A long-time member and friend recently texted me an article about why top trainers are moving away from barbells in training for both clients and themselves. I realized that this was an unspoken truth about our gym that I hadn’t shared with all of our members, many of which have come from a CrossFit background and previously utilized barbells in their training programs. Well, here’s the reason: barbells are limiting and they can be dangerous for many, if not most athletes. Barbells are great tools. They help athletes move a lot of weight through different movement planes (there are 3, to be exact). I’ve spent the last 20 years training with barbells from my time as an NCAA athlete, working with excellent personal trainers, and in my time as a CrossFit athlete and Level 2 coach. I’ve learned from some excellent S&C coaches, and even better human beings about how to get strong and do so safely. I became very, very strong using barbells as a key implement, I moved them with near-perfect form, and I respected their power and ability to provide strength and overall fitness results in a very effective manner. But there are situations in which barbells become harmful to the long term health of the athlete, and that’s what we’re going to dive into on this post. We often see younger athletes moving barbells with ease, regardless of how much weight is on the bar. Social media has increased awareness of Kids and Varsity Crossfit programs, as well college strength and conditioning