Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training, 3rd edition

This book is the go to starting reference for anyone that wants to work on basic strength training. If you read this book and take the time to practice and do the lifts properly, you will be better at them than most of the people in your gym. The current trends of fitness are all well and good for what they are, but they simply do not replace good old fashioned barbell work. Barbell work isn't easy, glamorous, or trendy in the modern world of crossfit, yoga, and other designer programs, but it is important to your overall fitness and help protect you against the effects of our sedentary daily lifestyles. Mark Rippetoe's training book is a no nonsense bible on how to do the major compound lifts properly and in a simple progression that will get you to a respectable level of strength in the shortest amount of time possible, if you put in the work and have a proper diet. Mark goes over the basic lifts in exhaustive, scientific detail. The book dedicates around 50 pages to squat and the theory behind it as an example. This book not only tells you how the lifts should be done, it explains why they should be done the way that they are, what happens mechanically when you do them properly and goes over cues and theory on how to make sure you are doing them safely and efficiently. If more personal trainers and gym goers understood the methods and prescriptions in the book, people would get far more out of their lifts and workouts. Using this book earlier in my lifting career, I increase my squat from a set of 5 at 95 pounds to three sets of 5 at 265, took my deadlift from 1 set of 135 for 5 reps to one set of 335 for 5 reps. I also improved my shoulder press and bench press considerably, as well as improving on power cleans and barbell rows (which aren't strictly part of the program, but my gym was weird about people doing power cleans). I ate quite a bit of food and slept a lot as recommended by the program, and ended up improving my strength considerably over the course of a year as the numbers show. I went from 170 pounds at 6'1 to about 205 pounds body weight at the end, and then dialed back to around 195 pounds and was able to squat the 3 sets of 265 and deadlift 335 for one set near the end. I did all this as a 34 year old, so I wasn't quite as indestructible as I was in my teens and twenties, I suspect someone starting earlier than me would progress a bit quicker. Since getting stronger, my health and the ease that I move through my physical environment are much better. Unlocking your potential strength is a wonderful thing and really improves quality of life. Long story short, if you want to get yourself strong and aren't afraid of putting in some work, eating a bit of food, and resting like you mean it, this book will help you in that goal. Even if you don't want to be as strong as possible, the book has a place on your shelf as an instruction manual on how to do the basic barbell lifts. If you follow the instructions, you will not injure yourself with poor form. This is worth it in and of itself too. Get yourself strong, and live a better life. Highest Recommendation.

I have been trying to learn how to exercise since I first lost the weight (more than 10 years ago now). I say "trying" because I have lost many, many hours of my life reading "expert" opinions and trying the latest "Muscle and Fitness" workout routine that "guarantees" success. I wish I had found Mark Rippetoe's book years ago. You don't need to read any further; this is well worth the money. My copy has pages flagged, and, for a few months until I was sure I learned the moves, it was with my during my workouts. This will teach you to use a barbell properly and, therefore, get stronger. Mr. Rippetoe will teach how to workout with barbell. He will teach you how to do it properly. I have shelves full of books; all could be traded for this one reference. Yes, I mean it. There is no other reference on the market that even comes close. It is a reference book: detailed drawings and descriptions of even the smallest of details for the major barbell exercises (squat, deadlift, bench press, (overhead) press, power clean). Ripp also included other exercises (dips, deadlift variations, etc.) I appreciate the fact that this book includes the "why" along with the "how." I have books that teach the squat with one or two pictures; as another reviewer points out, the squat chapter is many pages of detail. Even with the science, Ripp's writing style is understandable and often humorous. When I first started using Ripp's program, I modified it slightly (using his other excellent book, Practical Programming), and did not include Power Cleans (since I don't have bumper plates that can be safely dropped on my garage floor). I have tried power cleans at lighter weights (that I don't need to drop); if you can, I recommend power cleans. Sometimes, I incorporate squat jumps into my program for some "power" work; however, I have no idea what Ripp would think of this. He would probably make fun of me, but, hey, I work with what I have. I had been squatting for years; well, I was not doing it right. I was humbled when I realized that my version of a squat was probably just a "half" squat. Also, I realize that the hundreds of pounds that I pushed on the sled (machine leg-press) DOES NOT translate into real squatting strength. I have to admit--squats suck. The machine is much easier. But, the value of the squat cannot be ignored. Even after about 10 years of lifting, I learned something for each lift. Staring at the ceiling, for example, during a bench press, or moving my head/hips forward to lock out the press. These little things make a difference. Everything I knew about the deadlift was probably wrong... It's all over the internet, so you don't need this, but just in case you are curious, here was my first overall plan (based on both Starting Strength and Practical Programming). Note that you squat with every workout, and you alternate the bench press and overhead press. I was deadlifting just once each week. Note that the plan includes squatting, pushing, and pulling each workout. This is not the exact plan as laid out in the book (I altered the pulling exercise layout and removed back extensions): Day 1 Squat Press Chins Day 2 Squat Bench Deadlift Day 3 Squat Press Chins/Power Cleans Day 4 Squat Bench Chins Day 5 Squat Press Deadlift Day 6 Squat Bench Chins/Cleans For example, each time you succeed with your required reps (say, squat 100 lbs. for 3 sets of 5 reps), you increase your weight. Next workout, you would try 105. If you start properly (i.e., LIGHT), you can progress for a while. Sets and reps are usually 3 x 5, but the deadlift was 1 work-set x 5. (You do warmup sets, too). Don't let this simple layout fool you; you will get stronger. Squats are full-body exercises! At this point, I am no longer on this plan--not because it was not working, but because, obviously, at a certain point you can't continue to make 5-pound gains each workout. I am not 18 anymore, and my body just could not try for a Personal Record with each and every workout. I can't say enough about my improvements while on this plan for a few months. Also, I walk, run occasionally, and try to keep up with the young kids during soccer games/practices, so I noticed that I was not recovering (i.e., unable to progress) from the frequent squatting. Ripp does not recommend "cardio" training; he justifies this position with pages of science and life experience as a trainer. After starting with this program, you can consider the "intermediate" plans in Practical Programming (Google "Texas Method" for an example), or try something like Jim Wendler's 5-3-1. I am currently using 5-3-1 because, for me, this program allows for more recovery. Also, I like the fact that Wendler's program is not always working at your max weight (and instead uses a lighter weight with a higher rep-goal). By the way, Wendler (I believe, I don't know him personally), recommends Ripp's program to get started. Honestly, other fitness authors should be embarrassed to sell their works on the same shelf with Ripp's books.

I bought this book while I was working at a summer camp in America. I actually took John Berardi's 'Scrawny to Brawny' with me with the intention of reading it and then follow the workout once I returned back home in England. Once I had finished it, I decided that I wanted some more information on the lifts. I'm the kind of guy who likes to know the theory and techniques involved before getting down to business. If you are like me then this book is definitely for you! Mark Rippetoe does an outstanding job with this book. He has written it in such a way that each compound lift - that he feels is necessary in achieving optimal strength gains - has its own chapter. In these chapters he goes over what the lift is, which variations are popular and which he feels is the best one and why. The why part is particularly interesting as it delves into Biomechanics and demonstrates, through brilliant diagrams and illustrations, the reasoning behind his options. The chapters also cover common mistakes to look out for and then a basic program to follow initially. In my opinion, the chapters are clear and concise and are very well written. Mark injects quite alot of humour into the book and you find that there are areas of the book where you feel as though he's actually coaching you in person. Each lift is broken down into compartments which makes every one much easier to understand and follow. He plays close attention to detail and it is these details, I believe, that are the most valuable. There is only so much you can learn from watching and studying successful lifters on the likes of YouTube, for the rest I would advise you buy this book. The following chapters cover useful assistance excercises and programming. These chapters are useful but I feel it is the chapters on each individual lift that truly makes this book standout. The only downside, if you would call it that, is the section on nutrition. Nutrition is a very important part of weight training regardless whether you are looking to put size on or just increase your strength. The section gets the point across but I feel it is very basic and somewhat outdated. I feel it will leave anyone who is completely new to the idea of nutrition feeling a little underwhelmed and searching for more information on the matter. This was not really an issue for myself as I was fortunate in the sense that I also had 'Scrawny to Brawny'. John Berardi is well known for his knowledge on sports nutrition and has a huge chunk of the book dedicated to the nutritional aspect of weight training. I believe it is worth buying for this reason alone and would be a good accompaniment for anyone who found themselves in this particular predicament. Before buying this book I had researched it on the Internet and all of the reviews I had read were very positive. I can honestly say that I was not disappointed. This book is ideal for its intended purpose and I would definitely recommend it.

I have been searching for this book for most of my life. I'm 55 and since I was in high school I've yearned for a definitive source on lifting. I had natural strength, but success can be the worst enemy of progress. By the time I was not the strongest kid in my class (Junior year of high school), I did not know what to do to be competitive. As it turns out, the programs we were aware of at the time were better than nothing but not very good. Where was this book back then? Mark wears many hats in this book: coach, trainer, physiologist, physics instructor, philosopher and occasionally comedian. I had never done a dead lift before this program - partially because I was afraid to get hurt. I am 2 months into the program and have increased my dead lift over 100lbs and no longer have any symptoms of back problems that have nagged me for over 20 years. I feel like I'm quite early in my journey. The documentation on squats is outstanding. Squats require superb technique and you get outstanding instruction from the book. My 13 year old son is in the program and his progress is ridiculous. His peers in school are left wondering how he's gotten so big and more importantly strong. The important things this book delivers: 1) Focus on "system" disciplines where what you are doing attacks multiple muscle groups like the squat (calves, quads, hams, glutes, etc.) 2) You get to know why. Call it my own proclivity but it is encouraging and inspirational for me to understand the "why". Most other stuff I've read does not do that. You not only get the "why" you are doing something, you also get the why other things are less desirable. 3) Technique is an enormous focus of the book. This is critical. Injuries can be a problem when you're flinging around 100's of lbs. You get the guidance from this book on how to do things correctly which keeps you out of the injury "penalty box". 4) Expectations are set. You are told how things will go (and why of course). He has been "dead on" in my experience (as well as my son's). 5) A simple program. There are only a handful of lifts that you do. Workout sessions are not long and typically 3 times per week. I strongly recommend this book to anyone that wants to get stronger. As "Rip" says, no matter what you do physically, it's better if you're stronger. Get Strong!

Excellent book that I believe everyone interested in the lifting of weights should read, even if powerlifting is not you're thing. I'm not saying anything that hasn't been said before but in case you haven't been convinced by the time you get to me... This book describes, in great detail, the squat, the deadlift, the bench press, the power clean, and the overhead press. Each of these compound lifts are incredibly important to anyone who wants to gain strength and size. In this book Rippetoe outlines the benefits of strength in your everyday life, how to perform each of these lifts, offers a beginner's programme, and why what you do outside of the gym is just as important as what you do inside. The book is full of useful diagrams and fancy charts if that's your kind of thing. I personally found them to be very good at putting the author's words into practical terms. The book also has quite an extensive section of useful assistance exercises that you might run in conjunction with the novice program provided. Now there are several, constant, "criticisms" of this program that should be addressed. I get annoyed every time I see them because these complaints wouldn't exist if the person could read and do the program like it was written. "SS+GOMAD made me fat, wtf Rip?!" In a section on diet Rippetoe recommends that the 180cm, 55kg, kids out there drastically increase their caloric intake by drinking a gallon of milk a day (GOMAD) This seems a bit drastic but, speaking from experience here, you'll hit a wall much faster if you're dying to keep that "skinny pack" while attempting a program such as this. So the advice makes sense, the author recommends this right up until the previously underweight athlete has gained enough mass, then they can ease off. However there exists a proportion of society with very poor reading comprehension. In that same diet section Rippetoe says that a gallon of milk is not for those of you who already have the weight to begin with. However a million screaming idiots have since littered message boards bitching about not looking like Klokov because they tried GOMAD while being 20 kilos overweight. I want to seize every one of them by the collar and make them read the damn book next time before they loudly inform the internet that they can't read properly. The other criticism I hear a lot is "T-Rex mode! Rippletits said squats would make my arms grow but now my physique is imbalanced" Again, poor reading comprehension strikes. Rippetoe does say that you'll add muscle mass everywhere doing anything if you're an untrained individual. He did not, however, say that you'll have arms like Arnie after a few squats. SS is also a program with lots of leg work, very true. However the author also states that assistance exercises such as chin ups and dips are very useful. So much so that he included chin ups on the base program already. He even includes a few pages on how to do a barbell curl. So if you'd read the book you would have known maybe a few dips after your main session would have been a good idea. So basically, read the book properly and stop complaining about the program when you didn't even do it.

If you want to be strong...really strong, then the answer is simple: read this book. Being whole-body-strong is what this book encourages and teaches. Mark espouses a small number of compound movements done efficiently and properly to maximise your body's capacity to lift, as well as maximally develop your body's capacity to lift. But this book is not just a program. In fact if all you want is the program then you could find it online without looking very hard at all. For me, the real value in this book is primarily in the instruction on training the lifts. Before reading this book, my squat form was bad. I didn't need anyone to tell me: I just knew it. This, despite reading many instructional articles on how to correctly squat. After reading the chapter on the squat once, my form improved immensely...and I will continue to refer back to it for further development. Mark Rippetoe has gone to extraordinary effort to break the movements down into their component parts and describe them in a high level of detail referencing engineering principles, anatomical descriptions and some very helpful photo sequences. You don't need to be an engineer to understand what he's trying to say, nor an anatomist. Mark describes the lifts with reference to several disciplines of study in such a way that everyone who pays attention will pick it up, and learn a few things along the way. The other gem within this book is the no-nonsense, just-go-and-do-it approach to building strength. Mark believes: people should be strong; it doesn't need to take years to become strong; you only need a small number of lifts at the initial stages; and, you should add weight to the bar every session. This is manifest within the actual program and is endemic throughout the whole book. There's far more to it than that. To get it, you will have to read the book. Highly recommended.

Nobody will believe until they do it. There's just too much common sense and biology and physiology in here for people to suspend their disbelief...but it's true. This works, period, point blank. In just over 4 weeks, I've DOUBLED my admittedly anemic lifts. The "novice effect" is undeniable. You don't need a Pilates ball or a bunch of acrobatic exercises. Just follow the program...too simple, right?!? Just do the 4 (count 'em, only FOUR) lifts, eat enough to sustain protein synthesis and growth, and sleep enough to allow your body to repair/synthesize those trained muscles, and you WILL grow and grow stronger. Believe or don't. It'll cost you $25 for the book, and 3 trips to the gym per week to prove it to yourself. In fact, DON'T believe anything. Prove it. You will notice in the shower that you're washing bigger legs and shoulders within 3 weeks. The effect was stunning, and I'm 42 now. If I knew 25 years ago what I've proven to myself this year, I would have had a much better time of it in sports and general fitness. I wish I could be mad at my coaches for not knowing this stuff, but since I don't have a time machine, now is the only time I have. You are not too old to get stronger. I was a letter athlete in HS, and an average guy in intramurals, so neither a stand-out, nor a couch potato. I am now, at age 42, stronger than I have ever been. In something less than 3 months, it is highly likely than you can say those words too. Do the program. Study the Starting Strength stuff online and on YouTube, get a SS coach for an occasional form-check, and get ready to eat more than you think. I use protein powder, a mild (less than indicated) dose of creative, and coffee in the morning. You don't need gimmicks. You need a reasoned, proven program that will make you stronger. Do the program, and be amazed...I was, and it's not like I was a stranger to the gym before... If "you're not doing the program" (YNDTP), you won't be AS successful with it. Read the rambling online article entitled "YNDTP" if you want to know more about what deviating from this criminally "simple" program will look like...and then do the program. I didn't imagine this, but weightlifting is safer than playing badminton...seriously...published NIH study. Over 100X safer than aerobic dance or Zumba...I kid you not! Even for the instructors! Find a black iron gym and do the program if you're even sort of serious about getting stronger. This is the fastest, best, and probably safest way to burn through your novice phase. There are no acrobatic movements (injuries), no sustained daily burns (overtraining), or fancy, gimmicky gadgets to buy. I cannot overstate this: you will see, feel and record on paper almost immediate results. Stress, recovery, adaptation...according to a measured and logical progression plan. Makes perfect sense...so I won't be surprised if you join a CrossFit Box instead. Have fun puking every other morning while I'm getting stronger.

I purchased this book after reading a link to an article by Mark Rippetoe on the Instapundit website entitled "3 Reasons Why You Need to Lift a Barbell Over Your Head" (pjmedia.com/lifestyle/2014/03/24/3-reasons-why-you-need-to-lift-the-barbell-over-the-head). I have exercised at least 2-3 times per week all of my adult life, including with lighter weights in "boot camp" and "body pump" type classes, but I had never lifted a barbell over my head. I had done plenty of overhead presses with 8-12 lb dumbbells which I had assumed were the same. The next time I was at the gym I lifted a 30 lb dumbbell over my head and suddenly realized it's a completely different and more involved exercise than than lifting 2 15-lb dumbbells overhead. I noticed that a standing overhead press, done correctly, incorporated the entire body. It also felt great, especially between the shoulder blades. It also seemed to stress the muscles proportionally to their size. I purchased Starting Strength figuring that if I wanted to increase my weight/strength on the press, I had better get all the information I needed to make sure my form was perfect. In the 3 months since using Starting Strength, I have built my press up conservatively to 45 lbs, my squat to 85 lbs, and deadlift up to 105 lbs. I continue to do my boot camp type classes, and I've noticed the my upper body strength has improved enormously as well as my pliometric jumps. My posture and confidence level and sleep have also improved. Have my muscles gotten bigger? Yes and no. I've always been a slim, long climbed, gangly type person and continue to be. My legs have gotten a little thicker with muscle, but not enough to change my jeans size, and my arms have gotten considerably more toned and actually look slimmer. Yes, I still look like a woman. Rippetoe explains the strength training will not give women big, mannish muscles unless they use things like steroids. I think it's true, but I also think what turns many women off from lifting heavy weights is seeing women in the gym with unusual, and in my eyes unattractive, ill-proportioned musculature: things like thick, bulging abdominals, large quads with tiny glutes and hamstrings, large biceps and sloped shoulders -- that sort of thing. I think these women aren't strength training, but body building. I don't see them doing full squats, standing overhead presses and deadlifts. They seem to do a lot of ancillary, muscle isolating body building exercises such as sit ups with 45 lb weight plates, quad isolating exercises, heavy bicep isolating exercises, with much lighter or no shoulder, triceps, hamstring work, etc. I think because the Starting Strength 3 main barbell exercises incorporate so many muscles at the same time, it is almost impossible to over develop one muscle at the expense of another. Two things that I hope Rippetoe will cover in more detail in future editions/books: 1) Bone strength. Obviously, if you are working your muscles, you are working your bones to some degree, but are some exercises better at this? My guess is that pushing and pressing exercises like squats and presses would be better at this than pulling exercises such as the dead lift, but this is only a guess. 2) More detail about isometric strength training.. For example, if someone has a neuromuscular condition which makes it difficult to do multiple reps with perfect form, how beneficial is it to do one press and hold it, and how would you program for this?

Perfeito estado

Hace años me lesioné de la espalda baja (nervio ciático), al menos en 6 ocasiones lastimé el nervio ciático por realizar inadecuadamente sentadillas y peso muerto. Con el libro y los videos de Mark Rippetoe he mejorado increíblemente mi desempeño en estos ejercicios, llevo mas de 6 meses haciendo los ejercicios como lo indica el libro, no me he vuelto a lesionar ni siquiera un poco. Aclaro que no es magia, hay una curva de aprendizaje. El libro lo lleva a uno de la mano indicando claramente cómo ubicar el centro de masa, la posición de los pies, la mirada, el rebote, explica los vicios y errores con palabras sencillas, diagramas, fotografías, etc. La versión electrónica es simplemente excelente, razón por la cual le doy las 5 estrellas. Un gran libro sin duda alguna para todo aquel que quiera desarrollar fuerza en el tren inferior sin hacerse daño y que no quiera o no pueda pagar entrenamiento personalizado.

Ich habe das Buch erst gelesen, nachdem ich schon über 20 Jahre mit Hanteln trainiert hatte. Trotzdem war ich begeistert. R. beschreibt haarklein die wichtigsten Übungen, nämlich Kniebeugen, Bankdrücken, Überkopfdrücken, Kreuzheben, Standumsetzen und Klimmzüge. Vor allen Dingen den Erläuterung zur Kniebeugentechnik konnte ich eine Menge abgewinnen. So hatte ich diese vorher nie gemacht. R. beschreibt einen einfachen Trainingsplan, der aber wirklich etwas bringt. Er reduziert das Hanteltraining auf das wesentliche und plädiert für 5 Wiederholungen pro Satz. Ja, richtig gelesen! Er rät nicht zum Training im sog. Hypertrophiebereich, noch rät er zum Training im Maximalkraftbereich. Er rät zu einem Kompromiss - also 5 Wiederholungen - und dieser Kompromiss ergibt Sinn: 5 Wiederholungen sind die Grenze zwischen Kraft, Schnellkraft und Muskelaufbau. Diese 5 Wiederholungen sind also ein Kompromiss. Während der typische Discopumper i.d.R. mit ca. 10 bis 12 Wiederholungen trainiert, erreicht er den Kraftgewinn lediglich über die Muskelhypertrophie. Im deutlich niedrigeren Bereich (1 - 3 WH) kommt es zu einer verbesserten neuronalen Ansteuerung, aber das Muskelwachstum bleibt zurück. Bei den 5er WH erhält man das beste aus zwei Welten. Was die Übungsauswahl betrifft: hier hat R. natürlich nichts neues erfunden. Muss er auch nicht, denn jeder, der schon länger trainiert, weiß um die Wichtigkeit der Grundübungen. R. gelingt hier in jeder Beziehung ein guter Kompromiss: er schafft es ein kurzes Programm zu entwickeln, das auf Grundübungen basiert. Er schafft es eine leichte Periodisierung einzubauen, indem er bestimmte Übungen wie Kreuzheben und Standumsetzen wechselt. Er vernachlässigt durch das Standumsetzen die Explosivkraft nicht, und er reduziert das ganze Training auf das Wesentliche. Interessant fand ich auch seine Argumentation, warum ein einziger Satz Kreuzheben für den Anfänger ausreicht. Sehr interessant fand ich sein Kapitel über die Kniebeugen. Das hat dazu geführt, dass ich meine Technik umgestellt habe - mit Erfolg. Er ist auch nicht dogmatisch, lobt sein Programm nicht bis in den Himmel oder lästert über andere. In einem sehr interessanten Kapitel geht er auch Variationsmöglichkeiten zu den Übungen ein, wie z.B.: - kann man statt Frontdrücken auch Nackendrücken machen? - ist Schwungdrücken eine gute Alternative zu Frontdrücken? - was ist von Schrägbankdrücken zu halten etc. Er verweist immer wieder auf die Zielsetzungen verschiedener Sportler, deklassiert aber keine Übung aus persönlichen Gründen. Wenn er eine Übung nicht empfihelt, hat er dafür nachvollziehbare Gründe - in aller Regel solche, die sich auf die Verletzungsgefahr beziehen. Für Anfanger, die schon länger merken, dass der Plan vom "Trainer" nicht so funktioniert wie er sollte, ist dies das richtige Buch. Für Fortgeschrittene, die in Wirklichkeit (krafttechnisch) keine sind, ist das ebenfalls das richtige Buch. R. macht hier keine großen Versprechungen darüber, wie viele cm Muskelmasse in welcher Zeit zu erreichen sind. Er hat eher einen pragmatischen Ansatz: werde stärker, werde explosiver, und das, was du an dir siehst, das nennt man Muskeln. Ganz eindeutig hat er dieses Buch für natural Trainierende geschrieben, für die folgende Gleichung gilt: muskulös werden heißt stark werden. Das ist kein Buch für Pumper, die sich schöne Muskeln antrainieren wollen. Das ist ein Buch für Leute, die stärker werden wollen und das Krafttraining nicht als Schnellschuss begreifen. Meine Erfahrung ist die, dass Leute, die aus optischen Gründen trainieren, sehr häufig nicht dauerhaft trainieren, da der optische Erfolg schnell ausbleibt bzw. sich nur sehr langsam einstellt. Die ersten Wochen und Monate sieht man dauernd Veränderungen und ist hoch motiviert. Dann ist plötzlich Schluss, und die Motivation geht verloren. onzentriert man sich darauf stärker zu werden, sieht das anders aus. Klar, auch hier sind die Anfangserfolge nie wieder reproduzierbar, aber: man hat immer noch kleinere Erfolge, die sich auch im Leben auswirken. Im Laufe der Jahre wird man bescheidener und freut sich, wenn man ein messbares Kilo in der Kniebeuge mehr schafft. Muskelaufbau sieht man vielleicht schon längst nicht mehr, aber die kleinen Kraftsteigerungen motivieren. Das gefällt mir an dem Buch: hier gibt es keine Blödsinnsbilder von Anabolika Hirschen. Hier gibt es keine flotten Versprechen. Hier wird ein Programm als das hingestellt, was es ist: als ein Mittel zum Aufbau von Grundkraft, Schnelligkeit und damit auch Muskulatur. Das sieht man auch schon am bescheidenen Titel: "Starting Strength"! Auch was die Folgebücher für Fortgeschrittene betrifft: immer ist R. bescheiden, zeigt Wege auf, macht aber niemals ein Dogma daraus. An keiner Stelle sagt er: "Du musst es genau so machen, sonst wird es nichts." Er hält sich konsequent mit Angaben über möglichen Kraft- und Muskelaufbau zurück. Die simple Botschaft: "Mach es und werde stärker. Freue dich über die Muskeln, aber mache die nicht zum Trainingsziel. Mach das Programm so lange, bis du damit nicht mehr weiter kommst. Dann mach ein anderes. Werde stärker und du wirst muskulöser. Dinge brauchn Zeit. Lass die Pumper zunächst an dir vorbei ziehen. Du wirst sie bald überholen. Denke und trainiere langfristig!"

Rippetoe es un entrenador de gran prestigio en USA, aunque no carente de cierta polemica debido a su falta de diplomacia. Pero de lo que nadie duda es de su talento como entrenador principalmente de powerlifting, Este libro es un clasico desde hace años para halterofilos y sobre todo powerlifters, pero tambien tiene un enorme interes para aquellos interesados en el culturismo, tanto si buscan hipertrofia como aumento de fuerza, Muchos culturistas cometen el error de iniciarse en su deporte con ejercicios de culturismo puro, con aislamiento muscular,principios Weider...etc Como este tipo de entrenamiento solo funciona para una minoria, algunos se pasan al lado oscuro de la quimica, Los que estan en este mundillo saben a que me refiero, no dare mas detalles. Pues bien, por experiencia propia y ajena, starting strength es la opcion sana que funciona, Un año con esta rutina y luego pasar a hipertrofia, No lo lamentareis ( siempre que la dieta sea la adecuada ) y olvidaos de los atajos que no conducen a ningún sitio bueno. El fallo del libro es que solo está en Ingles

I had been training strength for several years without really thinking about my training before SS. This book is a must-read if you want to improve your technique, your lifts and your understanding of strength training. I highly recommend it.