The DEADLINE for submitting Tactical Strength Challenge results to 70sBig.com is TONIGHT. After tonight, this post will be closed and Antigen will compile the results. Thanks to those who submitted their scores.

Post your Name, Body Weight, Division, Max Deadlift, # of pull-ups, and # of KB snatches.

Results will be compiled, and rankings will be produced. Enjoy.

Barbell lifting is an interesting thing. Everyone here may not agree on what it means to “get good” at it. If a guy who walks in off the street can pull 600 pounds, does that mean he’s good at lifting? If a different guy has to put the work in to squat around 350 for reps, yet he’s done it with patience, persistence, and pretty good technique, does that mean he is worse since he is almost half as strong as the first guy?

Barbell lifting is a process. Whatever genetic ability a person has, what they do with it is important. The process is a collection of doing things right each workout as well as over time — simplified to technique and programming respectively. The problem, especially for a new trainee, is knowing what is “right”. Sources are varied across the internet to include bodybuilding, powerlifting, weightlifting, powerbuilding, DoggCrapp, MadCow, Lance Uppercut, Rock Strongbow, and Rusty Trombone. The good news is that the majority of these variations of programs (or frightening sexual techniques) are all derived from simplicity.

Athenaeus gave the first lesson of simple strength training by creating the myth of Milo of Croton. Milo merely lifted a little more today than he did yesterday; small, yet consistent increments were how his strength were developed. Nowadays we use barbells instead of farm animals (the desire for “same day cow” has grown) and we know that squatting, pressing, benching, and deadlift are how we establish strength and muscularity. We can make similar consistent process by lifting a bit more each time we lift. Most new trainees, including the skinny and weak ones, don’t understand that it’s an accumulation of strength work over time that makes people strong, not trying to increase the load as quickly as possible in a matter of months. Most soft tissue injuries are associated with pushing too much too soon. Remember that since Milo’s bull increased in small increments of weight each day, he never overreached. The bull didn’t increase 20 pounds suddenly, and Milo didn’t have to reset by removing the testicles (there is no correlation between lack of testicles and resetting, stay on task, sir).

Additionally, Milo’s programming wasn’t complicated. He just moved his future meal around and wrestled (six time Olympian and more). Programming with barbells doesn’t have to get complicated…in the beginning. But this is the point. If you are new to lifting (have done it less than a year or two), worrying about program is a waste of your time since you don’t require complicated program to have success. Dan John is excellent at creating simple strength and/or conditioning programs; he is your friend. Maintain simplicity over time and strength and muscularity will develop.

Here is a simple guideline of barbell lifts to establish a base of strength and muscularity.

– Squat 2x/week
– Deadlift 1x/week
– Press and Bench 1 or 2x/week each
– Chin-ups and pull-ups 2x/week

By virtue of doing these things every week over time, you will grow stronger. “Strong” doesn’t indicate a load on the bar, it more so indicates the structure and capability of your body. Beginners won’t benefit from hitting a maximal set of deadlift before their structures have developed to handle such an endeavor (QED). Instead, consistent and patient increases over time will lay the foundation. It isn’t complicated; don’t analyze it to death. If the body or structures are feeling fatigued and tired, it’s painfully logical to reduce the workout or rest. In a beginner, halving their previous workout will still give them stimulation to continue the “accumulated workload concept”, yet not cause as much stress.

There is far too much over analysis in programming, especially for beginners. Keep it simple and consistent and ensure the body is fresh for each workout. I promise the strength will come. In Part 2 I will discuss how lifters over analyze their technique.

I want to share a video with all of you. It’s something that has really moved me. This video comes from the footage from Restrepo, the movie about the Second Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (airborne) of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and their fifteen month deployment to the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan. It specifically focuses on Sal Giunta’s actions that earned him the Medal of Honor, the most prestigious American award to a member of the military.

Sal put his life on the line for his friends to earn the medal, yet he considers his actions average and equal to that of his entire platoon. The story itself is emotional, yet it’s his attitude that inspires me. In a world of narcissists, Sal is painfully humble. If you don’t watch the whole video, Sal is asked what went through his head when he was up for the Medal of Honor. His response begins at 11:48. Uncommon courage became a common occurrence for Sal and his friends.

I also want to draw your attention to Major Kearney (a Captain during the deployment) in this video. Major Kearney exhibits a tenacious, controlled rage towards his enemy. At 4:32 he says, “I made the decision, being the commander on the ground, that I wanted to go into Landigal and get our damn weapons back and show these people that we aren’t gonna give up…I don’t want them to have a war trophy…Hell no, I’m getting that stuff. It’s not theirs it’s mine.” Decisive. Tough. Determined. Major Kearney, Sal Giunta, and plenty other courageous military members are 70’s Big.

It’s almost embarrassing to sit here and compare these guys with 70sBig.com. Instead I want you to reflect on this video because you can learn just as much from these men as you can from Kazmaier, Pisarenko, and Konstantinovs. When you sit in the gym or at home and feel sorry for yourself, remember the story of Sal, and remember how Major Kearney never questioned his decision to kick ass. Remember these stories when you feel defeated, because you’re only defeated if you let yourself be.

Things came up; quick post today. Hopefully your training went well this week. Let us know in the comments, and be sure to note your PR’s!

Additionally, here are some things we can discuss throughout the weekend:

Are you bothered by steroid use?

What’s your favorite meal you’ve had in March?

What’s the most 70’s Big book? Movie? Song?

I don’t know Spencer, but he seems like a happenin’ guy. I like his reaction to hitting 197kg; the slow six shooters. Then he hits 200kg. And he’s 19 years old.


I’ve never met Donny Shankle, but I’ve heard that he’s, uh, unique. Here’s a vid of him talking about hand care:


I actually know Chris and we’ve used speed squats (AKA dynamic effort) with a lot of success in Chris’ training. Here is a video from about a month ago — he’s doing doubles on the minute every minute for ten minutes at 385 (I watched him do around 400 the other day when we were in San Antonio). The focus is on a ferocious bounce. Technique is secondary to getting the sharpest bounce and fastest ascent possible: