Mankel Over Matter - Strength Coach

Before I ever cared about a powerlifting total, I was doing s**t like this…

Back in 2016 I got heavily into calisthenics — handstands, muscle-ups, levers and learning different ways to move and be strong.

Fast forward 10 years and my training looks completely different.

Less time upside down. A lot more time under a barbell 😂

But the obsession with getting stronger never really changed.

Funny looking back at all the different phases of training that got me to where I am now.

Some things in powerlifting get way too much credit. Others nowhere near enough.

My take 👇

❌ Deload weeks — OVERRATED
❌ Training to failure— OVERRATED
❌ SBD-only training — OVERRATED
✅ Heavy singles — UNDERRATED
✅ Accessory work — UNDERRATED
✅ Mobility work — UNDERRATED

Agree or have I got it completely wrong? 👀

YOUR SEPTEMBER COMEBACK STARTS HERE

September. Back to routine. Time to get moving again. 💪

If training’s taken a back seat over summer, GRIT gives you two structured sessions each week covering strength and conditioning.

No need to be “fit enough” before you start — turn up, work at your level and build from there.

📍 Peak Physique, Hull
🏋️ Monday 7pm — Conditioning
💪 Wednesday 7:30pm — Strength

September start-up — new faces welcome.

Message us to get involved.

Apparently, I’m not done getting stronger yet..

255kg × 3 today with a couple left in the tank.

About a month into low bar now and it’s starting to click.

I’ve spent years squatting high bar, so I knew changing something that ingrained wasn’t going to happen overnight. There have been a few teething problems along the way, but every session it’s starting to feel a little more natural.

Today was probably the best it’s felt so far.

At this stage of my lifting, I’m not interested in changing things just for the sake of it. But if I want to keep progressing, I can’t be afraid to challenge what I’ve always done either.

Still plenty to figure out, but 255kg moving like this has definitely got me wondering where I can take it.

How far could you take your strength with the right coaching?

If you're serious about getting stronger, I've got coaching spaces available.

Whether you're looking to compete, push your numbers or simply get more out of your training, your coaching is built around you, your goals and where you want to take it.

📲 Online Strength Coaching — spaces available

🏋️ 1-1 Strength Coaching — Peak Physique, Hull
Limited availability

Worked with me before and thinking about getting back into it? Get in touch.

If you're interested, drop me a message and tell me what you're working towards.

Nerve pain has been causing me a few problems with my bench lately.

It’s been running around my shoulder and into my biceps, and certain positions under load have been setting it off.

Rather than just hoping it disappears, I’ve started putting a bit more work into what I’m doing before I bench.

These are 3 exercises I’ve been using:

W-Y raises — getting the upper back, rotator cuff and muscles around the shoulder blade working.

Banded distractions — getting a bit more movement through the shoulder before loading it.

Nerve glides — gently getting the nerve moving without aggressively stretching or irritating it.

Still early days, but things are moving in the right direction and I’ll keep these in while I work through it.

Save this if your bench warm-up could do with a bit more attention.

I’m probably closer to the end of my powerlifting career than the beginning…

But then i remember hitting a 235kg deadlift PB back in 2018 and being absolutely buzzing with it.

Back then 300kg seemed miles away.

Then 300 became 320.

320 became 325.

Then 340.

Then 342.5kg in competition.

And eventually 355kg in training.

Now I’m chasing 800lb.

I’m 40 now and realistically I’m probably closer to the end of my powerlifting career than the beginning.

But that doesn’t make me want to slow down.

It makes me want to see how far I can push this while I still can.

235kg once felt like a massive number.

I’m not done finding out where the limit is yet.