We analyzed and rated all the best deadlift bars in 20 quality categories and sorted them by price and intended use. The bar that surprised everyone is...| Strong Home Gym
“Auxiliary exercises are not just for show—they’re for building the strength you can’t see.”—Louie Simmons The SFL StrongFirst Barbell Instructor Certification is a rigorous test of strength, technique, and resilience, demanding mastery of fundamental barbell lifts: the back squat, bench press, military press, and deadlift. To earn the SFL Certification, candidates must demonstrate impeccable form under heavy loads while meeting strict performance standards.| StrongFirst
The inspiration behind Italian Volume Training (IVT) was initially sparked by the legendary German Volume Training (GVT), a system made famous by Charles Poliquin in the 1990s, though originally developed by Rolf Feser for the West German national weightlifting team in the 1970s. GVT typically consisted of 10 sets of 10 repetitions at approximately 60% of 1RM (one rep max), performed with short rest periods and aimed at maximizing muscle hypertrophy through sheer volume and density.| StrongFirst
“Could you outline a simple and effective barbell strength training template?” Enter the 3 to 5 Method. I codified it a quarter of a century ago in response to the same question from an instructor at a law enforcement agency I was consulting: 3-5 exercises 3-5 sets 3-5 reps 3-5 minutes of rest between sets […] The post The 3-5 Method Revisited appeared first on StrongFirst.| StrongFirst
I have always wanted to run a marathon but never wanted to commit to the traditional training required. I love strength training and believe there is much one can achieve by using it intelligently. As a firefighter, I have found that no training prepares me better for the job than strength training in all its forms. One morning at the fire station, I shared that I had created a program called the “Iron Marathon,” where, at the end of six months, I would complete the following to demonstra...| StrongFirst
As a gym owner and certified PT, I compared 101 of the best Olympic barbells. We ran each one against 18 criteria to find the best barbell in 2025...| Strong Home Gym
Based just outside Belfast, I’m a busy husband, dad to two boys, and a 20-year shift lab worker (and still counting—until my lottery numbers come up). Shifts can put a lot of demands on an individual’s time and energy and may limit training time, but the benefits of training, despite these challenges, are numerous for health and wellbeing. Striking the right balance, however, is key.| StrongFirst
I usually say, “I’ve never gotten to see Game of Thrones,” to highlight how busy my life is. For the past nineteen years, I’ve worked full-time in Emergency Services, doing shift work. Additionally, I’ve owned and operated Access Health and Fitness in Dublin with employees for twelve years. I’m also married with three level-headed, non-stress inducing teenagers (yeah right). Add to that two dogs, twelve hens, and a partridge in a pear tree—this is how I generally start my therap...| StrongFirst
Years ago, after a Plan Strong™ seminar, I had a chance to ask Pavel a question.Me: “What do you think the biggest issue is in the fitness industry?”Pavel: “I don’t have enough time to answer that question, but I will tell you that there is far too much entertainment.”| StrongFirst
My journey to StrongFirst started with questions that were always on my mind, “What is strength? What does it mean to be strong?”| StrongFirst
StrongFirst is built upon universal strength principles that are applied to the three modalities we teach: kettlebell, barbell, and bodyweight. Although our focus is on these specific modalities, our principles can be applied to any training tool. StrongFirst principles translate complicated, scientific methods into simple, applicable programs that can be immediately applied to training. Our programming not only represents these principles, but also respects them. This respect is one of the m...| StrongFirst