C.S. Sloan's Integral Strength

On Striving to do Fewer Things Better      In my recent Go Heavy or Go Home essay, I discussed Pavel Tsatsouline’s “7 rules of Russian training.”  The last of the rules is “You must strive to do fewer things better.”  In this essay, we will look at the importance of this rule and some various training strategies to accomplish it.      I often write about the different reasons that lifters don’t get the results out of their training that they’re looking for.  Not using the right movements, following so-called bro-split routines that are also coupled with too many machine and cable exercises, along with jumping from program-to-program are just a few of the workout ideas that I’m apt to rail against.  For these reasons and some others, there are a lot of average gym-goers—even ones who have been “training” for years on end—who don’t look like they lift.      The best programs often involve doing...

UPDATE: This book is now available for purchase .  Go to the My Books link below for all of the details!  I have a new book coming soon.  It's titled "The Strongest Shall Always Survive: Lifting Lessons from an Iron Legend."  If you haven't guessed already, based on the title, it's on the training of Bill Starr.  It includes all of the H-L-M essays that I originally wrote for the blog, though they have all been revamped with new material, along with some never-before-published chapters.  Here is the tentative cover: Whether you're a long-time fan of Starr or this is your 1st time hearing of him, I think you will find plenty of great workouts, training ideas, tips, and strategies for getting bigger, stronger, and more athletic.  Outside of owning Starr's original book "The Strongest Shall Survive: Strength Training for Football," it will be the best book available for understanding Starr's methods.  (Yes, I'm aware that I might be a bit b...

 Before we get started here, sorry for the delay in posts.  I have had some "personal issues" that have kept me away from writing and was on vacation all of last week.  However, I hope the following article - which I have been working on for the last few days - will more than make up for it.  Also, please look for regular posts the remainder of the month (and the year).  With that out of the way... An East-Meets-West Powerlifting Program for Out-of-this-World Strength Gains Here I am pulling over 500 pounds over twenty years ago. My Uncle Kirk - who can still deadlift 400 pounds at 74 years young - is in the red singlet in the background shouting me on.       The following program is one that I have been experimenting with for a few weeks.  So far, the results have been quite good—good enough that I decided it was time to write an article about it.  Typically I don’t write about a powerlifting program until I’ve had longer to ...