C.S. Sloan's Integral Strength

An Old-School Powerbuilding Regimen from the Golden Age Powerlifter Hugh Cassidy      The other day, a reader suggested that I write an article on Hugh Cassidy, a legendary powerlifter from the ‘70s.  It reminded me of something I had forgotten.  A few years ago, I had made some notes on Cassidy, with the intent of turning those notes into an article.  After reading the comment, I scoured through several notebooks filled with various ideas—I probably have a dozen or so notebooks crammed full of my thoughts for articles—until I found the page of scribblings I had made on Cassidy.  After reading over what I had written in ‘23, I have no idea why I didn’t write an essay on Cassidy back then.  Perhaps it was too similar to other articles I had written at that time. Usually, when I let something fall to the wayside, that’s a possible reason.  Sometimes, I simply lose interest in an article.  Oh, well.  After reading over my not...

  Partial Rep and Power Rack Training for Added Strength and Power Pointers, Tips, Programs      After some time spent under the bar, a lifter will often hit a wall when it comes to strength gains.  It can happen to any lift or to all of one’s lifts.  Oftentimes, the lifter will try new training programs, additional work, or less work.  Sometimes, they may attempt to alter their nutritional regimens, increasing calories and/or protein, all in a hope to get their strength moving again.  But one of the best techniques for increasing strength once more is the time-tested method of partial reps, often performed in the rack but also with the help of boards or blocks.  In this essay, I want to look at the various ways that partials can be utilized, especially for the three powerlifts, the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift, although it can be used for other lifts, such as overhead movements and even curls.     ...