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Don't Skip Leg Day
When it comes to getting stronger and staying capable as you age, training your legs is non-negotiable. Strong legs support everything—your posture, balance, and ability to move with power and confidence. Whether you're chasing your kids, mowing the lawn, or hiking on the weekend, leg strength plays a big role in how good you feel doing it.

Jordan Van Dyk
Jul 16, 20252 min read


Strength As A Skill: Hitting A One-Rep Max
Let's set the scene: The bar is loaded, the clips are on, the music is cranked to the right volume and peak time of the song. Caffeine has

Jordan Van Dyk
Mar 19, 20255 min read


Philosophical underpinnings of strength: socratic thinking
His emphasis on moderation teaches us to avoid extremes, whether in diet, exercise, or indulgence, fostering a sustainable approach to healt

Jordan Van Dyk
Feb 1, 20253 min read


The Power of Strength: Invest in Your Future
strength doesn’t come naturally—it’s something you have to build. Starting in our mid-30s, we lose muscle through a process called sarcopeni

Jordan Van Dyk
Jan 6, 20252 min read


Keeping It Simple: Basic Strength Training with Big Results
Programming for strength training doesn't have to be complex. I was reminded of this essential understanding recently in my own training

Jordan Van Dyk
Oct 28, 20242 min read


The Do's and Don'ts: Recovering from your Workout
In the realm of athletic performance, the recovery phase is often the unsung hero that can make or break an athlete's journey towards greatn

Jordan Van Dyk
Oct 4, 20243 min read


The Adult Athlete: Strength Training While Playing Sports
Whether you’re playing soccer, basketball, pickleball, or golf, balancing sports and your strength training goals can be a challenge.

Jordan Van Dyk
Sep 7, 20245 min read


Setting Up The 4-Day Lifting Split
The 4-Day lifting split is among the most popular splits for people looking to get strong, and for good reason. It provides excellent flexi

Jordan Van Dyk
Aug 11, 20244 min read


The Value of Small Steps: Moving Beyond 'All or Nothing' in Health
It's a phrase that is uttered constantly by people across the globe in various contexts. It's a foundational lie people tell themselves to a

Jordan Van Dyk
Aug 5, 20243 min read


Building Around the Bench Press: Incline Press, Dips and Other Important Upper Body lifts
At some point, like all main lifts, the Bench Press is greatly aided by assistance exercises. This is due to the Law of Diminishing Returns

Jordan Van Dyk
Jun 30, 20244 min read


Is Exercise Science Research Reliable For a Coaching Practice?
To base your coaching solely on scientific research (i.e. "Evidence Based" training) would be a mistake. Through a marriage of the practical

Jordan Van Dyk
Jun 20, 20247 min read


Optimizing Your Workout Based on Different Times of Day
For years, I was a member of the unofficial "5AM crew" at my local YMCA, then when I had 24/7 access at two other gyms, a member of the 4 AM

Jordan Van Dyk
Jun 17, 20245 min read


The Intersection of Faith and fitness
Faith and fitness. In my life, Faith came first, and then it left for a while, and fitness filled in it's time slot each week. In spite...

Jordan Van Dyk
Jun 15, 20245 min read


Brain gains: Learning, Mental Health and Strength Training
Learning is a lifelong endeavor that extends beyond the classroom and into every aspect of our lives. Engaging in continuous learning offers numerous mental health benefits, including enhanced cognitive function, reduced stress, and improved emotional well-being. When applied to strength training, learning new movement patterns and techniques not only enhances physical fitness but also contributes to mental health. Let's explore how learning impacts mental health and how thes

Jordan Van Dyk
Jun 11, 20243 min read


The Benefits of Online Personal Training vs. In-Person Personal Training
The fitness industry has evolved significantly with the advent of technology, and one of the most notable developments is the rise of...

Jordan Van Dyk
Jun 6, 20243 min read


The Cardiovascular Benefits of Strength Training
When we think of cardiovascular health, activities like running, cycling, or swimming often come to mind. However, strength training...

Jordan Van Dyk
Jun 4, 20243 min read


Building Muscle Without Gaining Fat
The challenge lies in consuming enough calories to support muscle growth without excessive caloric intake that leads to fat accumulation.

Jordan Van Dyk
Jun 3, 20244 min read


The Two Most Important Variables in any lifting program
I've written several articles over the last few months about programming, sleep, tracking food, exercise technique, etc. It's a topic...

Jordan Van Dyk
May 31, 20243 min read


Re-Learning the Power Clean (Updated July 24)
As a barbell coach, I can not accept having such shallow experience to draw on with such an important lift.

Jordan Van Dyk
May 30, 20247 min read


Back Rounding In The Deadlift? Three Exercises That Could Help
I've had my share of issues learning to flatten my back out for deadlifts. To solve the problem of my back rounding,

Jordan Van Dyk
May 29, 20242 min read
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