The glute ham roller reverse plank walk is a dynamic plank variation that builds anti-extension core strength, serratus anterior activation, and shoulder stability. Learn how to set it up, coach it, avoid common mistakes, and program it for time or distance.
The double kettlebell clean to push jerk is a full-body power exercise that builds triple extension, explosive hip drive, and overhead stability with just two kettlebells. Learn proper clean and push jerk technique, how it differs from the push press, how heavy to go, and how to program it for strength, power, and conditioning.
The tall kneeling single arm high band row with opposite reach builds pelvic control, rib cage motion, and upper back strength using nothing but a resistance band. Learn the setup, coaching cues, common mistakes, and programming for this beginner-friendly positional exercise. A complete guide from Brandon Smitley at THIRST Gym in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Learn how to perform the glute ham roller jackknife, an underrated anti-extension core exercise that combines plank-style bracing with trunk and hip flexion to target the lower abs and hip flexors. Strength coach Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym breaks down the setup, technique, common mistakes, progressions, and programming so you can build a stronger, more controlled midsection. Ideal for wrestlers, powerlifters, and stiff athletes who need more flexion in their training.
The glute ham roller hamstring walk is a concentric-only finisher that torches the hamstrings while doubling as prehab and injury-prevention work. Because it emphasizes knee flexion without heavy eccentric loading, it’s one of the few hamstring exercises you can program in-season without adding soreness. Learn how to set it up, coach it, load it, and program it for athletes in any sport.
The glute ham roller lateral lunge is a frontal plane exercise that builds adductor strength, hip mobility, and single-leg stability all at once. Learn how to perform it, the key coaching cues, common mistakes, and how to program it for wrestlers, powerlifters, and any athlete who needs stronger, more mobile hips. A simple, scalable way to train lateral movement and change of direction.
Does squatting past 90 degrees really wreck your knees? We break down Joel Seedman’s 90-degree rule and chaos training against the peer-reviewed research on range of motion, instability, and joint health. Learn how fitness pseudoscience gets sold to coaches and clients — and the evidence-based principles that actually build strong, resilient athletes.
Does lifting weights make you slow? It’s one of the most damaging myths in sports. Strength training doesn’t kill speed — weakness does. Learn what the research says about strength and speed, the force-velocity curve, and how to build a program that makes athletes stronger and faster.
Velocity based training (VBT) replaces guesswork-heavy percentages with real-time bar speed data, letting the load-velocity relationship tell you exactly how hard to train on any given day. In this complete guide, strength coach Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym breaks down autoregulation, velocity loss thresholds, and rate of force development—and shows how athletes, powerlifters, and everyday lifters can use VBT to train smarter and get genuinely stronger.
The seated weighted vertical jump is a concentric-only power exercise that develops explosive starting strength and rate of force development by eliminating the stretch-shortening cycle. In this guide, strength coach Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym breaks down proper setup, load selection, programming, and sport-specific applications for wrestlers, powerlifters, and team-sport athletes. Learn who should use this advanced jump variation and how to program it for a more explosive first step.