How does PBF compare to Mark Rippetoe’s Start-
ing Strength or the StrongLifts 5x5 program?
I view Starting Strength and StrongLifts as primar-
ily designed for young, skinny athletes looking to
get big and strong. They are excellent strength-
focused protocols that revolve around the most
basic human movements—squatting, pulling, lift-
ing, pressing—the very same essential actions I
describe. Rippetoe’s book in particular provides
excellent, incredibly detailed instructions for each
of the major lifts. The guy has a knack for describ-
ing the motor functions of the human body with
cold efficiency, similar to a master mechanic de-
scribing the inner workings of the engine. SS and
SL are great for their intended audiences, and
they’ll certainly get you strong. In fact, if you’re
interested in building a raw-strength-based foun-
dation before anything else fitness-related, going
with either program would suit you.
I guess it all comes down to how heavily you weigh
raw strength on the scale of physical fitness. A
huge aspect of our program is the bodyweight por-
tion of Lifting Heavy Things, but it’s also sprinting,
playing, hiking, climbing, jumping, and throwing.
It’s a panoply of Primal movements, whereas the
SS and SL protocols revolve around getting the
trainee physically strong and little else– perhaps
to the detriment of other skills and strengths. PBF
appeals to those who may be more interested in
keeping up with the pre-teens at soccer practice
than in squatting five hundred pounds.Frequently Asked Questions and Concerns cont’d 90