I will watch literally anything this dude posts rather or not it applies to me. Knowledgeable, strong, funny. Seems like a genuinely good dude. Favorite fitness youtuber as of now. Keep at it man. Great video as always. Looking forward to watching your channel grow.
Agreed. Brian and Alan Thrall are pretty much in a tie for best lifting youtubers in my opinion. The only way to break that tie is another burrito challenge.
Brandon Campbell Diamond Ayyyyy my boy Brandon stopping by and showing love. Damn yo I'd like this video again but I already liked it even before watching lol.
This channels blown up. It literally had like 5000 subs a few months ago. well done Brian, you are definitely one of the best fitness creators and my personal favourite.
I was literally just looking at belts / straps online and was about to look through your videos to remember which ones you have. Youre a psychic, man. The timing of these videos is always perfect.
As a member of the old man crew (and after 25 years of abusing my body in the military) you won't see me squatting or deadlifting without knee sleeves or pressing/pulling without elbow sleeves. The belt (as you mention) goes on depending on how I feel during warm ups. Great video, great information, thank you.
Thank you so much for this very informative post! Most importantly thank you for the clean language!!! You show that you can speak intelligently without vulgarity and understand that impressionable young people watch this information! God bless
Even if u know a lot of this knowledge this video is just nice to watch, kinda like making a check list in my head while I listen to u, keep it up man!
mark bells products truly are of the highest quality and worth every dollar. i have had knee wraps, compression cuffs, straps and the slingshot(red) for two years now and lift 5 days a week and they are still taking the beating. the shoutout is well deserved.
going trough your videos lately and keep learning so much. having some issues with my knees, mostly in tendons, even when doing body squats, made me think how to get around that issue, because I really want to squat. hearing you saying how sleeves helped you with your elbows and knees and how it actually works, with keeping them warm and compressed, solidified my intent to try knee sleeves to get around that issues, at least until my tendons and quads get stronger. it is a problem I used to have, that I usually "solved" doing leg extensions for a few weeks before commit to the squats, but since I recently started working out again and it's in my home gym, no leg extension machines for me :) thank you for sharing your experiences and your thoughts.
another quality video. this man needs subs. He deserves just as much as people like omar or scott herman as his videos are of just as high quality. It's only a matter of time I hope
Mano, oque você acha sobre o knee wraps? No meu caso comprei uma knee sleeve para evitar os varios estalos que meus joelhos fazem agachando com o próprio peso do corpo mesmo. E tipo, ja fez varios aquecimentos específicos mas ainda ss continua. Estava pensando em pegar esses wraps para usar nos agachamentos com 150kg, que geralmente eu busco fazer até 5 repetições. Você acha uma boa idéia? Tenho artrite e lúpus tbm, por isso creio que algo mais apertado e com mais compressão ajudaria.
Tomorrow is heavy day (Squat, Deadlifts and OHP) and I will use my brand new powerlifting belt for the first time. I will use your advices mate. Thank you.
I only use belts, sleeves yada yada at the minute for my heavy close to 1RM sets or my 1RM attempts. Also have to thank you greatly, my arms have not changed with all the curls I was doing and yet since I put more work into weighted pull ups after watching your video my arms are now showing growth (also think I broke them haha)
I bought a belt AFTER I hit 315 on Squat. Will be buying knee sleeves when hitting 405 in a month even though I failed it this month. Here's my reason: There's a funny feeling in my right knee and I think keeping my joints warm would probably reduce the risk. This video was very informative. Thank you.
Good stuff ....The sling shot is also good for training your nervous system for heavier weight...You can use it a few workouts leading to a PR attempt .... Helps with that "Feels heavy in the hands" you were talking about week.Thanks again for being you
I had wanted to ask this question, then I realised I love wearing my SBD elbow sleeves so I don't think about it and just wear them. My compression cuffs on the other hand... Hate them, but they're a necessary evil when somethings flare up. Definite incentive to get and stay healthy!
You really are an inspiration, ridiculous strong and just stay humble. I've experienced the PR highs, and thanks for helping stay in check. A man with your strength stays humble, then so should i.
Great video I trained about 6 years with no protective gear whatsoever. I just got a belt and I am getting used to it. I found I have to adjust where I wear the belt depending on if I'm deadlifting or squatting. I think the belt has actually improved my bracing even when I'm not wearing it.
You mention you broke your back twice but you still do strongman and lift heavy. I recently got microdiscetomy surgery to fix a herniated disc(L4s1, herniation is ten years old not lifitng related) in my lower back. doc says I should never deadlift, squat, or overhead press again...or flip a tire, or farmers walk or anything awesome. Just use isolation machines at the gym he said. How did you feel coming back from the injury you had and/or do you have any training clients or members at your gym that have come back from herniated discs how did they hold up? having recently had surgery I have a bunch of time to watch your channel and it kicks ass, also why I'm posting this question because you seem to always respond to comments on your channel which is super cool. Also anyone else reading this chime in if you have any experience with it.
fred c My back didnt require surgery, but I have recovered twice from disc problems. First was a disc buldge which after a couple months of chiro and lots of stretching I recovered. Second was a little worse, but was again a bulging disc. It took 3 months of chiro and some physio combined with a lot of stretching at home. I lost some function in my left foot for about 2 months, but am now back to 100%. It takes time, and all you can do is focus on recovering. Everyone is different, but you can heal with time. Keep your head up, and youll be back to it! Good luck
Everyone will be slightly different, and many doctors prefer to err on the side of caution. I would highly recommend taking it slow for a good long while in recovery, don't rush to put strain on your back, but I think eventually you might want to get the opinion of other medical professionals, we don't know your exact situation but a sports physiotherapist, for example, might be a bit more proactive. I never had corrective surgery for my slipping discs (surgery for the condition alone is controversial, hence why multiple opinions matters, it's a quicker recovery but many think surgery for a bulging disc isn't necessary and may cause damage in the long run). I spent many years in recovery, but that did eventually lead to laziness, which wasn't helping. lifting, for myself, is actually what helped me as it provided core strength that was seriously neglected, I've been essentially back pain free for some time. If you do go the lifting route, use a belt more often than others in the gym no matter what they might say, I think light weight is fine but for my own usage, going over 225 on squats it's not worth the risk. Deadlifts, if performed right, I think we're the greatest thing for my back. unlike a squat, the weight is not compressing your spine, but solid bracing is a MUST (so check your ego), which is what really helps strengthen the core. I'd say use a belt going 60% of your max, and maybe even get a Velcro belt for lighter weights, that's what I did, even used them for curls and stuff early on, it's really spine instability that puts you at the most risk, idgaf what others say, it helped protect my spine for sure early on. But start with the machine rehab and take it slow, it might be a year or even years to get back to lifting properly. Keep in mind doctors "orders" are opinions and recommendations, they often know what they're talking about but aren't always correct, and they do err on the side of caution since they don't actually know you (they have no idea if you're some tool that uses horrible form, flings around the weights and goofs off while lifting, and most people they see fall in that category).
I dislocated a vertebra in my lower back twice in high school for no discernible reason, and have had some other minor lower back issues since then. The only thing it's changed is that I have to be a lot pickier with my form, since I know that bad form on heavy squats/deads is a recipe for aggravating that issue, but in reality shouldn't we be super picky about our form anyway if we want to stay healthy? Let's be honest, most doctors aren't experienced weightlifters, and while they're great in their field they don't necessarily know what you're capable of later on. If you want to get back in the gym, take it slow, take it easy, be super diligent about your form, and PAY ATTENTION to your body. You might never squat 500kg, but there's no reason you shouldn't be able to still enjoy your gym time after a while.
I had had low back pain when I was 16-19 years old and I had a couple of bulging discs although the bulges were probably not the reason of pain at the time. That was also the time just before I started doing "fitness". As my core strenght improved (it was very poor at the beginning), the pain improved a lot. I used to have the pain from time to time and when I started lifting seriously (the real thing with the barbell) almost a year ago, the pain improved even more and it's virtually gone now. Long story short; core strength helps a LOT. Also, as a physician, although I don't know your exact situation and I'm not a specialist, I don't agree with your doctor. If you can't ever pick up things from the floor, squat, put things in places above your head, carry things, you shouldn't be doing anything then. How is that life? At this point you should consider if the doctor's knowledgeable enough in strength training. As we all know, for instance, deadlift gets an unwarranted bad name when in fact it's one of the few best exercises a human can do. You should get opinions from other specialists. And of course, you shouldn't give up. After all, this is the comment section of a video from a beast who says he broke his back twice and continues to throw hundreds of pounds all over the place.
I had to get a belt because lifting is my second sport. Being a lacrosse goalie I need my back to stay tight and not hurt in my stance. Greatly helped me go heavy in all my lifts
Always look forward to your videos. Being about the same age it's awesome that you hold the belief to only move forward, only get stronger; we're at that age everyone else is saying slow down, you're past your prime and we say "no sir, it's just the beginning."
I really like wrist straps for barbell rows... Allows me to focus on a more concentrated row for more reps rather than just trying to hold onto the bar and since I typically do rows after deadlifts (for which I don't use wrist wraps) my grip is weakened.
I love my slingshot for bench. Mark Bell had a video on it and showed how to use it. When you get to almost 60 anything I can do to help protect myself is required. Thanks for review, your da best.
I like finding videos like this after I've already figured out my own system, makes me feel like I'm on the right track. I'm 152 pounds, and when I'm deadlifting over 275 for reps, I use straps. It's an entirely different exercise if I'm struggling with grip vs not, I'm guessing it's also a safety issue. I do try to NOT use them as long as possible to train my grip, but there's a point where I need to get the muscles in question, stronger, not just my grip. Good video, thank you.
The gangsta wraps and inzer belt are the best investments Ive ever made. Thinking about investing in some elbow sleeves since I've been getting some elbow soreness from squatting
I need knee sleeves, I’m always squatting and using my legs and I always have some sort of knee pain sometimes, old people knees, plus I’ve been squatting for years.
Finally the week can start with Brian's video!!! Thanks so much for the ever valuable info man! I have been lifting for 6 months now and the only investment was rehband shin protections for deadlifts and straps for heavy deadlifts only (near 1RM weight). For the rest I am planning on going natural the longest, even though weights are starting to get heavy quickly after running your linear progression program!!! The results are simply awesome !!!! Thanks buddy!!!
I put on a belt when I get to 405 squat or 405 for deadlifts. But I'm like 165lbs. I use straps for deadlift sets over 3, or if I have a 5x2 for the day, I'll do the first set raw, and the last 4 with straps. Knee sleeves every squat day at 315+. Wrist wraps only on bench and Ohp sets that are heavy.
I guess I'm one of those 99.99% guys in regards to belt. But that was not the belt per se or its capacity to help me lift. It was because I've been deadlifting without it since I started but after reaching a 550lbs deadlift I wanted to start utilizeing a belt. I've been using it only in some strongman events like to yoke and such, but never in the deadlift. It just became a thing. So when I started using it I struggeled with like 450lbs, which I without a belt could manage to do something like 10 reps on. This was of course due to my lack of experience with a belt so I felt that my form went to hell. Slowly I got used to it and now I feel that it really helps me pull bigger. I think a big point is that the belt is something you also have to learn to use in order to get the best out of it! Maybe you covered that in this video as well... I was not paying attention.. I have the yokeflue from todays session.. so... Great video though! This quickly became my favourite strengthchannel a while back and I'm glad to see your subscriber count go up every day. You deserve it man! Cheers from Sweden! (Hence some spelling errors maybe..)
You posted this today after putting on knee sleeves for the first time and squatting 320 for 4 this morning for a PR. This was my google search last night and after some reading decided I wasn't being a bitch for protecting my knees that have been complaining to me a little bit lately. Awesome timing. I had been wondering about the belt too. Might pick one up as I am approaching 400 on the dead lift.
I had a groin hernia from lifting and BJJ and a belt around the waist is probably not going to prevent that, perhaps it would prevent an abdominal hernia. I wear these truss belts under my compression shorts that keep constant pressure on both sides of the groin that I got from amazon to continue lifting and martial arts, i have no plan to get the surgery. If I could do it over again, I would wear one as a preventative measure, it keeps intestine from getting pushed out through your muscle and causing a tear or making an existing tear worse. I can pretty much do anything while I'm wearing it and there is no bulge when I take it off, the only drawback is that the straps are uncomfortable on the skin for extended use.
Sometimes when squatting a get a pop in my left knee and it starts to hurt, forcing me to stop squatting. Could a knee sleeve help reduce the risk of that. My foot placement might be the culprit in this situation but I would still like to know.
I’ll put it this way man. I’m an electrician, I have a very physical job. I use then ppe after certain weights (400lb on deadlifts and squats, 275 on bench) because my body is used heavily all day every day. So in order for me to stay in this game I gotta do it to help myself. I don’t think it’s cheating, and I’ve notice people who go raw all the time and I’ve noticed they have more Injuries.
few days ago i tried a 3 rep pr for squat. now, i saw a belt lying around and tried it for the first time and holy shit that pr just became a working set. belt is damn good.
Tryactin' - oh man that was great! I got my first pair of strong sleeves last Christmas and I love them! The slingshot is great too, but I have not looked at the elbow sleeves. After this video I think I am going to wear my knee sleeves more often because they do feel awesome and make my bad knee a lot happier.
Brian Alsruhe Do you think you could do a video on what gear helps with what events? Tried walking yoke with strong sleeves and that did not work at all, and I am curious what events would benefit from what gear.
They made the pick easy but they made moving my knees while walking feel sluggish. If they were a little less tight it might work better. Or it could be that my yoke walk is terrible and I need to get better at walking with short, choppy steps.
My rule, find it works well: I throw everything on in the last warmup set. I want that set to be exactly like the work sets, being that it is the final rehearsal. Don't need to calculate percent. Just, on last warmup set, put on everything that's gonna be on for the work sets. Probably got that rule from somewhere I forgot. I also grip train deadlift (double overhand) all the way up to second last warmup set; similar line of thinking - up until last warmup set, more playing around allowed. Might use longer pauses in the bench, etc. Might do 3 pauses on way up in deadlift. For me, warming up I can almost use as an accessory exercise, might as well, makes me hurry less too when I feel I get some value out of it more than just warming up. Whether I actually DO get any value of it though .. dammit, weak AF :'( But I enjoy doing this.
!!!GREAT VIDEO!!! You're hilarious! Definitely subscribing and I want to purchase some elbow sleeves to help with my sore elbows ... I've been in the game a long time and I need to start some prevention ... Thanks for the info and great video!!!
Could you elaborate a little bit more on the knee wraps...having some pain in one knee so i used a wrap as i dont have any sleeves...good thing or bad? Thanks
When you have a strongman competition, do you bring a coach or someone to help you with things, or do you go by yourself? I want to do a strongman comp some day in the future, and I am not sure if it is like Weightlifting where you need a coach to come with you to count your attempts. Congrats on 33K subs btw bro! you're the man!
great video , I just would like to ask if you could suggest some knee sleeves or raps for a injured knee ( meniscus injury from knee dislocation while climbing ) I am looking for something I could use for squats and long climbing session to make my knee stable . many thanks
Another great video Brian! But what about shin protection? Mine are bleeding frequently when I do deadlifts. Special socks for weightlifters seem to be pretty rare and expensive, so I thought about soccer shin guards.
There are 2 sanctioning bodies: Strongman Corporation that runs the majority of shows and then United States Strongman who is growing slowly but steadily. Neither is tested. It kind of sucks, but people don't want to see regular people do strongman, they want to see inhuman weights moved fast. So it puts butts in seats. i wouldn't expect that to change anytime soon. Some individual contests will run drug tests but often they are too expensive for the promoters to afford.
Great video man! Thanks! Do you have an opinion on nylon belts like the Element 26 lifting belts for bodybuilding? I'm 52 and no longer do barbell squats or deadlifts but I do a lot of machine squats, rack pulls, etc. Do you feel such a nylon belt will do much good? Thanks so much!
So all I have to do is start my own gym then a UA-cam channel, become friends with Alan Thrall, go visit him, get him to take me to the ST gym and a couple of months after that they'll hook me up with freebies...where do I sign? Great content, it's refreshing getting advice from someone that's not just trying to sell you shit for the sake of it.
Hahaha yea man, I don't talk about thing I don't actually use! And i would love to make a cut of Slingshot's sales ahahah unfortunately I don't think Mark got the memo!
Yea man! i have had the ability with my new camera for a while now, but the rendering and upload takes so long that sometimes it isn't worth it, sadly.
Brian, love your videos man. I have been watching them a lot lately. Thanks for continuing to post, keep them coming. I am gleaning a lot of knowledge from you. My left knee used to give me some problems, a buddy told me that squatting would actually help my knee, so i continued to squat..(been squatting since high school for football) and it did get better. I wonder the squats helped? ShouldI squat heavy? Ive never used knee wraps, but have used the belt.
Squatting will do a lot to improve peoples knee health man. And yea, I wouldn't be afraid of throwing some weight on as long as you are smart about it. But i would go with knee sleeves, not wraps. The wraps aren't a direction I would encourage people with knee issues to go down.
I look at a lot of this stuff as remedial tools to allow you to gain strength. What that mean? Well your core might be weak and you need to use a belt to get to the next deadlift, but I dont train with the belt on, I use it to push through. My core is obviously what is holding up progress else where and the extra support allows me to push through.
I just started following your page and think all the content you put out is amazing! But I had a question about training biceps. I can’t remember which video it was but you said you don’t believe in doing curls for strongman training because it doesn’t benefit strength athletes. However, like you said in this video, biceps tears are a very common injury for strongman athletes. So wouldn’t it be good to hit biceps at least once a week as an injury prevention?
Awesome video and tips! You're channel is probably the best within the fitness community right now. No bullshit, just solid advice and awesome training footage. Keep it up brother! Also, would love to see you attempt a 2000 meter concept 2 row now that you are cutting weight,;) Think you would pull off an awesome time:P
I know I'm a bit late in posting this. This is a personal question, I injured my spine and it has been straight (spines has curves). Doctors do not recommend me to work out my back, but I want to work out my back. I have not worked my back since I've been injured, I'm afraid I might break them and might cause me to lose function on my legs, and I used to sqaut 435 (i was 135, quit lifting weights for 3 years[probably more], I am 180 lbs atm) do you think it's possible to do at least 100 lb squat without injuring my back? I can't even do deadlifts. I tried lifting a box of books and I couldn't get up for 2 days. (I imagine the same motion of lifting the box and holding it at the same place and walking would be considered a deadlift with motion) That's how badly I have been injured. Any recommended work out related to my lumbar section of spine would be great. I've been terrified losing mobility, but any encouragement, any suggestion, anything that would help me regain back my back strength would be nice. I want to be able to like I used to, not exactly but not to the point that I can't get up for a day...
So I'm only 16, but I'm starting to have major elbow issues. My elbows have always clicked but lately my right elbow has been hurting and swollen and my right arm is lower than my left when I press because of the elbow. It hurts so bad that at the end of a push workout I have to cut it short because I cant finish. Should I get loose elbow sleeves?
Are sleeves only to add weight to your lifts. I am X highly competitive soccer player with old injuries. My knees aren’t great. Nothing acute just old wear and tear. Because I’m a strong girl with a good foundation I’m doing heavier weight but I have no interest in power lifting specifically. So are the sleeves adding any protective elements or is it really just to add a couple pounds of weight to your squat? A.k.a. something that intermediate and advanced lifters will be better suited for?
Totally agree - sick of these heros saying they are for weak people, Im 58yrs old and I dont GAF what others think - if I want to protect myself and be sensible and lift without injuries then I will use straps/belts whatever it takes :)
I totally agree 100% with you. Im 45 and safety matters to me. I lift for longevity not for ego. If people think wrist straps and belts arent cool that's their problem.
whats about lifting shoes ? whats your toughts of then? (maybe i missed one video were you talk about then). Never considered buying a pair but a friend of mine was talking about it and thinking about buying it.
Brian...Why do you think knee wraps will do more damage than good? I have knee sleeves but don't like how tight and how hard they are to get on and off. I like knee wraps because I can vary the tension between sets as I go heavier..I usually wrap and unwrap between sets.
Because most people use them incorrectly and it is putting more material behind the knee which can hurt you. Plus it is a false sense of security if your core is not built up to handle the weights. If you know what you are doing though, i don't think they are dangerous, but most of the people watching this are more beginners.
Is it dumb to hope a lifting knee sleeve might help the ache in my knee when I ride a motorcycle?? It's only my left knee and it bothers the hell out of me. It doesn't bother me DURING lifting but definitely after, and flares up when I ride...
Can elbow wraps be used to lift heavy if the person has snapping elbow syndrome (clicking sensation in the elbow /tricep when doing bench press, push ups, etc)
Here is the highlights.
Belts 2:38
Sleeves 6:20
Wraps 8:59
Straps 10:52
Compression Shorts 11:50
Sling Shot 12:24
Thanks man!
Thanks man
My hero.
Maaaaaa man
You are the MAN god bless you brother
I will watch literally anything this dude posts rather or not it applies to me. Knowledgeable, strong, funny. Seems like a genuinely good dude. Favorite fitness youtuber as of now. Keep at it man. Great video as always. Looking forward to watching your channel grow.
Thank you so much brother, i really appreciate that!
Agreed. Brian and Alan Thrall are pretty much in a tie for best lifting youtubers in my opinion. The only way to break that tie is another burrito challenge.
Another solid video. GIVE THIS MAN A LIKE.
Brandon Campbell Diamond Ayyyyy my boy Brandon stopping by and showing love. Damn yo I'd like this video again but I already liked it even before watching lol.
Hahaha thanks fellas!
Brandon Campbell Diamond I've liked the video before I've watched it because Brian = quality content. (Will watch it later)
well then do a fucking collab bro
Collab would definitely be dope. SQUAT SESSION.
This channels blown up. It literally had like 5000 subs a few months ago. well done Brian, you are definitely one of the best fitness creators and my personal favourite.
I was literally just looking at belts / straps online and was about to look through your videos to remember which ones you have. Youre a psychic, man. The timing of these videos is always perfect.
Hahah thanks man!
As a member of the old man crew (and after 25 years of abusing my body in the military) you won't see me squatting or deadlifting without knee sleeves or pressing/pulling without elbow sleeves. The belt (as you mention) goes on depending on how I feel during warm ups. Great video, great information, thank you.
Completely agree brother! Old man crew united!
Thank you so much for this very informative post! Most importantly thank you for the clean language!!! You show that you can speak intelligently without vulgarity and understand that impressionable young people watch this information! God bless
If your gym doesn't allow chalk.. find a better gym.
Carver i workout at the YMCA because they have great child minding for my 3 kids. No chalk though. Boo
@@paigethefarrier6243 liquid chalk?
Even if u know a lot of this knowledge this video is just nice to watch, kinda like making a check list in my head while I listen to u, keep it up man!
Thanks so much man!
mark bells products truly are of the highest quality and worth every dollar. i have had knee wraps, compression cuffs, straps and the slingshot(red) for two years now and lift 5 days a week and they are still taking the beating. the shoutout is well deserved.
I really do like them the best as well man!
going trough your videos lately and keep learning so much. having some issues with my knees, mostly in tendons, even when doing body squats, made me think how to get around that issue, because I really want to squat. hearing you saying how sleeves helped you with your elbows and knees and how it actually works, with keeping them warm and compressed, solidified my intent to try knee sleeves to get around that issues, at least until my tendons and quads get stronger. it is a problem I used to have, that I usually "solved" doing leg extensions for a few weeks before commit to the squats, but since I recently started working out again and it's in my home gym, no leg extension machines for me :) thank you for sharing your experiences and your thoughts.
The warmth absolutely helps brother! If you go with the Cerberus.us brand of sleeves, use the code neversate at checkout and you will save some money
another quality video. this man needs subs. He deserves just as much as people like omar or scott herman as his videos are of just as high quality. It's only a matter of time I hope
Man i hope so too!
hahahahah that John Cena homage "the champ is here". Another great vid dude. Shine one
Hahah i had no idea man! i was referencing Ali!
Awesome video as always!! Thank you for every knowledge you give us. Greetings from Brazil.
Thank you so much man!
Mano, oque você acha sobre o knee wraps? No meu caso comprei uma knee sleeve para evitar os varios estalos que meus joelhos fazem agachando com o próprio peso do corpo mesmo. E tipo, ja fez varios aquecimentos específicos mas ainda ss continua. Estava pensando em pegar esses wraps para usar nos agachamentos com 150kg, que geralmente eu busco fazer até 5 repetições. Você acha uma boa idéia? Tenho artrite e lúpus tbm, por isso creio que algo mais apertado e com mais compressão ajudaria.
Tomorrow is heavy day (Squat, Deadlifts and OHP) and I will use my brand new powerlifting belt for the first time. I will use your advices mate. Thank you.
Thats awesome, go get after it man!
Another great vid! Covered so many questions. Your channel is the encyclopedia of gainzz
Thanks so much Tony!
I only use belts, sleeves yada yada at the minute for my heavy close to 1RM sets or my 1RM attempts. Also have to thank you greatly, my arms have not changed with all the curls I was doing and yet since I put more work into weighted pull ups after watching your video my arms are now showing growth (also think I broke them haha)
Haha that is so great man!
I bought a belt AFTER I hit 315 on Squat. Will be buying knee sleeves when hitting 405 in a month even though I failed it this month.
Here's my reason: There's a funny feeling in my right knee and I think keeping my joints warm would probably reduce the risk.
This video was very informative. Thank you.
Good stuff ....The sling shot is also good for training your nervous system for heavier weight...You can use it a few workouts leading to a PR attempt .... Helps with that "Feels heavy in the hands" you were talking about week.Thanks again for being you
Great tip, thank you so much!
1:00 lmao. That's basically how I feel I look when I need to use more than one or two things out of my gym bag.
Hahaha!
You have a knack for this UA-cam stuff. Your videos are great. You even make sense a bit more often than every now and then
I've been wondering this question for about a week now. Super glad you decided to make this video!
I hope it helps!
I had wanted to ask this question, then I realised I love wearing my SBD elbow sleeves so I don't think about it and just wear them.
My compression cuffs on the other hand... Hate them, but they're a necessary evil when somethings flare up. Definite incentive to get and stay healthy!
Absolutely man!
Thnx man
You cleared my doubt about which should i buy wraps or sleeves for my elbow pain.
You really are an inspiration, ridiculous strong and just stay humble. I've experienced the PR highs, and thanks for helping stay in check. A man with your strength stays humble, then so should i.
Allan Thrall got me into HYDRO 20 and did wonders for me, can I mix it with TRYACTIN and use it as a pre-workout drink? Thanks.
Hahaha indeed you could be be prepared for the potential heart attack!
Tryactin is real, yes. It's a type of testosterone supplement that it sounds like you're not taking.
Brian Alsruhe alphadestiny kinda gave you a shout out in his last qna
Ive been using some of my old martial arts belts as straps: they have been with me for years and do the job really well.
Great sense of humor at the beginning with all the joint protectors...had me laughing almost to half of the video...!!
Great video I trained about 6 years with no protective gear whatsoever. I just got a belt and I am getting used to it. I found I have to adjust where I wear the belt depending on if I'm deadlifting or squatting. I think the belt has actually improved my bracing even when I'm not wearing it.
Absolutely agree man!
You mention you broke your back twice but you still do strongman and lift heavy. I recently got microdiscetomy surgery to fix a herniated disc(L4s1, herniation is ten years old not lifitng related) in my lower back. doc says I should never deadlift, squat, or overhead press again...or flip a tire, or farmers walk or anything awesome. Just use isolation machines at the gym he said. How did you feel coming back from the injury you had and/or do you have any training clients or members at your gym that have come back from herniated discs how did they hold up? having recently had surgery I have a bunch of time to watch your channel and it kicks ass, also why I'm posting this question because you seem to always respond to comments on your channel which is super cool. Also anyone else reading this chime in if you have any experience with it.
fred c
My back didnt require surgery, but I have recovered twice from disc problems. First was a disc buldge which after a couple months of chiro and lots of stretching I recovered.
Second was a little worse, but was again a bulging disc. It took 3 months of chiro and some physio combined with a lot of stretching at home. I lost some function in my left foot for about 2 months, but am now back to 100%.
It takes time, and all you can do is focus on recovering. Everyone is different, but you can heal with time. Keep your head up, and youll be back to it! Good luck
Right on man, well I made a video explaining it called "Dealing with injuries" that may help you out man! I hope you feel better soon!
Everyone will be slightly different, and many doctors prefer to err on the side of caution. I would highly recommend taking it slow for a good long while in recovery, don't rush to put strain on your back, but I think eventually you might want to get the opinion of other medical professionals, we don't know your exact situation but a sports physiotherapist, for example, might be a bit more proactive.
I never had corrective surgery for my slipping discs (surgery for the condition alone is controversial, hence why multiple opinions matters, it's a quicker recovery but many think surgery for a bulging disc isn't necessary and may cause damage in the long run). I spent many years in recovery, but that did eventually lead to laziness, which wasn't helping. lifting, for myself, is actually what helped me as it provided core strength that was seriously neglected, I've been essentially back pain free for some time. If you do go the lifting route, use a belt more often than others in the gym no matter what they might say, I think light weight is fine but for my own usage, going over 225 on squats it's not worth the risk.
Deadlifts, if performed right, I think we're the greatest thing for my back. unlike a squat, the weight is not compressing your spine, but solid bracing is a MUST (so check your ego), which is what really helps strengthen the core. I'd say use a belt going 60% of your max, and maybe even get a Velcro belt for lighter weights, that's what I did, even used them for curls and stuff early on, it's really spine instability that puts you at the most risk, idgaf what others say, it helped protect my spine for sure early on. But start with the machine rehab and take it slow, it might be a year or even years to get back to lifting properly. Keep in mind doctors "orders" are opinions and recommendations, they often know what they're talking about but aren't always correct, and they do err on the side of caution since they don't actually know you (they have no idea if you're some tool that uses horrible form, flings around the weights and goofs off while lifting, and most people they see fall in that category).
I dislocated a vertebra in my lower back twice in high school for no discernible reason, and have had some other minor lower back issues since then. The only thing it's changed is that I have to be a lot pickier with my form, since I know that bad form on heavy squats/deads is a recipe for aggravating that issue, but in reality shouldn't we be super picky about our form anyway if we want to stay healthy?
Let's be honest, most doctors aren't experienced weightlifters, and while they're great in their field they don't necessarily know what you're capable of later on. If you want to get back in the gym, take it slow, take it easy, be super diligent about your form, and PAY ATTENTION to your body. You might never squat 500kg, but there's no reason you shouldn't be able to still enjoy your gym time after a while.
I had had low back pain when I was 16-19 years old and I had a couple of bulging discs although the bulges were probably not the reason of pain at the time. That was also the time just before I started doing "fitness". As my core strenght improved (it was very poor at the beginning), the pain improved a lot. I used to have the pain from time to time and when I started lifting seriously (the real thing with the barbell) almost a year ago, the pain improved even more and it's virtually gone now. Long story short; core strength helps a LOT.
Also, as a physician, although I don't know your exact situation and I'm not a specialist, I don't agree with your doctor. If you can't ever pick up things from the floor, squat, put things in places above your head, carry things, you shouldn't be doing anything then. How is that life? At this point you should consider if the doctor's knowledgeable enough in strength training. As we all know, for instance, deadlift gets an unwarranted bad name when in fact it's one of the few best exercises a human can do. You should get opinions from other specialists. And of course, you shouldn't give up. After all, this is the comment section of a video from a beast who says he broke his back twice and continues to throw hundreds of pounds all over the place.
*goes to hit self with hammer* I havent used lifting straps or sleeves yet. I just got my belt last month. This video came at a perfect time!
Hahaha save the hammer!
👏👍 THE FACT THAT YOU
ARE OFFERING SUGGESTIONS THAT IS MEANT TO PREVENT INJURIES IS GREAT 👍
I had to get a belt because lifting is my second sport. Being a lacrosse goalie I need my back to stay tight and not hurt in my stance. Greatly helped me go heavy in all my lifts
I have really bad back issues so I just started using a belt all the time I’m only 22 but I have had several bad motorcycle accidents
Cracking video was thinking I'd have to watch a couple to get the answerers I needed just literally answered every single question I had in one.
This is the only channel that I will drop everything I'm doing to watch.
Thank you so much!
Always look forward to your videos. Being about the same age it's awesome that you hold the belief to only move forward, only get stronger; we're at that age everyone else is saying slow down, you're past your prime and we say "no sir, it's just the beginning."
Hahah i completely agree man!
I really like wrist straps for barbell rows... Allows me to focus on a more concentrated row for more reps rather than just trying to hold onto the bar and since I typically do rows after deadlifts (for which I don't use wrist wraps) my grip is weakened.
I love my slingshot for bench. Mark Bell had a video on it and showed how to use it. When you get to almost 60 anything I can do to help protect myself is required. Thanks for review, your da best.
Completely agree man, gotta take care of your body!
I like finding videos like this after I've already figured out my own system, makes me feel like I'm on the right track. I'm 152 pounds, and when I'm deadlifting over 275 for reps, I use straps. It's an entirely different exercise if I'm struggling with grip vs not, I'm guessing it's also a safety issue. I do try to NOT use them as long as possible to train my grip, but there's a point where I need to get the muscles in question, stronger, not just my grip. Good video, thank you.
love your videos! Next time I'm visiting my family in Eldersburg I'll have to come check out neversate
The wrap around the head was a game changer. Thanks for the tip
Reason i now use all this. Old age is finally setting in. I used to never use any of this stuff, but just can't avoid injuries.
I start using a belt when the weight is heavier than my body weight. Plus i'm 42. Gotta play safe. Great video, Brian! Thanks!
The gangsta wraps and inzer belt are the best investments Ive ever made. Thinking about investing in some elbow sleeves since I've been getting some elbow soreness from squatting
It will definitely help man. the heat alone makes them feel better
MAY THE CREATOR BLESS YOU BROTHER. dude you deserve one of the best information for training. Thank you again. Powerful dude. Peace
You too dude!
thanks, Brian !! as always your explanations on the subject matter are incisive and leaves nothing else to be explained
Started following you a week ago and I'm wondering to my self where the heck have you been??? Great Channel
I need knee sleeves, I’m always squatting and using my legs and I always have some sort of knee pain sometimes, old people knees, plus I’ve been squatting for years.
Finally the week can start with Brian's video!!!
Thanks so much for the ever valuable info man!
I have been lifting for 6 months now and the only investment was rehband shin protections for deadlifts and straps for heavy deadlifts only (near 1RM weight).
For the rest I am planning on going natural the longest, even though weights are starting to get heavy quickly after running your linear progression program!!! The results are simply awesome !!!!
Thanks buddy!!!
That is awesome man! Hold out as long as you can safely!
I put on a belt when I get to 405 squat or 405 for deadlifts. But I'm like 165lbs. I use straps for deadlift sets over 3, or if I have a 5x2 for the day, I'll do the first set raw, and the last 4 with straps. Knee sleeves every squat day at 315+. Wrist wraps only on bench and Ohp sets that are heavy.
Thanks for the great video, actually asked you all about this information about a week ago, just didn't see this at the time. Keep up the motivation!
I guess I'm one of those 99.99% guys in regards to belt. But that was not the belt per se or its capacity to help me lift. It was because I've been deadlifting without it since I started but after reaching a 550lbs deadlift I wanted to start utilizeing a belt. I've been using it only in some strongman events like to yoke and such, but never in the deadlift. It just became a thing.
So when I started using it I struggeled with like 450lbs, which I without a belt could manage to do something like 10 reps on.
This was of course due to my lack of experience with a belt so I felt that my form went to hell. Slowly I got used to it and now I feel that it really helps me pull bigger. I think a big point is that the belt is something you also have to learn to use in order to get the best out of it! Maybe you covered that in this video as well... I was not paying attention.. I have the yokeflue from todays session.. so...
Great video though! This quickly became my favourite strengthchannel a while back and I'm glad to see your subscriber count go up every day. You deserve it man!
Cheers from Sweden! (Hence some spelling errors maybe..)
sling shot is the best! i recently bought a few of their products, love them too much :D
Hahah they are great!
Great video as always Brian. I lost it over the tryactin joke. Follow this man people! He is one of the best.
You posted this today after putting on knee sleeves for the first time and squatting 320 for 4 this morning for a PR. This was my google search last night and after some reading decided I wasn't being a bitch for protecting my knees that have been complaining to me a little bit lately. Awesome timing. I had been wondering about the belt too. Might pick one up as I am approaching 400 on the dead lift.
they will definitely help man!
It was a huge help. Finished with no knee pain or back pain from compromised form. Thanks for the great videos!
That's awesome brother!
I had a groin hernia from lifting and BJJ and a belt around the waist is probably not going to prevent that, perhaps it would prevent an abdominal hernia.
I wear these truss belts under my compression shorts that keep constant pressure on both sides of the groin that I got from amazon to continue lifting and martial arts, i have no plan to get the surgery.
If I could do it over again, I would wear one as a preventative measure, it keeps intestine from getting pushed out through your muscle and causing a tear or making an existing tear worse.
I can pretty much do anything while I'm wearing it and there is no bulge when I take it off, the only drawback is that the straps are uncomfortable on the skin for extended use.
Sometimes when squatting a get a pop in my left knee and it starts to hurt, forcing me to stop squatting. Could a knee sleeve help reduce the risk of that. My foot placement might be the culprit in this situation but I would still like to know.
I’ll put it this way man. I’m an electrician, I have a very physical job. I use then ppe after certain weights (400lb on deadlifts and squats, 275 on bench) because my body is used heavily all day every day. So in order for me to stay in this game I gotta do it to help myself.
I don’t think it’s cheating, and I’ve notice people who go raw all the time and I’ve noticed they have more Injuries.
At 61 it's a matter of whatever it takes dude. Great job.
Killing it as always, Brian. Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much!
few days ago i tried a 3 rep pr for squat. now, i saw a belt lying around and tried it for the first time and holy shit that pr just became a working set. belt is damn good.
i have a bad right knee pain all my life so bad it’d stop me from finishing my sets so i bought some thick sleeves and i’ve been hitting pr every week
Belt, Gloves, Compression sleeves for elbows and knees. Worth it.
Everything else very situational.
I would disagree on the gloves
Tryactin' - oh man that was great! I got my first pair of strong sleeves last Christmas and I love them! The slingshot is great too, but I have not looked at the elbow sleeves. After this video I think I am going to wear my knee sleeves more often because they do feel awesome and make my bad knee a lot happier.
Absolutely man, they will definitely help!
Brian Alsruhe Do you think you could do a video on what gear helps with what events? Tried walking yoke with strong sleeves and that did not work at all, and I am curious what events would benefit from what gear.
I use them for my yoke walks. Why did they not work for you?
They made the pick easy but they made moving my knees while walking feel sluggish. If they were a little less tight it might work better. Or it could be that my yoke walk is terrible and I need to get better at walking with short, choppy steps.
Yea man, all of the top level guys wear knee sleeves so it may just be a technique issue. Keep playing with it man.
I'm 39 and have degenerative back disease and bad knees from my Military service. I wear a belt and knee sleeves.
My rule, find it works well: I throw everything on in the last warmup set. I want that set to be exactly like the work sets, being that it is the final rehearsal. Don't need to calculate percent. Just, on last warmup set, put on everything that's gonna be on for the work sets.
Probably got that rule from somewhere I forgot. I also grip train deadlift (double overhand) all the way up to second last warmup set; similar line of thinking - up until last warmup set, more playing around allowed. Might use longer pauses in the bench, etc. Might do 3 pauses on way up in deadlift. For me, warming up I can almost use as an accessory exercise, might as well, makes me hurry less too when I feel I get some value out of it more than just warming up. Whether I actually DO get any value of it though .. dammit, weak AF :'( But I enjoy doing this.
!!!GREAT VIDEO!!! You're hilarious! Definitely subscribing and I want to purchase some elbow sleeves to help with my sore elbows ... I've been in the game a long time and I need to start some prevention ... Thanks for the info and great video!!!
Best video on this topic . Good job bro 🔥
how to we breath and brace when doing a barbell row ?
Hey Brian what do you think of neck training?
I like it but i think a lot of people hurt themselves by doing it incorrectly
Could you elaborate a little bit more on the knee wraps...having some pain in one knee so i used a wrap as i dont have any sleeves...good thing or bad? Thanks
great video brian! really did help. and keep up the hard work.
Thanks so much Kyle!
When you have a strongman competition, do you bring a coach or someone to help you with things, or do you go by yourself? I want to do a strongman comp some day in the future, and I am not sure if it is like Weightlifting where you need a coach to come with you to count your attempts. Congrats on 33K subs btw bro! you're the man!
great video , I just would like to ask if you could suggest some knee sleeves or raps for a injured knee ( meniscus injury from knee dislocation while climbing ) I am looking for something I could use for squats and long climbing session to make my knee stable . many thanks
I would go with the Strong knee sleeves man. They will give you more support than many of the other brands.
thanks Brian
Another great video Brian!
But what about shin protection? Mine are bleeding frequently when I do deadlifts. Special socks for weightlifters seem to be pretty rare and expensive, so I thought about soccer shin guards.
Slingshot gave me a pair of those also but I don't use them. A lot of people just pull down their knee sleeves.
Lots of great information Brian. Thank you. Great videos.
Thank you so much Michael!
Bro your vids are on fire. Love your style and please keep going (y)
Are there different federations for strongman link there are in powerlifting? For example tested and untested federations?
TJ Cannon I second this!
There are 2 sanctioning bodies: Strongman Corporation that runs the majority of shows and then United States Strongman who is growing slowly but steadily. Neither is tested. It kind of sucks, but people don't want to see regular people do strongman, they want to see inhuman weights moved fast. So it puts butts in seats. i wouldn't expect that to change anytime soon. Some individual contests will run drug tests but often they are too expensive for the promoters to afford.
Great video man! Thanks!
Do you have an opinion on nylon belts like the Element 26 lifting belts for bodybuilding? I'm 52 and no longer do barbell squats or deadlifts but I do a lot of machine squats, rack pulls, etc. Do you feel such a nylon belt will do much good? Thanks so much!
So all I have to do is start my own gym then a UA-cam channel, become friends with Alan Thrall, go visit him, get him to take me to the ST gym and a couple of months after that they'll hook me up with freebies...where do I sign? Great content, it's refreshing getting advice from someone that's not just trying to sell you shit for the sake of it.
Hahaha yea man, I don't talk about thing I don't actually use! And i would love to make a cut of Slingshot's sales ahahah unfortunately I don't think Mark got the memo!
Brian you've gone 4k!!! I've popped a Manx flag in the post for you too. Great video!
Yea man! i have had the ability with my new camera for a while now, but the rendering and upload takes so long that sometimes it isn't worth it, sadly.
Brian, love your videos man. I have been watching them a lot lately. Thanks for continuing to post, keep them coming. I am gleaning a lot of knowledge from you.
My left knee used to give me some problems, a buddy told me that squatting would actually help my knee, so i continued to squat..(been squatting since high school for football) and it did get better. I wonder the squats helped? ShouldI squat heavy? Ive never used knee wraps, but have used the belt.
Squatting will do a lot to improve peoples knee health man. And yea, I wouldn't be afraid of throwing some weight on as long as you are smart about it. But i would go with knee sleeves, not wraps. The wraps aren't a direction I would encourage people with knee issues to go down.
Awesome. Thanks again man. Love your channel, keep em coming!
Sure thing!
I look at a lot of this stuff as remedial tools to allow you to gain strength.
What that mean? Well your core might be weak and you need to use a belt to get to the next deadlift, but I dont train with the belt on, I use it to push through. My core is obviously what is holding up progress else where and the extra support allows me to push through.
I just started following your page and think all the content you put out is amazing! But I had a question about training biceps. I can’t remember which video it was but you said you don’t believe in doing curls for strongman training because it doesn’t benefit strength athletes. However, like you said in this video, biceps tears are a very common injury for strongman athletes. So wouldn’t it be good to hit biceps at least once a week as an injury prevention?
Awesome video and tips! You're channel is probably the best within the fitness community right now. No bullshit, just solid advice and awesome training footage. Keep it up brother! Also, would love to see you attempt a 2000 meter concept 2 row now that you are cutting weight,;) Think you would pull off an awesome time:P
I would love to! Now...I just need to buy a concept 2!
I know I'm a bit late in posting this.
This is a personal question, I injured my spine and it has been straight (spines has curves). Doctors do not recommend me to work out my back, but I want to work out my back.
I have not worked my back since I've been injured, I'm afraid I might break them and might cause me to lose function on my legs, and I used to sqaut 435 (i was 135, quit lifting weights for 3 years[probably more], I am 180 lbs atm) do you think it's possible to do at least 100 lb squat without injuring my back?
I can't even do deadlifts. I tried lifting a box of books and I couldn't get up for 2 days. (I imagine the same motion of lifting the box and holding it at the same place and walking would be considered a deadlift with motion) That's how badly I have been injured. Any recommended work out related to my lumbar section of spine would be great.
I've been terrified losing mobility, but any encouragement, any suggestion, anything that would help me regain back my back strength would be nice. I want to be able to like I used to, not exactly but not to the point that I can't get up for a day...
So I'm only 16, but I'm starting to have major elbow issues. My elbows have always clicked but lately my right elbow has been hurting and swollen and my right arm is lower than my left when I press because of the elbow. It hurts so bad that at the end of a push workout I have to cut it short because I cant finish. Should I get loose elbow sleeves?
Are sleeves only to add weight to your lifts. I am X highly competitive soccer player with old injuries. My knees aren’t great. Nothing acute just old wear and tear. Because I’m a strong girl with a good foundation I’m doing heavier weight but I have no interest in power lifting specifically. So are the sleeves adding any protective elements or is it really just to add a couple pounds of weight to your squat? A.k.a. something that intermediate and advanced lifters will be better suited for?
Very interesting. Cool video !!
Wow, I literally just bought some knee sleeves and then this video comes out. Brian can you read my mind?
Is there anything he can't do!?
The answer is no.
Yes, yes i did.
Totally agree - sick of these heros saying they are for weak people, Im 58yrs old and I dont GAF what others think - if I want to protect myself and be sensible and lift without injuries then I will use straps/belts whatever it takes :)
I totally agree 100% with you. Im 45 and safety matters to me. I lift for longevity not for ego. If people think wrist straps and belts arent cool that's their problem.
I am so old that just doing reps with the protective gear gets me pumped.
whats about lifting shoes ? whats your toughts of then? (maybe i missed one video were you talk about then). Never considered buying a pair but a friend of mine was talking about it and thinking about buying it.
Excellent video bro!!!
Brian...Why do you think knee wraps will do more damage than good? I have knee sleeves but don't like how tight and how hard they are to get on and off. I like knee wraps because I can vary the tension between sets as I go heavier..I usually wrap and unwrap between sets.
Because most people use them incorrectly and it is putting more material behind the knee which can hurt you. Plus it is a false sense of security if your core is not built up to handle the weights. If you know what you are doing though, i don't think they are dangerous, but most of the people watching this are more beginners.
I was literally thinking about this today, awesome!
I hope it helps!
Is it dumb to hope a lifting knee sleeve might help the ache in my knee when I ride a motorcycle?? It's only my left knee and it bothers the hell out of me. It doesn't bother me DURING lifting but definitely after, and flares up when I ride...
Can elbow wraps be used to lift heavy if the person has snapping elbow syndrome (clicking sensation in the elbow /tricep when doing bench press, push ups, etc)
When you measure yourself to make sure you get the right size sleeves for your knees you make sure you measure above and below the knee correct?