Glute Ham Roller Hamstring Walks

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.

Velocity Based Training Explained: The Science That Makes Athletes Stronger & More Explosive

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.

Front Rack (Barbell) FFE Split Squat

The front rack barbell front foot elevated split squat is one of the most complete single leg exercises you can program — combining deficit range of motion, heavy barbell loading, and a serious trunk and upper back demand. Learn the full setup, front rack options, step-by-step technique, common mistakes, and exactly how to program it for strength or hypertrophy. Whether you’re a powerlifter, a combat sports athlete, or just want stronger legs, this is the split squat variation worth mastering.

Progressive Overload Myths: The Evidence-Based Truth Coaches Need to Know

Progressive overload is more than adding weight to the bar. This guide breaks down seven common progressive overload myths and reveals the six real overload variables — load, volume, density, range of motion, exercise variation, and technique — that drive strength, hypertrophy, conditioning, and mobility progress. Learn how to program progressive overload correctly for beginners, intermediates, advanced lifters, and aging athletes with evidence-based coaching from THIRST Gym.

Band Resisted Cat/Camel

The band-resisted cat-camel is a simple upgrade to the classic cat-camel that builds real thoracic mobility, recruits the serratus and core, and assists you into deeper spinal extension. Learn how to set up, perform, and program this resistance band mobility drill for powerlifters, combat sports athletes, swimmers, golfers, and anyone with a stiff upper back. Brought to you by Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Hatfield Bulgarian Split Squat

The Hatfield Bulgarian split squat combines the safety squat bar with a fixed support to remove balance from the equation and allow maximum lower body loading. Learn proper setup, technique, muscles worked, and how to program this powerful single-leg exercise for both strength and hypertrophy. Whether you’re an athlete or a lifter chasing bigger legs, this variation belongs in your training program.

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

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.

Tall Kneeling Band Pull Apart

The tall kneeling band pull apart is a resistance band exercise that builds upper back strength, rear deltoid development, and postural control by eliminating the compensation patterns that make traditional standing variations ineffective. Learn proper tall kneeling setup, pulling mechanics, and how to program this movement as a warm-up, superset, or high-rep finisher. All you need is a light to moderate resistance band and a commitment to intentional reps.