William Smith - Strength Training Bible for Men: The Complete Guide to Lifting Weights for Power, Strength & Performance

For as long as I can remember, Ive always wanted to be strong.

From the time I bought my first set of adjustable dumbbells when I was 13, my life has been dedicated to the never-ending process of pushing my body to be as strong as humanly possible.

Much to the surprise of lifelong meatheads like myself, basic strength training has enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance in recent years. Back in the early 90s when I first got into the fitness business, most workouts were based on bodybuilding, still riding the popularity of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Golden Era of the sport a decade prior. In most gyms, you could see a clear division in the clientele, with the serious patrons utilizing the free weights and the soccer mom crowd occupying the machines and cardio equipment and taking group classes. By around 2000 or so, the pendulum had swung in the direction of functional training.

On one hand, this was a good shift, because it stressed the importance of real-life performance over appearance. The execution however, was lacking. For some reason, functional usually meant lifting light weights while standing on a wobble board, inflatable disk or some other oddball implement that would never be encountered in real life.

Throughout each of these eras, aficionados of the traditional barbell lifts were off in the distance of the fitness landscape, usually relegated to some dark corner of the gym where the one remaining squat rack still stood, waiting to be replaced by a Smith machine. At best, serious lifters were barely tolerated. At worst, we were handed back our membership dues and asked never to return.

Fast forward to today, and it looks like the pendulum has finally swung the other way. Barbells are the belle of the ball once again. Lifting heavy weights is back, although it never really went away.

While everyday fitness-minded folks used to demand amenities like rows of treadmills, complex-looking machines, and juice bars, many now flock to minimalist gyms with little more than racks, barbells, and weights (yet they often cost three times what the full service places do).

For lifers in this business like myself, the trend is both gratifying and a little perplexing. On one hand, its exciting to see the general public finally exposed to these effective lifts. On the other hand, the quality of execution by both gym goers and coaches can often leave much to be desired.

Despite some liberal interpretations of what strength training is, this particular trend is a good one. Interest in strength sports like Olympic lifting and powerlifting is on an upswing, creating serious opportunities for those interested in learning, and capable of teaching the lifts. Rather than be critical of where these coaches and gym goers often fall short, Id rather build off of the positives and do my part to increase the knowledge pool.

Dave Kirschen

I began lifting weights in junior high school, with a set of adjustable dumbbells that I had bought at the local sporting goods store.

Like most 13-year-olds, I had no idea what I was doing. I had no clue what programming was, I made up the exercises as I went along, and didnt even buy the correct sized plates for my dumbbells, so they rattled around precariously while I lifted them. Without any practical knowledge, or anyone to guide me, I relied mostly on bodybuilding magazines and my few equally clueless friends to learn as much as I could about my new obsession.

Needless to say, my first few years of training were not nearly as productive as they could have been. However, being young and dedicated, I did get better over time, and learned a ton along the way. By the time I was 17, I knew that I would have a career in strength training and fitness, and made the decision to pursue my degree in Physical Education at SUNY Cortland, one of the best programs in the country. I also began working as a trainer at the West Side YMCA in New York City.

By age 19, I had begun competing in bodybuilding shows. While this was fun, it wasnt long before I became more interested in what I was capable of performance-wise, as opposed to how I looked aesthetically. By the time I was 21, I made the switch to powerlifting and never looked back. I am currently competing as a pro, sharing the competitive platform with some of the strongest athletes in the world.

As of this writing, I have been lifting weights in one form or another for 25 years, and have been teaching others for nearly 20 years. Now, with The Strength Training Bible, I have the opportunity to share my quarter centurys worth of experience.

In addition to the strength programming featured in this book, you will also find robust sections on injury prevention. Since I do not claim any expertise in injury management, these sections were contributed by my friend and colleague, William Smith.

In many ways, Will and I represent opposite ends of the fitness/strength spectrum.

Will boasts an impressive academic pedigree, having worked as an Assistant Strength Coach for St. Johns University while finishing his masters degree, before starting a successful personal training business in northern New Jersey. He is a frequent lecturer and consultant on the role of exercise in injury prevention and management.