DYLAN COOPER talks Weightlifting and Strength Over Technique | Coach Em Up Podcast Ep. 41

Follow Dylan on instagram and youtube! @dozer.wl @DozerWeightlifting Get some insane deals with our sponsors! 20% off at Amazfit.com/coachemup with code “coachemup” Code “coachemup” for 20% at Legionathletics.com Code “coachemup” for 20% at Legends.com Atlantisstrength.com @atlantisstrength Code “coachemup5” for 5% at Plyomat.net Code “coachemup15” for 15% at Squatwedgiez.com In this episode of Coach Em Up, Tim and Zach sit down with elite weightlifter and coach Dylan Cooper for an unfiltered look into the world of athletics, obsession, and personal growth. Dylan shares his journey from missing a 135-lb squat to becoming a national weightlifter and competing internationally. They discuss the balance between raw strength and perfect technique, the mental toll of competing under pressure, and how injuries shaped his path as an athlete and coach. Dylan opens up about the realities of training like a pro, from maxing out four times a week to learning the hard way about the importance of rest, nutrition, and mindset. He also breaks down the secrets behind building an online coaching business while staying true to your athletic roots. Whether you’re chasing your next PR, striving to become a better coach, or just looking for inspiration to push through life’s challenges, this episode has something for you. Don’t forget to subscribe to never miss another episode of Coach Em Up! 00:00:00 Introducing Dylan Cooper 00:01:51 Who is Dylan Cooper 00:04:05 Steroids and Autism 00:05:14 Obsessing over training 00:05:33 Best competition and hitting the peak 00:07:55 Is knowing too much a bad thing? 00:09:26 Effort vs Technique 00:13:09 Operating at a level to compete nationally 00:15:25 Prioritizing technique 00:16:43 Day in the life of a broke gym bro 00:18:15 The Bulgarian method 00:19:49 Recreating the "Bulgarian" way of training 00:22:07 What would you have changed to make life easier 00:24:39 Working through injuries 00:27:49 What got Dylan into coaching 00:30:46 Navigating Social Media Content 00:35:01 Strength over technique 00:40:51 How to prioritize strength gain 00:45:41 Thoughts on accessory work 00:47:06 Thoughts on unilateral work 00:48:10 Alex Bachman injury story 00:49:06 Is Olympic weightlifting actually that dangerous? 00:53:54 Advice for "older people" wanting to train like an athlete 00:56:33 Dylan and Telander's driveway series 00:57:56 Go watch Mike Israetel's train em up... 00:59:59 3 important things for aspiring weightlifters 01:01:01 How to get our of a training funk 01:03:03 Instagram weightlifting PRs are stupid 01:04:53 "You just need to fix this one thing and it's over" 01:08:13 America can actually compete at weightlifting now 01:09:44 What would Dylan be if not a coach 01:11:29 Max out when you're feeling good 01:14:53 Where can you find Dylan #Weightlifting #StrengthTraining #Coaching #AthleteMindset #InjuryRecovery #FitnessJourney #PerformanceTraining #StrengthOverTechnique #CoachEmUp #FitnessGoals #EliteAthlete #Podcast