Kettlebells are a fantastic tool that had a resurgence in the lifting world over the last 20 years, after well over a century of use around the world. They’re versatile and can be used to get stronger, put on size, improve athletic performance, and even develop iron-clad conditioning. Credit: Jacob Lund / Shutterstock The kettlebell
exercise guide
Some lifters hail the classic barbell bench press as the king of the upper body lifts, but its cousin the incline bench press could be a serious contender for the throne. Unjustly frowned upon in favor of the flat version, the incline bench press should be a staple for most lifters. Credit: as-artmedia / Shutterstock
They say, “you gotta row to grow.” And what they’re (almost always) referring to is the big, basic, bent-over barbell row. The barbell row is one of the most challenging exercises you can you implement into your back workouts. Credit: Miljan Zivkovic / Shutterstock The barbell row is often considered one of the most fundamental
Everybody’s keen on boasting about their squat numbers, but many people overlook single-leg work. That’s a pity because unilateral exercises — single-arm or single-leg movements — offer unique benefits such as avoiding overusing the dominant side, isolating and correcting muscle or strength imbalances, improving balance, body awareness and preventing injuries. Credit: MDV Edwards / Shutterstock
“Down the road, in a gym far away, a young man was heard to say, ‘No matter what I do, my legs won’t grow!’ He tried leg extensions, leg curls, leg presses, too. Trying to cheat, these workouts he’d do! From the corner of the gym where the big guys train, through a cloud of
Many lifters want to follow programs that deliver results without wasting time in the gym. One of the most effective ways to achieve that is to train with exercises that work multiple muscles at once. Many exercises can the bill and the simple chin-up is at the top of the list. Credit: Ground Picture /
Got a cable machine? Then you’ve got access to one of the most fundamental exercises to directly target and isolate the triceps. The triceps pushdown, sometimes called a pressdown, is perfectly suited to beginners and experienced lifters alike. Credit: sakkmesterke / Shutterstock The cable’s pulley system puts tension — and lots of it — right
The bench press is seen as the go-to chest exercise by many lifters looking to build a well-rounded set of pecs, but it has some limitations. Most significantly, it’s not actually a “chest” exercise. It’s a “chest, shoulders, and triceps” exercise because it’s a compound (multi-joint) movement and it lacks the ability to effectively target
Back workouts will always require both vertical and horizontal pulling exercises for complete development. While pull-ups and pulldowns are common vertical pulls, one of the most fundamental horizontal pulling exercises is the single-arm dumbbell row. The single-arm dumbbell row is a unilateral (single-side) exercise that builds the strength and size of the latissimus dorsi (large
An exercise’s name doesn’t usually hold too much value beyond summarizing what it is or how it’s done. The bench press has you lying on a bench while pressing. The barbell row has you, well, rowing a barbell. Squat’s gonna squat. But when a specific exercise variation is named after an individual lifter or coach,
There are typically two camps when it comes to ab training. There are those who are purely focused on strengthening their abs to hoist more weight and perform better as an athlete. And then some folks are mainly interested in whittling their middle a la Brad Pitt in Troy. But hear us now: You can
Many gym-goers are well aware of the pull-up, but struggle to perform their first rep. While it may be fairly easy for some, for others, it is a much longer journey that can be shortened by spending time building the strength of the back musculature. This is where the lat pulldown, sometimes called the front
Bigger, stronger arms are usually high on the list of priorities for some lifters, even if they half-whisper it for fear of being labeled “a bodybuilder,” as if there’s anything wrong with training specifically to add muscle. While there are countless varieties of curls to work the biceps with different angles or equipment, most lifters
Glenn Pendlay was one of the leading coaches in American weightlifting — he held a Level 5 accreditation from USA Weightlifting (the highest available) and coached many high-level athletes to medals in national and international competitions. In addition to his lifters’ success on the platform, he’s known for popularizing a strength-building exercise known as the
A simple barbell in a squat rack may not seem like a piece of modern-day technology, but it kinda is. Up until a few decades ago, lifters were either making their own racks by hand from scrap metal and wood, or they were figuring out how to get the bar lifted by any means necessary.
If you plan on being in the gym long-term, you need to avoid beating up your joints. The shoulders, in particular, can be tough to train intensely without excessive wear and tear. Fortunately, the lateral raise can be a very effective way to build the shoulders without attacking the joints. Beyond joint-friendly training, if you
The pull-up is the meat and potatoes of any back workout. It’s one of the few exercises that nearly every experienced lifter agrees is essential for building a foundation of size and strength. You’ll find it performed and praised by bodybuilders, strength athletes, and traditional sports athletes due to its wide benefits. This battle-tested exercise
The classic sit-up is one of the first exercises most people learn to perform. Sometimes on their own at home as an early attempt to get into better shape or in school during gym class where it was less painful than dodgeball and more fun than square dancing. The sit-up remains a time-tested fitness evaluation