Articles by Charles Staley

Strength Training for Musicians Q: Dear Mr. Staley: I am a professional cellist, interested in beginning a bodybuilding program. As a group, my profession is subject to a very high rate of occupational related injury, mostly in the form of various overuse syndromes (tendinitis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.). The conventional wisdom is that training […]

Speed Strength Article Generating More Questions Q: I saw your material on Speed strength training and I want to know more about the specific exercises, such as how to modify if I do not have access to certain things. The Swiss ball crunch to be specific. A: You can simply perform a high-cable rope crunch, […]

Soviet Peaking Cycle Q: Charles, I vaguely remember a soviet six week peaking cycle from an old issue of Muscle & Fitness— it’s different from the 6 week squat routine that you recently spoke about in Mesomorphosis. I wonder if you know of this routine, and if so, what do you think about it? A: […]

Q: Dear Charles, I would like information on how to develop arm strength for Little Leaguers. My son is 11 and daughter is 8. Is there a difference in the development in a girl’s arm than a boy’s arm? Also what about batting and running? What kinds of exercises can be done for strengthening for […]

Charles, My mother just turned 70 years old. She has been sedentary all of her life and seems to be paying for it now, exerting great effort just to get out of her recliner. Is it just too late to start figuring out how to strengthen her body at her age? Any suggestions to reverse […]

Mr. Staley, I am a competitive bodybuilder and personal trainer with a degree in exercise physiology. I have learned a great deal from your website and articles. Recently a friend of mine who is a high school football coach started using a program called “Bigger, Faster, Stronger.” In it they teach a box squat in […]

Intermittent Sets for Bench & Squats Dear Charlie, A few months ago you recommended “intermittent sets” of pull-ups for a great lat workout. Can you use them for exercises such as bench presses, squats, seated presses, etc? A: “Intermittent sets,” which are also sometimes called “stutter sets,” can produce an intense training effect that can […]

Q: Charles, I do a workout where I do nose crushers, then bench press, then power snatches, and finish with ball crunches. I fatigue quickly and haven’t been making progress. Should I up my calories, or is there a supplement you recommend for sustained energy? A: Although your diet and/or overtraining could be a factor, […]

Dear Charles, I’m a powerlifter in my first year of training. An Olympic style weightlifter in my gym, who can squat a heck of a lot more than I can, suggested I train without knee wraps except for maximum attempts and save them for the contest arsenal. Do you agree with this wisdom? A: A […]