OpenTube

Does Starting Strength Work for Weightlifting?!

Max Aita

5,335 views

Want personalised and adaptable weightlifting programming built on my coaching knowledge and experience? Go here: https://bit.ly/4ectrLq

If you’re new to my channel, my name is Max Aita. I’m the founder of Weightlifting AI & CoachLogik and have spent over two decades in high level weightlifting—as an athlete, a coach, and now as a founder helping lifters train smarter.

I’ve learned from some of the greatest minds in the sport, coached world-class athletes, and developed a data-driven approach to weightlifting programming that has helped thousands of weightlifters get stronger and lift better.

My Background:

Athlete Experience: Trained under Ivan Abadjiev, Steve Gough, Boris Sheiko, and others—immersing myself in the American, Russian, and Bulgarian systems of weightlifting.

Coaching Career: The only coach in history to produce five separate Senior American record holders.

Championships & Records: Coached multiple World and Pan Am Champions, as well as record holders in Weightlifting.

Author & Educator: Wrote The Technique Triad and other influential weightlifting books, breaking down elite-level weightlifting mechanics and methodology.

Innovation: Developed the programming logic that powers Weightlifting AI, taking everything I’ve learned and making it accessible to lifters at every level.

What You’ll Get on This Channel:

Weightlifting breakdowns – Learn the nuances of technique and how to fix common mistakes.
Programming insights – Understand how to train smarter, not just harder.
Reaction videos & case studies – See what works (and what doesn’t) in real lifters.
Q&A & Coaching Lessons – Get expert advice on all things weightlifting.

If you’re serious about getting better, you’re in the right place.

Welcome to the community.

— Max

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Disclaimer
This video may contain short clips used under fair use for educational and commentary purposes. All third-party footage remains the property of its respective owners. These clips are transformed through narration and analysis in alignment with YouTube’s fair use guidelines.

Credits:

hookgrip: ‪‪‪‪@hookgrip‬
All Things Gym: ‪‪‪‪@allthingsgym‬
Weightlfting House: ‪@WeightliftingHouse‬
Lu Xiaojun Sport: ‪@luxiaojunsport‬
USA Weightlifting:‪@USAWeightlifting‬

20 Comments

@IronPhil8366 4 months ago

These memes are peak. Editor needs a raise.

@jeffreyquinn3820 4 months ago

What I like about Starting Strength is that it's extremely simple. Beginners have to learn all sorts of things about the gym, such as how to load plates without getting hurt, gym etiquette, all that type of stuff. Asides from loading too much weight on the bench, it's not going to get anyone into a bad situation. What I don't like about it is that it isn't a good program for very many people. At least add one pull. Also that its focus is on steadily increasing weight. You should really know how to do an exercise before focusing on how much you can lift.

@brentmorris4371 4 months ago

I like this style of video talking about other programs. You should review Tommy Kono’s program in his book “Weightlifting: Olympic style”

@TDace25 4 months ago

Thanks Max

@sardalamit 4 months ago

Cool! Started watching! Before I finish your video- I used the 4 day recommendation from Rippetoe - 2 days Strength, 2 days WL. Alternatively between volume and intensity. Worked well at my level.

@dominickloka9758 4 months ago (edited)

I'm pretty sure there are elite weightlifters who never did a bench press in their life. Push presses and jerks and snatches will give you plenty of shoulder strength.
Back when the Press was contested, benching on a steep incline was a popular strength builder, but there were lifters who only pressed overhead, sometimes with dumbbells. But today with just the jerk and the snatch, I don't see much point in benching for an olympic weightlifter. The core strength and overhead stability to hold a heavy jerk are far more important.

@howardroark4567 4 months ago (edited)

Starting strength was great for getting me exposed to the Olympic lifts. I had followed the recommendations of making your pulls cleans on day 1 snatches day 2 than deadlift day 3. There used to be a lot more focus on integrating Olympic lifting in and if you look at the older contributors on the site there was a huge focus on it.

I don’t expect you to take a deep dive or anything but in the follow on book there is a Bill Starr template for general stength training with a focus on the Olympic lifts as well as another section that’s really meant to be specialized program.

I’d be interested in some feedback on those programs if you ever do dive in.

@sambsialia 4 months ago (edited)

Hey Max. Your are my trusted xpert for years now. Here is my rough supertotal SS novice linear program with hybrid cardio. I admittedly!!!! Do not have Oly technique or strength yet, at 59, but I love the mix. Hope you take time to pick me apart someday. Thanks for great expertise and content. Oh, right you dont let me show pics. Ok. Well my idea is to rotate 4 lifts days with alternating cardio. My wifie an me do C and J variation 3x3 day with front squats 3x5 n front press, Snatch variant day with OH squat and Bneck press, SS novice A w deads, and a C n J plus Snatch day that is entirely technical with pull ups or downs. Cardio days involve rucking, (nord ski, C2 rows, assault bike, stair climber superset), Bas boxing aqua bag, 1$ pass swim (am old), Matt Furey’s “Royal Court”, rope wall climb + hangboarding, and kettlebell iron cardio. Sometimes we include C to 5k, but she has run issues. All that and we try to have 10k steps daily and 3 liters of water. I know I can never be more than a novice with this variety, but we love the spontenaity of it all. 4 dedicated weekly sessions, 2 lift, 2 cardio, and its fun. Best wishes.

@wizzelhoart 4 months ago

poor Mark. everyone dumping on the guy 😅

@malekabdoh8639 3 months ago

Even people who want to compete in oly lifting still have side goals. people want to be able to pick up bags and put their kids in the air and other day to day stuff so keeping bench and deadlift maybe only for one workout for each and keeping press on the non bench day turn the squats to high bar and add after or before those lifts snatch and clean and jerk with acesories after

@핸디님 4 months ago

everyone needs to start from somewhere

@julianhaylock9843 4 months ago

Same video but for 5/3/1?

@imba36 4 months ago

It's literally in the title "Starting Strength". It's not "Starting Olympic Weightlifting". The book is not gear to olympic weightlifters, but geared to those that are starting strength training.

@RegularCoolGuyShooting 4 months ago

This video “hey this program that isn’t designed for Olympic weightlifting isn’t good for Olympic weightlifting”. But everyone knows if they invoke Rippetoes name they get clicks.

@Damzified 4 months ago

The amount of SS memes scattered throughout this video was impressive, well done! So... the program ain't it for WL, but does it work for building huge arms to get girls?

@samuele.marcora 4 months ago

no deadlift in part B, just the clear or a row

@PERCEPTRONIUM 4 months ago

Velocity Based Training, 😶

@young-mukcho6433 4 months ago

Rippletoe’s technical advice on the sport of weightlifting is not good. I won’t go into detail but even a casual like me had me shaking my head on some of his beliefs about weightlifting. However, Starting Strength is fine for people for looking for a general strength and conditioning program.

@BallawdeQuincewold 2 months ago

Funny video. But I don't get it. Are you saying there are cases where being stronger is not better? Not automatically getting better at Olympic lifts when you're stronger is because you haven't practiced them enough, not because you got stronger

@BJWFenix 7 days ago

Honestly I think linear progression is overrated as hell. is it good for some beginners? yeah sure but its really kind of forced overload for people who cant seems to grasp modifying their training according to intuition they should be learning in the basic experimentation phase. but we live in a world that values short term results over long term benefits.