Episode
Episode 78: Training Like Strength Champions
- Published
- Dec 25, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 3148
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Summary
Understanding the Strength Sports Landscape Before we explore training methods, it's essential to understand what separates powerlifting from strongman competitions. Powerlifting focuses on three core lifts: the squat, bench press, and deadlift. Athletes have three attempts at each lift, with their best successful attempt counting toward their total. The goal is simple yet brutally challenging: lift the maximum weight possible in these three movements while adhering to strict technical standards. For instance, in the squat, athletes must hit a specific depth (crease of the hip below the top of the knee) and await squat and rack commands. The bench press requires a clear pause on the chest and a full lockout, followed by press and rack commands, while the deadlift demands a smooth lift to lockout with no downward motion until the down command. These stringent rules, enforced by a panel of three judges (who award white or red lights for successful or failed lifts), ensure fairness and standardize performance across various federations such as the IPF, USAPL, or WRPF. Athletes compete within specific weight classes to ensure equitable competition, progressing through local, national, and international stages. Strongman competitions, by contrast, test strength through a diverse array of events that often mimic real-world feats of power. Athletes might flip massive tires, typically weighing 500-1000+ pounds, requiring explosive hip drive and a unique technical approach for multiple repetitions. They might carry atlas stones, ranging from 200-500+ pounds, lifting them from the ground and loading them onto platforms of varying heights, demanding immense grip strength and full-body coordination. Other iconic events include pulling trucks or airplanes with a harness, pressing o…