Craig Marker
Breaking Muscle
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Past articles by Craig:
When Too Much Choice Is Bad for Your Training
Research indicates having too much choice has negative consequences that may interfere with your training. → Read More
Train Your Body to Love Holding Heavy Weights Overhead
The waiter’s walk might be one of your best tools to build shoulder stability and strength. → Read More
Back to Basics: How to Perform the Kettlebell Swing
The kettlebell swing is a fundamental skill that is great for beginner to advanced athletes. It has almost magical properties, in that it increases strength in many domains. Part of this “what the hell effect” is related to reversing the momentum of the kettlebell. → Read More
Movement Medicine: Breaking Down the Turkish Get Up
“Everyone loves the Turkish get up. Except me. But they are so darn good for me I do them anyway. I do 20 per week usually with my snatch weight bell but sometimes just with a shoe… the Turkish get up is the cod liver oil of exercise lifts.” Gary Music, StrongFirst Team Leader He’s right. → Read More
Waves of Strength: Soviet-Style Periodization
Get strong, stay strong, and keep getting stronger by decoupling volume and intensity. → Read More
The Hybrid Power Conditioning Program
The key to superior work capacity is simple conditioning, not continuous high intensity work. → Read More
Movement Medicine: Breaking Down the Turkish Get Up
Understanding the TGU is the first step to not hating them. → Read More
The Case for Specialized Glute Training
Strength coaches like complex movements that recruit multiple muscle groups. These movements are closer to athletic skills and may transfer to the playing field better than isolation exercises. → Read More
Has CrossFit Become Closed to New Ideas?
Recently, some gym owners have dropped their CrossFit affiliation and evolved into different facilities. Part of the reason for their transition is that CrossFit has strayed from its early open-source model and failed to adapt to newer ways of thinking. → Read More
StrongFirst for CrossFit
There's a better way to improve your Fran time than just hammering away at the daily WOD. → Read More
Bottoms-Up Kettlebell Presses for Solid Shoulders
The bottoms-up kettlebell press is a great drill to build shoulder strength and mobility. The challenge of keeping the kettlebell upside down teaches you how to tighten the core and find your groove in the press. In this article, I’ll take you through the benefits and explain how to do bottoms-up kettlebell presses. → Read More
Create Explosive Sprinting Strength With Sled Pulls
Sprinting is highly technical. Elite sprinters are coached on every aspect of their sport. Aside from starting technique, learning how to accelerate to top speed is one of the most difficult skills. → Read More
Defeat Poor CrossFit Movement With These Work-Rest Strategies
Every minute on the minute (EMOM) and you go, I go (YGIG) training sessions reinforce the quality of movements. In this article, I discuss workouts that reinforce low-quality movements and how we can improve by focusing on virtuosity. → Read More
What Hurts You (a Little) Is Good for You
In our modern society, we associate coddling ourselves with being healthy. We obsess over antibacterial rooms while sitting in our comfortable chairs. We shield our children from dirt and discomfort. But just as an overprotective parent can lead to fragile children, coddling your body can make you weak. → Read More
If It Feels Bad, Do It
It is that time of year when people start making resolutions to change. What are you reluctant to try? By avoiding what we fear, we make that fear stronger. It is now time to change that gut reaction and go toward what you fear. → Read More
Your Diet Is Not Normal: Here's Why
The differences between us change everything, from how we digest food to how we recover from exercise. In "You Are Not Normal: Here's Why", I discussed how individual differences affect how well a training plan works. A program tailored to your strengths and weaknesses is what will work best for you. → Read More
Outsmart Your Stomach: Avoid Weight Gain This Holiday
It’s always a battle not to overindulge during the holidays. Willpower is in limited supply as we are surrounded by many food choices within our immediate environment. Rather than relying on willpower, we can change the environment so that we don’t overindulge. → Read More
Ladies: 3 Gym-Friendly Exercises to Develop Your Glutes
When I ask female athletes about their goals, improving their glutes is at the top of the list. In this article, I will discuss how well the standard squat develops the glutes, along with squat variations and exercises that work better. → Read More
Say Yes to Banded Pull Ups (But Not for Assistance)
A while back I wrote that banded pull ups were like drugs. Once you start, you have a hard time quitting. For beginners I still agree there are much better ways to learn how to do strict pull ups. But for advanced athletes, using a band as resistance - not assistance - can build the ability to get the chin over the bar. → Read More