This week I’ve been addressing health’s hierarchy of development. Yesterday I talked about how to develop body weight flexibility and strength. Today I want to address the fourth level: “Strength and resistance training.”

Strength and resistance training has four disciplines: powerlifting, weightlifting, bodybuilding, and strongman. Let’s take a deeper look into each.

Powerlifting & Weightlifting

Powerlifting tests the three “power” lifts: deadlift, back squat, and bench press. Weightlifting is the olympic sport that tests the “speed” lifts: snatch and clean & jerk.

A powerlifter and weightlifter’s training is focused on moving maximum loads. Strength, power, speed, flexibility, and stamina are a few of the essential characteristics to these athlete’s training programs.

For an additional resource, read The Super Total.

Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is the sport of showing off your body’s aesthetics. A bodybuilder’s training is generally focused on isolating muscle groups with hypertrophic sets (generally between 6-12 reps).

Hypertrophy training is focused on increasing the size of your muscle cells. You must first increase the size of the cells before you increase the contractile potential. This is where the value of bodybuilding comes in to your overall fitness.

Strongman

Strongman is the sport that seeks to find the strongest on earth. Equipment made specific for gyms (i.e. barbells and dumbbells) are used, but not always tested. For example, it is not uncommon to see strongman have to move trucks, stones, and logs.

In simple terms, a strongman seeks to be the strongest individual regardless of technique or movement efficiency.

For an additional resource, read What Should A Strength Competition Test?

RxFIT Forte

RxFIT Forte blends these four disciplines into one.

Constantly varying powerlifting, weightlifting, bodybuilding, and strongman modalities into workout programming and coaching creates formidable athletes who are stronger, faster, and more powerful. It is not uncommon to see some of these athletes running sub 6-minute miles, deadlifting over 500-lbs, and pressing 300-lbs overhead in a jerk.

These performances result in every bodybuilder’s dream: washboard abs with large pecs, lats, and quads.

Daily Directive

This program is the beautiful tapestry of strength-biased fitness. Miranda and her team want to help you eventually be capable of doing anything, anytime, anywhere, with anyone.

Consider preparing for and participating in Forte’s upcoming Gainsgiving event. Access to Miranda’s programming is only $10/month. Here’s an example of the past two week’s workout programming.

Learn more about the unique Gainsgiving event here.

Tyler

Other Articles in this Series:
EATING THE ELEPHANT: HOW TO DO IT ALL
EATING THE ELEPHANT: SEMM
EATING THE ELEPHANT: BODYWEIGHT
EATING THE ELEPHANT: SPORT