S2E22: Jedd Johnson: Why too much volume is killing your progress

In this episode I welcome my longtime friend and grip strength specialist Jedd Johnson back to Strength Beyond Strength for a conversation about training, recovery, and continuing to get stronger as we age.Jedd explains how he completely overhauled his approach to strength training after years of long, high-volume workouts. By combining conjugate training with a low-volume, high-intensity approach to muscle building, he’s been able to improve his results while spending considerably less time in the gym.Topics coveredTraining smarter and recovering better* Why Jedd abandoned his two- and three-hour workouts* How excessive training volume was affecting his grip performance* What changed when he started prioritizing recovery* Why getting older doesn’t mean you have to stop setting personal recordsThe conjugate training method* The influence of Louie Simmons and Westside Barbell* Max effort, dynamic effort, and repetition effort training* How Jedd modified the traditional four-day conjugate system* His three-day lifting schedule alongside three weekly grip sessions* Using variations of familiar lifts to make measurable progressThe one-work-set approach* Why Jedd performs just one hard working set on most muscle-building exercises* The role of effective repetitions and mechanical tension* Using a five-to-eight-repetition range for hypertrophy* Progressive overload through meticulous recordkeeping* Why he no longer emphasizes chasing a pump, drop sets, or excessive training volumeGrip strength and steel bending* Applying strength-training principles to competitive grip training* Programming grippers, pinch grip, and thick-bar training* Preparing for the Napalm Nightmare World Championships* How Jedd approaches reverse bending and other steel-bending challenges* Why balancing grip work with overall strength training mattersTraining for the goal* Why both Dave and Jedd use lifting straps for heavy deadlifts* Separating grip-specific training from general strength development* The importance of choosing methods that support your actual goalsAnd a little professional wrestling* Jedd’s Mount Rushmore of professional wrestlers* Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Ric Flair, and The Undertaker* Memories of the legendary Undertaker vs. Mankind Hell in a Cell matchResources mentionedJedd Johnson / Diesel CrewTraining programs, instructional materials, and strength resources:https://dieselcrew.com/store/shop/The Grip AuthorityJedd’s membership resource for grip strength training:https://thegripauthority.com/Follow Jedd on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/jedd.diesel/Scary GripJedd also discusses his four-week grip-training program, covering grippers, pinch grip, and thick-bar training. Find his available programs through the Diesel Crew store.Final takeawayGetting stronger as you age doesn’t necessarily mean finding ways to do more work.Sometimes it means taking a closer look at what you’re doing, eliminating the things that aren’t helping, and getting better results from the work that remains.The goal isn’t simply to survive your workouts. It’s to keep getting stronger and continue enjoying your training for years to come.Dave’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Dave’s Substack at davewhitley.substack.com/subscribe

My good friend Aleks Salkin, The Hebrew Hammer, returns to Strength Beyond Strength.Aleks is a kettlebell and bodyweight strength coach, Original Strength instructor, and host of The Hammer Cast. We’ve known each other for years and share an appreciation for simple, effective training and the lessons that old-time physical culture still has to teach us.On this episode we talk about how small, intelligently delivered, incremental doses of “poison” movements can actually improve your strength and health. Check it out.About Aleks SalkinAleks Salkin, known as The Hebrew Hammer, is an international kettlebell and bodyweight strength coach, Original Strength instructor, writer, and host of The Hammer Cast.Connect with Aleks:Website: https://alekssalkin.comThe Hammer Cast: https://alekssalkin.com/the-hammer-cast/Free 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge: https://www.9minutechallenge.comConnect with Dave Whitley:Coaching: https://coachdavewhitley.com Instagram: @irontamer Get full access to Dave’s Substack at davewhitley.substack.com/subscribe

There’s more than one way to get strong, and there’s a lot more to kettlebell training than swings and snatches.On this episode of Strength Beyond Strength, I sit down with Peter Hirsh, a veteran strength coach, creator of Strength in Motion, and the man behind one of the largest kettlebell communities on Facebook.Peter has spent more than 20 years studying, practicing, and teaching kettlebell training. His approach draws from hardstyle, kettlebell sport, strongman, and a wide range of movement disciplines.We explore the bigger picture of strength training: developing skill, building a foundation that lasts, and getting away from the idea that there’s only one correct way to train.Whether you’re new to kettlebells, have been swinging them for decades, or coach other people, this episode offers a perspective on training that goes beyond exercises, sets, and reps.Topics and themes:* Peter’s background and more than two decades in the strength and fitness industry* The different schools of kettlebell training and what they have to offer* Looking beyond training styles and organizational dogma* Why strength is as much about developing skill as it is about moving weight* The importance of structure, progression, and consistency* Building strength, mobility, conditioning, and resilience* Kettlebells as tools for improving life outside the gym* The role of coaching, education, and community in helping people grow* Peter’s Strength in Motion training systemConnect with Peter HirshStrength in Motion: https://strengthinmotion.fit/Peter’s website: https://peterhirsh.com/Connect with Dave WhitleyCoaching and training: https://coachdavewhitley.com/Subscribe to Strength Beyond Strength for more conversations about strength, movement, mindset, and the lessons that carry over into the rest of life.Dave’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Dave’s Substack at davewhitley.substack.com/subscribe

Most people already know they should exercise, eat better, get enough sleep, and take better care of themselves.So why don’t they?Because knowing what to do and actually doing it are two very different things.On this episode of Strength Beyond Strength, my guest is Kate Solovieva, Precision Nutrition Master Coach, psychology expert, and experienced health and behavior-change coach.Kate brings a perspective that goes far beyond calories, workouts, and training programs. Her work explores how people think, how they make decisions, what gets in the way of progress, and what it really takes to create lasting change.This conversation explores the intersection of psychology, coaching, nutrition, and everyday life, including the realities of balancing personal goals with the responsibilities of parenting and family.Because getting stronger isn’t simply about what you can lift or what you know. It’s about who you’re becoming and what you’re willing to practice consistently.Topics explored* The difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it* Why information alone rarely creates lasting behavior change* The psychology behind habits, consistency, and personal growth* Why individualized coaching requires more than delivering a program* The importance of meeting people where they are* Why perfection can become an obstacle to progress* Building sustainable fitness and nutrition habits around real life* The challenges of maintaining personal goals while raising young children* What separates a good coach from someone who simply knows a lot* Why patience, practice, and adaptability matterAbout Kate SolovievaKate Solovieva is a Precision Nutrition Master Coach and head of community engagement at Precision Nutrition. She holds advanced qualifications in psychology and brings years of experience helping people navigate health, nutrition, and behavior change.Her background combines academic psychology, hands-on coaching, and a deep understanding of human behavior.Connect with KateInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/k_solovieva/Precision Nutrition: https://www.precisionnutrition.comSuper Coach Diaries: https://solovieva.myflodesk.com/supercoachdiariesConnect with Dave WhitleyLearn more about coaching, strength training, and building lasting physical capability at:https://coachdavewhitley.comSubscribe to Strength Beyond Strength for more conversations about strength, performance, personal development, and becoming more capable in every area of life.Dave’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Dave’s Substack at davewhitley.substack.com/subscribe

Mike “The Machine” Bruce is one of the best professional performing strongman of our time, longtime coach, former Marine and submission wrestling champion, author, speaker and most importantly: my friend for many years.I first met Mike in 2006. He has become widely known in the strength world for extraordinary demonstrations of neck strength and old-school physical culture. Among his feats are a 1,500-pound partial rack pull at approximately 202 pounds bodyweight, a 300-pound seated neck raise and having a steel bar bent across the front of his throat. In fact, he has a world record of 7 bars measuring 5/8” x48” bent across his throat in under 60 seconds. By me.photo by Mandy Whitley PhotographyBut this conversation goes well beyond records.Mike and I discuss how strength training gave him direction early in life, lessons carried forward from the Marine Corps and combat sports, training under old-time strongmen such as Grandmaster Dennis Rogers and Bud Jeffries, the forgotten value of neck training, and how a lifetime of lifting changes the way you think about strength.They also explore Mike’s philosophy that there is no magical training method. The foundation is still consistency, discipline and mastery of the basics — coupled with the patience to allow those things to work over time. Mike “The Machine” Bruce Get full access to Dave’s Substack at davewhitley.substack.com/subscribe

Ali Gilbert joins Strength Beyond Strength to talk about men’s health, strength, and what it means to take care of the whole man. We discuss how her work grew from golf fitness into men’s health coaching, why coaches and medical professionals need to work together, and what men can do when their energy, recovery, or body composition starts to change.We also get into practical training for busy men, the assumptions people make about testosterone, and how strength supports the life you want to lead outside the gym.Ali is a CSCS and the founder of Silverback Coaching and the Silverback Summit, which brings coaches and healthcare professionals together around men’s health. Ali's instagramDave’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Dave’s Substack at davewhitley.substack.com/subscribe

My guest on this episode of Strength Beyond Strength is my longtime friend and returning guest, Dr. Perry Nickelston, founder of Stop Chasing Pain.Perry has spent years teaching people to stop looking at the body as a collection of isolated parts and start paying attention to how the entire system works together.That means the place where you hurt isn’t necessarily the place where the problem began.In this conversation, we get into pain, movement, the nervous system, recovery, and why simply treating symptoms can cause you to miss the bigger picture.We also talk about the evolution of Perry’s thinking over the years and the importance of remaining curious rather than becoming married to a particular method.This conversation goes well beyond fixing aches and pains. It’s about learning to listen to the body, asking better questions, and understanding that everything is connected.Perry has built his work around a simple but powerful idea:Where you feel pain may not be where the problem is.Perry and I have known each other for many years, so this episode is very much conversation between two coaches who have spent decades studying movement, performance, recovery, and the human body.We talk about why people and practitioners often become too focused on the painful area instead of looking at what is happening throughout the entire system.In this episode, we discuss:* Why Perry created Stop Chasing Pain* Why the location of pain doesn’t always reveal its cause* Moving beyond the traditional “body part” approach* Looking at the body as an interconnected system* The relationship between movement and the nervous system* Why improving one area of the body can influence another* The importance of circulation, recovery, and the body’s internal environment* Why simply attacking symptoms can sometimes miss the real issue* How Perry’s approach has evolved over the years* Being willing to change your mind when new information appears* Why curiosity is one of the most important qualities a coach or practitioner can develop* The difference between following a system and actually understanding principles* Learning to pay attention to the signals your body is giving you* Why health, movement, performance, and recovery can’t always be separated into neat categoriesOne of the biggest themes of the conversation is something that applies to strength training as much as it does to pain:Don’t just ask what hurts. Ask why the body is responding the way it is.The better the question, the better chance you have of finding something useful.Connect with Perry and explore his work at Stop Chasing Pain.Dave’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Dave’s Substack at davewhitley.substack.com/subscribe

On this episode of Strength Beyond Strength, I’m joined by Tiffany Longcor, creator of Tiffness Fitness.Tiffany is a strength coach, kettlebell sport athlete and longtime student of unconventional strength training. Her training includes kettlebells, barbells, steel mace, Indian clubs and, of course, the bent press. She also currently holds the living women’s barbell bent press record.We talk about building strength in a way that fits your actual life, learning to enjoy the process, challenging yourself without turning every workout into punishment, and why good coaching has to start with the individual standing in front of you.In this episode we talk about:* Tiffany’s path from athlete to coach* How her relationship with strength training has evolved* Kettlebell sport and what it teaches you about patience and practice* Why Tiffany was drawn to the bent press* Training unconventional and old-time strength lifts* The difference between doing something hard and unnecessarily beating yourself up* Making fitness fit your life instead of organizing your life around fitness* Why enjoyment matters if you want training to last* Individualizing training rather than forcing everyone into the same program* Strength, confidence and resilience outside the gym* What competition can teach us even when winning isn’t the primary goal* Why there is more than one way to be strongAbout Tiffany LongcorTiffany Longcor is the coach behind Tiffness Fitness. She works with clients online and specializes in helping people build strength, skill and resilience through individualized training. Her background includes kettlebell sport, conventional and unconventional strength training, steel mace, Indian clubs and the bent press.Her philosophy is simple: fitness should support your life, not consume it.Connect with TiffanyWebsite: TiffnessFitness.comInstagram: @tiffness.fitnessDave’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Dave’s Substack at davewhitley.substack.com/subscribe

What does strength look like when the stakes are real?James Logan is a lifelong endurance athlete, author of Just Keep TRI-ING, and Stage IV colorectal cancer survivor who has refused to allow his diagnosis to become his identity.After being diagnosed in 2024, James faced chemotherapy, radiation, major surgeries and an ostomy. And through all of it, he kept moving.Not recklessly. Not because the circumstances weren’t serious. But because training, competing and pursuing meaningful goals remained part of how he chose to live.Now he’s preparing to compete in the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona as part of TEAM IMF.In this conversation, we get into something much bigger than endurance sports.We talk about:* What happens mentally when you’re given a life-changing diagnosis* The difference between having cancer and allowing cancer to have you* Why endurance training prepared James for adversity he never chose* Discipline, sacrifice, suffering and pain* Continuing to train while going through treatment* How your relationship with discomfort changes when the stakes become real* Faith, hope and choosing to keep moving forward* Why having a meaningful goal matters* James’s road to the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona* The story behind his book, Just Keep TRI-ING* The danger of assuming there will always be another race, another opportunity or another dayThis is one of those conversations that expands the definition of strength.Strength isn’t simply what you can lift, how fast you can go or how long you can endure.Sometimes strength is continuing to participate fully in your own life when life gives you every reason not to.James has a phrase that sums it up:“I have cancer. Cancer does not have me.”That’s Strength Beyond Strength. Get full access to Dave’s Substack at davewhitley.substack.com/subscribe

I met Denis Vasilev last year at BellFest in Nashville and got to have some conversations with him again at BellFest in Austin. He is an 11-time Kettlebell Sport World Champion, multiple world-record holder, Master of Sport International Class and one of the most accomplished long-cycle athletes in the history of the sport.In this episode of Strength Beyond Strength, Denis and I dig into what really separates elite kettlebell lifting from simply being strong. We talk technique, relaxation, breathing, the rack position, pacing a ten-minute set, balancing strength and endurance, individualizing technique, training as you get older, and what people who never intend to compete can learn from kettlebell sport.Most importantly, we talk about what 25+ years of practice teaches you about strength beyond numbers on the scoreboard. https://www.denisvasilevkettlebell.com/ instagram: @denisvasilevkettlebell Get full access to Dave’s Substack at davewhitley.substack.com/subscribe