April 28, 2025
Pincer Edition
On Starting Strength
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Tariffs, Trade, and Tension –
Karl Denninger returns to the podcast to discuss the costs and benefits of current and past economic actions and their ramifications. -
Cueing vs. Instruction vs. Yelling by Steve Ross –
Walk into most commercial gyms and you’re likely to see a trainer standing next to their client, often with their phone in hand, shouting things like, “C’mon, 3 more!” or “You got this!” The energy is… -
How to Make a Whiskey Cocktail –
Rip shows you how to make a delicious drink with just two ingredients, a whiskey cocktail. -
The Most Important Lift of My Life, Or How To Answer the Question “Strong Enough?” by Tom Bailey –
I spend a lot of time, perhaps way too much time, attempting to answer the important question posed by Coach Rippetoe: Am I strong enough? Most 52-year-old men such as myself… -
Five Important Things by Jim Steel –
Forty-one years ago, I lifted my first weights on a Universal machine in Mr. Mcclung’s class at Buck Lodge Junior High School. I was a big kid but weak, and lifting… - Weekend Archives:
Critical Technique Elements – Part 1: The Squat by Andrew Lewis –
Barbell training is comprised entirely of natural human movement. This means that the exercises used are how human physiology and anatomy are supposed to be used. The rotator cuff is… - Weekend Archives:
A New Definition for Strength Training by Mark Rippetoe –
What exactly is “strength training”? This is a legitimate question, because the internet seems to think that anything more strenuous than billiards can be referred to as Strength Training…
In the Trenches
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Best of the Week
Tom Bailey: Are You Strong Enough?
TommyGun
Rip, glad you enjoy this article. It was written with gratitude to you, for what I learned from you about the importance of strength. The things I learned from the book and the training program continue to benefit me and my loved ones in many ways.
Time passes on since I wrote that article…my Dad passed (all good) and I held his hand as he drew his laugh breath, now my kids are in college, and I am still training, or at least attempting to be consistent. (and yes, both kids are nursing majors – an academically demanding major with practical application).
I can still go toe to toe with my 20 year old son in a physical game of one on one basketball, and I sure as hell can kick the ass of my daughter’s boyfriend.
Thanks Rip. I really need to get down there soon for a seminar.
JJ23
Tom, thanks for sharing this wonderful story.
Your elevator rides remind me of why I started training. The Mrs. – in a time shortly after the birth of our oldest and in a state of likely emotional imbalance stated “someday we’ll put him down and never pick him up again” . Being naturally defiant, I said ” oh yah?”.
Then I found starting strength. We now do “hang out” every night before bath, which is the same as elevator.
Your story about your dad is touching and equally important, your efforts are working to ensure your kids won’t be getting a similar call until you’re much older. I call that a win.
Jason Donaldson
I’m glad to see the repost – I love this one, Tom. Thanks for writing it. I know you say it’s all good, but still, I’m sorry for your loss. I’m glad you got to share these things with your dad, and to be there for him, in life and at its end.
My wife and I met somewhat late in life, and so started on kids late. Being able to play effectively with increasingly bigger boys is a wonderful thing.
My father-in-law has been declining for some time with dementia, as well as diabetes and other health issues. A couple years ago, we were traveling to a family member’s wedding, when we stopped at a gas station/fireworks store for a pit stop. Dad had no walker with him, and it took over an hour to get him across the store, into the bathroom, and back, because he was suffering a bout of weakness, and couldn’t stand or walk on his own. That was one of my biggest “strong for someone else” events so far, as no one else there, in the family or the staff of the store were strong enough to support him and help him, but thankfully, I was. I often tell myself in the gym that this rep is the most important thing in the world, and that’s good mental training, because, as your piece shows, sometimes it really will be.
It is important for men to rage against the dying of the light.
Maybach
When people ask me about how strong they need to be, I’ve started replacing multiples of their bodyweight with multiples of their loved one’s bodyweights. Those are the ones that are going to come up.
If you’re a relatively able bodied man, be able to press your girlfriend and your mom.
Best of the Forum
Microloading
Sstrpls
Hi Rip, If you can make your own fragmental plates of whatever weight, which would be the lightest weight, beyond which there would be no point? Consider the weakest person you would ever train.
Mark Rippetoe
Depends on who you’re training. Old women need 0.5lb jumps, you need 2lb jumps.
Sstrpls
I feel like an old woman and certainly lift like one, so I’m covered, thanks.
Jason Donaldson
One detail to keep on mind: Make sure you’re lifting with the same plates and bar (and collars, or at least collar type) each time, to make this work. Variances on equipment can easily exceed small jumps, so lifting at home or at least being able to mark and reuse a gym’s equipment will be necessary.
Credit : Source Post
