Testify Nugget - September 8, 2025
/THIS WEEK'S SUBMISSION
From our video 6 Weight Lifting Secrets That Feel Like CHEATING (plus a bonus) (click the title to watch):
DLedge
Calluses are the limiting factor in my grip for deadlifts. They never go away and get in the way. Any tips?
Phil
Are you using chalk? Calluses should develop, but they should not be raised - just essentially tougher areas of skin. If they are raised (which will certainly happen far more without chalk), the bar will pull on them, and they’ll eventually tear.
We did a video on hand care for lifters a few years back, and you might find it useful:
Hand Care for Lifters
https://youtu.be/2aBErH_Yvi0
DLedge
I do use liquid chalk. They are always raised, sometimes they tear. Then they come back after healing. Thanks for the reply, I will watch the hand care video
Phil
You're welcome, and if your calluses are always raised, it's worth checking to make sure that you're using a tension grip when deadlifting, i.e., carrying the bar down slightly toward the fingers and not up by the base of the palm. If a deadlift is carried too high in the hand, it will slide or roll down in the hand, and this process makes for an insecure grip and tends to caused raised calluses as well.
Here's some more info on this:
Use This Grip for a BIGGER Deadlift! (Tension Grip) | Deadlift Technique
https://youtu.be/7e_gnfCNM_M
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ARTICLES & VIDEOS
6 Weight Lifting Secrets That Feel Like CHEATING (plus a bonus)
These aren’t gimmicks—they’re overlooked techniques and tactics that can help you train more efficiently and get stronger right now. We cover 6 lifting tips (and a bonus) to level up your training. Click here to watch.
He Stopped Pressing Like This. You Should Too.
Many lifters use their hips incorrectly in the press and don't even know it. Do you? Let's find out and fix it. Click here to read.
Blast from the Past: The BEST Warm-up for Barbell Training (Plus an EASY Math Trick to Help!)
Phil covers how to efficiently and simply structure your warm-ups for barbell training and gives you an easy math trick to help. Click here to watch.
Blast from the Past: One Cue to Rule Them All: Fix Every Single One of Your Lifts
We help you improve all of your lifts with one simple type of cue. Click here to read.
“GET STRONGER - LIVE BETTER” SHIRTS ARE AVAILABLE!
Why do you train? Because getting stronger makes everything else easier. Get stronger. Live better. “Testify” to this message and represent your favorite gym with this shirt in several color options.
Click here to head to the Testify Store.
WHAT'S COMING UP
Below are a few of our upcoming events, and you can find out what else is on the calendar by heading to our events page at www.testifysc.com/events.
Friday Night Fun Night: Trivia Teams!
Join us for the first-ever Testify Friday Night Fun Night from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. on Friday, September 26!
Grab your smartest friends (or the ones who make you laugh the most) and join us for a night of trivia, laughs, and good food!
Teams of 3-5 people will compete in a friendly trivia contest with fun prizes up for grabs.
We need to know numbers for planning and food, so please click here to RSVP and register your team!
Minneapolis, MN: Starting Strength Squat & Deadlift Camp
October 4, 2025
Spend the day learning the theory and practice of the low bar back squat and the deadlift.
Participants will spend lots of time on the platform receiving coaching and instruction on the squat and deadlift in a small group setting. We will also have a lecture and discussion on programming and cover how to identify and correct common technical problems.
Click here to register or for more information.
Kansas City, MO: Starting Strength Squat & Deadlift Camp
October 25, 2025
Spend the day learning the theory and practice of the low bar back squat and the deadlift.
Participants will spend lots of time on the platform receiving coaching and instruction on the squat and deadlift in a small group setting. We will also have a lecture and discussion on programming and cover how to identify and correct common technical problems.
Click here to register or for more information.
Testify Christmas Classic
December 13, 2025
The Christmas Classic is a team strength meet wherein the contested lifts will be the squat, press, bench press, and deadlift. Competitors will form teams of 2-4 lifters/team and perform all 4 lifts; each lifter will receive 3 attempts for each lift.
Click here to register or for more information.
THIS WEEK’S CONDITIONING
Option 1
Sled
Outdoors:
10 rounds of:
Push sled 100 ft
Pull sled 100 ft (hand over hand)
Indoors:
20 rounds of:
Push sled 50 ft
Pull sled 50 ft (hand over hand)
Compare to 2025.08.04.
Option 2
5 rounds:
10 cal bike
1 min rest
4 sandbag-over-bars
1 min rest
Set the yoke crossmember at 35/33, and the weight is 150#/75#.
Compare to 2025.06.16.
Option 3
5-10 rounds:
50 ft yoke carry
50 ft yoke push
100 ft sandbag carry and S.O.B. (sandbag-over-bar)
Perform 1 round every 2-3 minutes.
Compare to 2025.05.19.
Option 4
Row/Tire 10 min ladder:
2 cal row
2 tire flips
4 cal row
4 tire flips
6 cal row
6 tire flips
…
Climb the ladder as high as possible in 10 minutes.
Compare to 2025.05.19.
As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better!
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Book a free intro and strategy session with us HERE.
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