
50 ft sled push
50 ft sled pull (hand over hand)
Row 1 minute
Rest 1 minute
This can also be done in a group of three where the sledder determines how long the other two people row and rest.
Compare to 2025.09.01.
As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better!
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