Strength and conditioning blog focused on giving you the training knowledge you need to succeed. Discover expert insights on Olympic weightlifting, strength training, injury prevention, nutrition, sports, and competition at Cal Strength.
Strengthening the knee and surrounding structures is so important to your lower body health and function! Targeting the muscles and other structures around the knee can help to reduce the risk of injury and pain at the hips, knees, ankles and even feet. Try these three exercises so you can continue running, lifting, football or whatever way you like to move, for many years to come!
In a perfect world, you would be able to train year round as hard as you possibly could and never get hurt but training at the ragged edges of your ability can come at a price. As a result, surgery may be necessary to get you back to baseline or give you another shot at achieving your athletic goals. Here are five strategies you can implement to help you optimize your recovery after surgery.
Protein isn't just a nutrient; it's the fundamental building block of life. Understanding the true power of protein is the first step toward achieving your fitness and health goals. This article explains what protein is, why it's indispensable, and how to tailor your protein intake to your unique objectives. Discover the secrets to optimizing your protein consumption and fueling your body for success.
Have difficulty getting into a good front rack or overhead position? 🤔 Try this partner drill to improve your shoulder mobility!
In this article we break down why ankle mobility is critical to your success as an athlete (and human being) and three exercises that you can implement today to help improve your ankle mobility.
Tired of dealing with lower back pain and stiffness?
You’re not alone. Eight out of 10 people experience lower back pain in their lifetime and for those who train, it can be a debilitating feeling.
In this article we break down our top five exercises that you can start implementing today to help address the underlying causes of lower back pain and stiffness.
Maddison Pannell was the first Cal Strength soldier to compete in the AO Finals Online Competition on December 4th, 2020.
She was just one lift away from making the US Pan American Team but took home PR’s in the Snatch, Clean & Jerk and Total along with some hardware!
We caught up with Maddison to ask her about the experience of that night, what motivates her and what it was like to compete alongside Olympian Morghan King. ENJOY!
How much is poor Bench Press technique costing you? 🤔 It could be way more than you think. In this video, you’ll learn how to Bench Press with proper technique with tips for lifters of all experience levels.
The end of the cycle brought new PR opportunities for our weightlifting team and they didn’t disappoint! WATCH NOW
After a much deserved break following the AO Nationals Online Weightlifting Competition, the California Strength team has their sights set on new goals in 2021.
Maddison, Kelly and Izzy are building towards AO1 in March while Wes, Nathan and Chevy have embarked on our new Road To Tokyo Program.
In this video we’re answering one of the most common questions in Olympic weightlifting... How do you fix Bar Crash in the Clean?
You must train at the ragged edges of your ability -- If you're not missing attempts, you aren't pushing far enough! A lot of missed Jerks but great Snatches and Cleans all around. The highlight of the night was Nathan Damron’s 166kg (366lb) Snatch PR!
The ladies of Cal Strength Jerk off blocks and crush PR's plus heavy back squats from Wes, Chevy and Nathan!
The men of Cal Strength stole the show on Max Out Friday! Highlights include a 174kg Snatch by Wes Kitts, Damron putting up a 362kg Total and Chevy with a huge “training make” Clean & Jerk at 190kg.
The Cal Strength ladies put on a show during their American Open Nationals "tune up" competition at XIOS Strength & Conditioning! Stick around till the end to watch the whole team get a lift in.
This video is from the team's Max Out Friday training session on October 30th, 2020! The team had heavy singles in the Snatch and Clean & Jerk as we finished week three of the E=ep^2 mesocycle. Nathan Damron arrives at the gym for a pre-Nationals training camp and shows us his favorite stretch. Chevy and Izzy win the day with big lifts!
This video is from the team's Max Out Friday training session on October 23rd, 2020! The team had heavy singles in the Snatch and Clean & Jerk as we finished week two of the E=ep^2 mesocycle. Maddison takes advice from an Instagram Coach, Chevy & Maddison have a flex off and Wes and Kelly go big in the Clean & Jerk!
We caught up with Danny Lehr, an accomplished Cal Strength soldier and CEO of Caffeine & Kilos -- a lifestyle brand and coffee company.
The Cal Strength Weightlifting Team started their final cycle before USA Weightlifting Nationals / AO Finals! The E=ep^2 cycle brings a six week opportunity to sharpen the axe and get competition ready, although it will not be without its trials and tribulations. Our first Max Out Friday training session of the cycle wasn’t perfect but showed just how much potential everyone has if we tighten up the loose ends over the coming weeks.
In this video, we break down the SECRET to saving any Split Jerk! Whether you're looking to improve your Clean and Jerk for CrossFit or become more confident and efficient at weightlifting, this video is for you.
Welcome back to Max Out Friday’s at Cal Strength! This was the teams last training session of the 3P Panther cycle. The atmosphere was electric and several lifters had PR performances!
In this video we break down our teaching progressions for how to Clean, the first part of the Clean & Jerk with demonstrations by American Record Holder Wes Kitts.
The E=ep^2 cycle will challenge you more mentally than it will physically but if you dial up your best effort every session, you are guaranteed to set new personal records!
In this video we’re answering the question, where should the bar make contact (with the body) in the Snatch & Clean.
In this video, we’re giving you a license to become a JACKED weightlifter and reasons why bodybuilding and accessory exercises are critical for your long term success. If your weightlifting program doesn’t include accessory exercises that challenge you in a variety of strength training domains, you’re leaving serious gains on the table.
In this video we're sharing THREE of our best tips to help you squat properly which should lead to a PR Back Squat! At the end of this video are three of our favorite lower body accessory exercises you need to be doing for stronger legs… These are non-negotiable!
![Why You Should Work On Your Ankle Mobility [Now]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/553fe2f9e4b0820c42a2edc1/1619540638956-C95MCM4DM87KH629INN8/Web.JPG)
![[VIDEO] The SECRET To Saving Any SPLIT JERK!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/553fe2f9e4b0820c42a2edc1/1603479735379-F1T0DWGWK8R7QHPCT06Z/Save+Any+Jerk+Thumbnail.png)
Protein isn't just a nutrient; it's the fundamental building block of life. Understanding the true power of protein is the first step toward achieving your fitness and health goals. This article explains what protein is, why it's indispensable, and how to tailor your protein intake to your unique objectives. Discover the secrets to optimizing your protein consumption and fueling your body for success.