Weightlifting Articles

Maddison Pannell was the first Cal Strength soldier to compete in the AO Finals Online Competition on December 4th, 2020.

She was just one lift away from making the US Pan American Team but took home PR’s in the Snatch, Clean & Jerk and Total along with some hardware!

We caught up with Maddison to ask her about the experience of that night, what motivates her and what it was like to compete alongside Olympian Morghan King. ENJOY!

The end of the cycle brought new PR opportunities for our weightlifting team and they didn’t disappoint! WATCH NOW

After a much deserved break following the AO Nationals Online Weightlifting Competition, the California Strength team has their sights set on new goals in 2021.

Maddison, Kelly and Izzy are building towards AO1 in March while Wes, Nathan and Chevy have embarked on our new Road To Tokyo Program.

In this video we’re answering one of the most common questions in Olympic weightlifting... How do you fix Bar Crash in the Clean?

You must train at the ragged edges of your ability -- If you're not missing attempts, you aren't pushing far enough! A lot of missed Jerks but great Snatches and Cleans all around. The highlight of the night was Nathan Damron’s 166kg (366lb) Snatch PR!

The ladies of Cal Strength Jerk off blocks and crush PR's plus heavy back squats from Wes, Chevy and Nathan!

The men of Cal Strength stole the show on Max Out Friday! Highlights include a 174kg Snatch by Wes Kitts, Damron putting up a 362kg Total and Chevy with a huge “training make” Clean & Jerk at 190kg.

The Cal Strength ladies put on a show during their American Open Nationals "tune up" competition at XIOS Strength & Conditioning! Stick around till the end to watch the whole team get a lift in.

This video is from the team's Max Out Friday training session on October 30th, 2020! The team had heavy singles in the Snatch and Clean & Jerk as we finished week three of the E=ep^2 mesocycle. Nathan Damron arrives at the gym for a pre-Nationals training camp and shows us his favorite stretch. Chevy and Izzy win the day with big lifts!

This video is from the team's Max Out Friday training session on October 23rd, 2020! The team had heavy singles in the Snatch and Clean & Jerk as we finished week two of the E=ep^2 mesocycle. Maddison takes advice from an Instagram Coach, Chevy & Maddison have a flex off and Wes and Kelly go big in the Clean & Jerk!

We caught up with Danny Lehr, an accomplished Cal Strength soldier and CEO of Caffeine & Kilos -- a lifestyle brand and coffee company.

The Cal Strength Weightlifting Team started their final cycle before USA Weightlifting Nationals / AO Finals! The E=ep^2 cycle brings a six week opportunity to sharpen the axe and get competition ready, although it will not be without its trials and tribulations. Our first Max Out Friday training session of the cycle wasn’t perfect but showed just how much potential everyone has if we tighten up the loose ends over the coming weeks.

In this video, we break down the SECRET to saving any Split Jerk! Whether you're looking to improve your Clean and Jerk for CrossFit or become more confident and efficient at weightlifting, this video is for you.

Welcome back to Max Out Friday’s at Cal Strength! This was the teams last training session of the 3P Panther cycle. The atmosphere was electric and several lifters had PR performances!

In this video we break down our teaching progressions for how to Clean, the first part of the Clean & Jerk with demonstrations by American Record Holder Wes Kitts.

The E=ep^2 cycle will challenge you more mentally than it will physically but if you dial up your best effort every session, you are guaranteed to set new personal records!

In this video we’re answering the question, where should the bar make contact (with the body) in the Snatch & Clean.

In this video, we’re giving you a license to become a JACKED weightlifter and reasons why bodybuilding and accessory exercises are critical for your long term success. If your weightlifting program doesn’t include accessory exercises that challenge you in a variety of strength training domains, you’re leaving serious gains on the table.

In this video we're sharing THREE of our best tips to help you squat properly which should lead to a PR Back Squat! At the end of this video are three of our favorite lower body accessory exercises you need to be doing for stronger legs… These are non-negotiable!

Should you use a Dynamic Start or a Static Start?

You may have the tendency to model your technique off of your favorite professional weightlifter but when it comes to YOUR technique, we need to use the start position that's best for your skill, experience and strength level.

In this video we break down the difference between the Dynamic and Static start and discuss the pros and cons of each technique.

Our new weightlifting cycle "Panther, Power and Performance" starts today! This is a variation of our famous 3P Cycle and we've suped it up for 2020 as a tribute to the late, great Chadwick Boseman. A man who embodied our philosophy of working everyday with love and gratitude.

California Strength athlete Maddison "Mad Dog" Pannell has been on the team for just over a year and continues to get better every day! Today we sat down with Maddi to talk about training, where she comes from and where she wants to go in the sport of weightlifting!

Dave Spitz (the Godfather of California Strength) makes his first of many appearances on the Be Somebody Podcast to talk shop with Wes Kitts.

Dave holds recognition as one of the few USA Weightlifting Senior International Coaches in the country and is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. He’s been at the helm of California Strength serving as CEO, President and weightlifting coach.

In this interview, the guys go over the current status of the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan as well as their Olympic preparation, and announce California Strength's plan for the 2020 American Open in December.

Assigning your grip width is the FIRST step you should take when learning how to Clean. Your grip width is ultimately going to dictate where the bar makes contact in your power position and what your front rack ultimately ends up looking like.

Rotator cuff injuries commonly occur in people who repeatedly perform overhead movements, whether it is for work (such as carpenters, painters, mechanics) or athletes (Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit and tennis, for example). Improper technique with repetitive movements can put excessive stress on tendons. These injuries often lead to tendinitis in one or multiple rotator cuff muscles. Avoid a trip to the doctor by using four physical therapy exercises that improve the flexibility and strength of the shoulder musculature!

I thoroughly enjoyed my discussion with Michael Lau, who’s a part of the three headed monster that is The Prehab Guys! I started following their Instagram page back when they first started out and immediately knew they were special. These guys continue to put out invaluable information and are worth your attention whether you are a coach, athlete or someone who wants to gain a better understanding of your body.

California Strength will be represented by three weightlifting athletes at the 2019 IWF World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand over the next two weeks. Continue reading to learn more about Katrine, Wes and Chevy! Schedule and live stream information included.

Danish World Team Member and California Strength Remote Athlete Katrine Bruhn had another successful trip to California, leaving with two lifetime PR’s! Feeding off the energy of Max Out Friday, she Snatched 82kg (181lbs) and Clean & Jerked 103kg (227lbs)! Learn more about Katrine in this in-depth interview with hosts Seb Ostrowicz and Josh Gibson on the Weightlifting House Podcast.

Dave Spitz shares the story behind California Strength and his life’s work, to return the United States back to relevance in Olympic Weightlifting.

In a perfect world, you would be able to train year round as hard as you possibly could and never get hurt but training at the ragged edges of your ability can come at a price. As a result, surgery may be necessary to get you back to baseline or give you another shot at achieving your athletic goals. Here are five strategies you can implement to help you optimize your recovery after surgery.