How much should a coach shape an athlete’s technique, and how much should be left to self-discovery? In this episode, Coach Mike and Coach Andrew unpack the balance between guidance and individuality in powerlifting, exploring how movement variability, light-load training, and experiential learning help lifters find their strongest, most natural form.
Equipped powerlifting isn’t just about putting on tighter gear—it’s about pressure, trust, and problem-solving when it matters most. In this episode, Coach Mike, Coach Mel sit down with Hugo Duarte and Dominic Wetekam to uncover what really happens behind the scenes. They explore weight management, training logistics, and why equipped lifting feels more like a true team sport than anything else.
If you’ve ever wondered why equipped lifters can’t do it alone, how handlers make or break a meet, or what makes this discipline so demanding, this deep dive is for you.
It’s not just lifting weights—it’s mastering skill, trust, and teamwork under pressure.
In this episode of Reactive Training Systems, Coach Ross Leppala and John Garafano discuss John's journey back to competitive powerlifting after a significant hiatus due to injuries and life circumstances. They delve into their training strategies, the importance of environmental factors, and the role of emerging strategies in achieving optimal performance. John shares his inspiring story of overcoming a severe neck injury, weight loss during a move, and the impact of a supportive community.
In this episode, Belgian coach and athlete Jochen Strubbe shares his coaching journey in the sport, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity in training. The conversation highlights the evolving nature of training methodologies, such as high frequency SBD, and the importance of a supportive community. The coaches also discuss the role of communication and trust in athlete-coach relationships, touching upon the impact of training environments and personalized approaches to coaching.
In this episode of the RTS Podcast, Coach Mike and Coach Mel talk with Thomas Lilly, founder of Zero Weakness Gyms. Known for coaching elite lifter Colton Engelbrecht, Thomas shares his approach to technique, programming, and frequency in powerlifting. They dive into biomechanical rules, RPE, velocity-based training, and more.
What can 20 years of powerlifting still teach you? In this episode, Coach Mike reflects on lessons from competing at the Nationals, sharing insights on competition prep, travel challenges, weight cuts, and evolving training strategies, especially for deadlifts.
Coach Mike and Mel sit down with 2025 Sheffield champion Kjell Bakkelund. They dive into the art of coaching, building strong coach-athlete relationships, and making smart training decisions. Kjell also shares valuable insights from his powerlifting journey. Whether you're an athlete or coach, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Don’t miss it!
In this episode, we dive into the art of self-coaching in powerlifting with Ade Omisakin. We talk tracking progress, spotting trends, and using tools like velocity-based training to make smarter decisions in the gym.
Coach Mike, John and our newest RTS Coach Andrew discuss gym safety, managing fatigue, and the differences between dynamic and static RPE systems. They share practical experiences and strategies for improving strength training outcomes across all levels.
To share the excitement about Sheffield this year, coach Mike and Mel sit down with Kasemsand Senumong, also known as Opor Kasem, the current 66kg world champion. Opor shares his training approach leading up to the competition, talks about his powerlifting journey since joining RTS and explains his mindset towards Sheffield.
In this episode, coach Mike and Mel are joined by Coach Jason Tremblay from The Strength Guys to discuss various approaches to training elite powerlifters. They cover the fascinating coaching methods employed for lifters like Taylor Atwood, Joe Jordan, and Celine Crum, detailing specific strategies for strength, injury recovery, and performance optimization. Jason shares his journey into coaching, his experiences in strength and conditioning, and how these learnings shape his current practices. This engaging conversation provides a deep dive into the intricacies of powerlifting coaching and the collaborative efforts required for high-level athlete development.
The RTS team celebrates a successful year, sharing highlights, key achievements, and challenges faced throughout the year. Mike, Mark, Ross, Gaby, Peter, Mel and Adam attended this roundtable discussion.
The team engages in an in-depth discussion about the diverse experiences and strategies used by competitive powerlifters. The conversation highlights Ross's journey to becoming a world champion, dealing with setbacks like injuries and travel challenges, mental preparation, and the importance of maintaining a balanced life outside of lifting. They also explore the role of athleticism and varied training, such as including plyometrics and sprints, for overall health and performance sustainability. Additionally, the episode delves into the psychological aspects of competition, the importance of process execution over chasing PRs, and strategies for young and seasoned lifters to manage off-seasons and maintain a long-term competitive edge.
In this episode, Mike, Mel and Kenny delve into the diverse techniques used by powerlifters. The discussion covers the concept of self-organized technique and how lifters develop personalized approaches to their lifts. They explore the balance between giving athletes freedom to develop their technique and providing structure and guidance. This episode also highlights the challenges and strategies in adapting and perfecting form, both for novice and experienced lifters, and shares insights on coaching approaches for optimal performance.
In this episode, host Mike Tuchscherer talks with Coach Mel Kasper and Jacob Tsypkin about learning skills in powerlifting and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. They compare two ideas: one that views skill as coming from how athletes interact with their environment, and another that sees skill as a mental model created through thinking. The conversation includes practical applications of these theories, emphasizing the importance of real, resisted practice and individual variation in training.
In this podcast episode about game day coaching, Mike Tuchscherer discusses with coaches Gaby and Kenny the challenges and strategies of handling multiple lifters at large competitions, drawing on Kenny´s recent experience at the USAPL Collegiate Nationals. They share insights on managing group coaching scenarios, emphasizing the importance of having diverse training strategies and support systems like the RTS Training Lab to enhance coaching effectiveness and athlete performance.
In this episode, Mike Tuchscherer, Gaby Muller, and Mel Kasper engage in an insightful conversation with Bryce Krawczyk of Calgary Barbell. They reflect on several events that have already happened in 2024, particularly focusing on Bryce and athlete Brittany Schlater's experiences at the Sheffield competition. The discussion highlights coaching strategies, the psychological aspects of training, and the intricacies of athlete-coach relationships, including handling adversities and fostering effective communication. Bryce also talks about the development and success of the Calgary Barbell app, shedding light on online coaching and community building. This episode provides valuable insights into powerlifting coaching, athlete development, and the importance of mental resilience in sports.
In this episode, Mike Tuchscherer discusses his recent powerlifting competitions, milestones, and reflections on the sport's evolution. Talking about a return to equipped lifting, he shares insights on decision-making, personal growth, and balancing raw and equipped lifting goals. Tune in for a concise yet insightful exploration of powerlifting's journey through Mike's perspective.
This episode features a conversation between Mike Tuchscherer, Gaby Muller and coach and athlete Alexander Eriksson, discussing the Sheffield 2024, Alexander's powerlifting background, coaching strategies, and the preparation leading up to Gustav Hedlund´s win at Sheffield 2024. They also highlight the importance of smart, long-term training and the coach-athlete relationship.
In this episode, Mike Tuchscherer and Gaby Muller sit down with Evans Nana, aka the "Ghanaian Gladiator" or "Evans The Hulk", and discuss the power of belief and positivity in sports and life. Evans shares the story of his personal journey in strongman, his past in powerlifting, and how powerlifting training impacted his performance in strongman. They touch upon the impact of a coach´s belief, the importance of paying attention, and the experience of turning around negative thoughts to achieve success in sports. Evans also shares how he wants to be remembered for empowering others and bringing positive change.
At some point, all lifters will face some degree of adversity in their training. It's important to our long-term development that we learn how to use that adversity to empower us. This ensures we can come out the other side, successful. Coach Mike and Ross sit down and talk about how that has played out for them over the past few years in their pursuits of strength. Lifters featured in our training montage videos are lifters who we coach.
In this podcast episode, host Gaby Muller and Mike Tuchscherer sit down with Adam Jones and founder and coach of Performotion, Kelly Mann. Dive into the growth of Performotion, and gain unique insights into the importance of biomechanics, exercise selection, and the balance between health and strength in powerlifting. Discover the concept of a 'Golden Microcycle' and the significance of variation in training. Listen to how Kelly shares her viewpoints on athlete-coach communication and her personal experience in setting boundaries in coaching.
Kelly and Adam also optimistically share news about the future of Australian powerlifting.