Knowledge Base

Lifting accessories:

Certain strength training accessories that can help you achieve your goals. Think of Lifting Straps / Wrist Wraps / Knee Sleeves and a Powerlift Belt.

Bench press:

Undoubtedly one of the most popular exercises within the bodybuilding and fitness industry. The bench press is also an essential part of Powerlifting. Wrist wraps are often used during bench pressing to keep the wrists in an optimal position and thus minimize injuries. Wrist wraps are used for this purpose.

Deadlift:

The exercise for true brute strength, pulling as much dead weight off the ground as possible. During a deadlift, lifting straps or a Powerlift belt are often used as aids to pull even more weight and lift as safely as possible by bracing from your abdominal muscles. There are several types of deadlifts; the most well-known are the sumo deadlift (where you stand wider and your grip is inside your legs). In a sumo deadlift, your ROM (Range of Motion) is often somewhat smaller than in a conventional deadlift. People who are tall or have long legs relatively often prefer sumo. In a conventional deadlift, you stand about shoulder-width and your grip is just outside your legs.

Squat:

The Squat is a knee bend, usually with extra resistance such as a barbell with weight. The Squat is an essential part of powerlifting. You can do high bar squats or low bar squats, and there is a definite difference. In a low bar squat, wrist wraps are often used because the wrists can be placed in a certain position. In a low bar squat, you often place the barbell on your rear delts, and in a high bar squat, you place it on your trapezius. Generally, people can squat about 10% more weight with low bar, but this is obviously very personal. Knee sleeves and a powerlift belt are also often used during squats to improve blood flow and protect your tendons from heavy weights. A powerlift belt ensures you can optimally brace from your abdominal muscles and often makes you slightly stronger.

Lifting Straps:

These are often used in various exercises where your grip can become a limiting factor. Think, for example, of a deadlift / pull-up or chin-up / barbell row or another type of row / Romanian deadlift. Lifting straps are also often used as an aid to hang your microplates if you use them. Obviously, you want the muscle you are training to fatigue before your grip does; lifting straps are the perfect solution for this. If you want more information about lifting straps, click here for the blog about lifting straps from Thor Athletics.

Microplates:

These are small plates, often 50-250 grams, that you can use to make optimal progress. Think, for example, of a dumbbell side raise; you do this with 10kg and at some point want to increase, but the next step is immediately 12kg. This is where microplates come in; you can then hang, for example, 100 grams on your lifting straps to keep making small steps of progress.

Wrist Wraps:

These wrist protectors or wristbands are used in various exercises to protect the wrists or keep them in a certain position to lift as safely as possible. Wrist Wraps are often used in bench pressing / low bar squats / OHP (Overhead Press) but also certainly in other presses such as a dumbbell press or a dumbbell shoulder press. If you want more information about wrist wraps, click here for the blog about wrist wraps from Thor Athletics.

Knee Sleeves:

To optimally protect your knees during heavy strength training, Knee sleeves are often used. Think, for example, of squats or heavy leg presses or hack squats. Knee sleeves improve your blood flow, keep your tendons warm, and allow you to train with maximum weights as safely as possible. There are different types of knee sleeves: 3mm / 5mm and 7mm. For heavy strength training and maximum support, the 7mm is often recommended. The 3mm are often used by long-distance runners who want a bit more support while running. The 5mm are often used for various activities, both during running, CrossFit, or strength training. Want really maximum support? Then go for the 7mm. If you want more information about knee sleeves, click here for the blog about knee sleeves from Thor Athletics.

Powerlift belt:

Although often worn as a fashion accessory, the Powerlift Belt is really one of the most popular strength training accessories. It is used in many exercises for extra support and stability. Think of a deadlift, squat, OHP, barbell row, Romanian deadlift, etc. They come with a clip closure and a buckle closure. One is not necessarily better than the other, but the clip closure belt is often easier to use. In powerlifting, a belt may be a maximum of 10mm thick. If you want more information about the powerlift belt, click here for the blog about the powerlift belt from Thor Athletics.

Bodybuilding:

The ‘shaping or forming’ of your body to how you want it to look. Bodybuilding is very popular nowadays. It is a sport where you stimulate your muscles to become stronger, grow, or both by training with weights or other resistance.

Crossfit:

This is a way of fitness with the goal of becoming fit, strong, and healthy. The emphasis is on functional body movements such as running, rowing, jumping, moving heavy objects, climbing, pushing, and pulling. Unlike bodybuilding, this is not necessarily about how you look. Also, unlike powerlifting, it is not about how much weight you can move once.

Powerlifting:

This is a strength sport focused on 3 exercises often referred to as ‘SBD’ Squat / Benchpress / Deadlift. It is about how much weight you can move for 1 repetition. There are several rules for this; for example, in a squat, you must squat below 90 degrees (parallel) or it will be disqualified. In bench pressing, for example, your grip may not be wider than where your index fingers touch the rings of the barbell, and you must pause with the barbell resting on your chest. In a deadlift, you may do both sumo and conventional.

Strongman:

In this sport, it is tested who the strongest man is. This is often done by large, heavy but of course especially strong men. In this sport, heavy weights are lifted, thrown, pushed, and so on.

Injury:

This is a form of damage you sustain during, for example, sports. Also, unusual or uncontrolled movements can lead to injuries. If you want to read more about the most common injuries and how to prevent them as best as possible, click here.