#124 Too much?
Dr. Ken Leistner’s essay “Too Much?” dismantles the myth that ever-increasing volume drives powerlifting success, pointing to early champions who thrived on concise, focused routines centered on the squat, bench...
Ken Leistner |
Ken Leistner
#124 Too much?
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#43 Entering the Modern Age
Dr. Ken Leistner chronicles the transition from one-inch fixed-sleeve barbells with small-holed plates—common in ‘50s–’60s town gyms—to 28 mm Olympic bars featuring rotating sleeves and large-holed plates, driven by steel...
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#44 Great Solution
Dr. Ken Leistner contends that a well-built, fixed-sleeve barbell crafted from treated steel can outperform rotating-sleeve designs for heavy squats, presses, and deadlifts. Drawing on a lifetime of shop-class skills...
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#45 Troubling and true
Dr. Ken Leistner shares gripping accounts of barbells shearing off, bending under uneven contact, and even a selectorized machine mishap that severed tissue—highlighting why lifters must inspect gear, understand manufacturing...
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#46 More Troubling and True
Dr. Leistner clarifies his honest stance on barbell endorsements—how early ties to Titan, Eleiko, and Ivanko shaped his preference for stainless steel. He then shares shocking gym mishaps (from dumbbell...
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#47 Commentary on Specialization
Dr. Ken Leistner explores how weight training evolved from broad, multi-skill approaches to tightly focused specialization, drawing parallels with changing roles in sports and trades . He contends that while...
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#48 Powerlifting USA
Powerlifting USA magazine ended its print run after May 2012, closing a chapter on the sport’s most consistent voice. Founded and steered by Mike Lambert with unwavering integrity, PLUSA delivered...
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#49 Specialization Part Two
Dr. Ken Leistner critiques the progressive specialization that narrowed training from multi-lift programs to bench-press-only contests, driven in part by football’s emphasis on the bench. He argues this shift undermines...
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#50 Specialization Part Three
Dr. Ken Leistner examines the bench-press “frenzy” of the 1970s–’80s, highlighting how overemphasis on the bench led to neglected squats, deadlifts, and shoulder injuries . He argues that lasting greatness...
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#51 Bench Press Backtalk!
Dr. Ken Leistner contends that bench-press overemphasis has led to degenerative shoulder injuries despite proper technique. He stresses safety-first programming—limiting bench volume and incorporating overhead presses and machine-based movements—to protect...
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#52 Back to The "Best of the Bench Press"
Dr. Ken Leistner argues that the world’s strongest individuals—loggers, ironworkers, and garage lifters—often never step onto a competitive platform. He shares vivid anecdotes of Frank Ferrara’s NFL-era lifts and Hoss...
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#53 Ted Arcidi, Respect Earned!
Ted Arcidi rose from collegiate athlete to the first official 700-lb bench presser, hitting 705 lbs in 1985 and a 718-lb record in 1990. His charismatic ventures into wrestling, acting,...
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#54 Prototyping Part 1
Dr. Ken Leistner recounts 12 dark, powerless days after Hurricane Sandy, seizing the downtime to prototype training gear in his garage—fabricating benches, power racks, and the innovative Shrug Box. He...
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#55 Prototyping Part 2
Dr. Ken Leistner shares his hands-on prototyping journey—building a hack-squat/dip hybrid that failed, championing quality barbells and custom York Olympic plates, and collaborating with Jim Sutherland on urethane-coated plates and...
Ken Leistner |