The 5 Best Tricep Exercises for Size & Strength (Backed by Science)

Coaching, Education, Powerlifting, Update, VideoLeave a comment

Discover the top five science-backed tricep exercises for building maximum strength and size, including the close grip bench press, JM press, overhead cable extension, rope push-down, and board press. Learn how to train all three heads of the tricep — long, lateral, and medial — with proper technique, programming recommendations, and progression strategies. Whether you’re a powerlifter looking to add plates to your bench press or an athlete chasing bigger arms, this complete tricep training guide from THIRST Gym covers everything you need.

2025 Year in Review: Real Talk on Content Growth, Gym Ownership & What’s Next

Education, Podcast, Success, Update, VideoLeave a comment

Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym recaps the 2025 year across YouTube, the THIRST More Podcast, Instagram, and online coaching, sharing real analytics, business challenges, and what is changing heading into 2026. From hitting YouTube monetization and growing to 6,000 subscribers to navigating a gym relocation due to eminent domain, this post covers the full story behind a year of growth and hard lessons for a working strength coach and small gym owner. If you are a strength athlete, powerlifter, wrestler, or coach looking for honest insights from someone in the trenches, this is the recap worth reading.

Best Deadlift Exercises Tier List

Coaching, Education, Powerlifting, Sports Performance, UpdateLeave a comment

Building a bigger deadlift requires strategic selection of assistance exercises that actually transfer to competition performance, not just random supplemental work that looks hard in the gym. This comprehensive tier list ranks the most effective deadlift accessories from elite movements like deficit deadlifts and banded pulls to overrated exercises that waste your training time, giving you a clear roadmap for programming decisions based on movement specificity and actual carryover to pulling strength. Whether you struggle off the floor, at lockout, or simply want to optimize your deadlift programming, understanding which assistance exercises deserve priority in your training will help you break through plateaus and consistently add weight to the bar.

3 Exercises BETTER Than The Paused Deadlift?!

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Discover why traditional paused deadlifts might be limiting your strength gains and learn three superior alternatives that can revolutionize your pulling power. This comprehensive guide explores the chair deadlift, Boris deadlift, and deficit deadlift variations, providing detailed execution tips and programming strategies to help you break through plateaus and optimize your deadlift training. Master these technically sound variations to build explosive strength while maintaining better recovery and position integrity throughout your pulls.