#364 "I Don't Lift Heavy": The Training Philosophy of a 2300lb Total | Craig Foster
Dave Tate's Table Talk
Dave Tate
4.9 • 586 Ratings
🗓️ 12 August 2025
⏱️ 102 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
We welcome Craig Foster to this episode of Dave Tate's Table Talk Podcast!
Craig Foster is one of the most accomplished raw powerlifters in the world today. At just 36 years old, Craig has achieved a massive 2298-pound raw total, placing him among the elite ranks of the sport. With a current position as 4th all-time in the raw squat category, his strength and consistency are undeniable.
Craig has squatted over 1000 pounds 13 consecutive times, with 10 of those being in competition—a testament to both his durability and mental fortitude on the platform. His best squat in wraps is a staggering 1025 pounds, while his raw with sleeves performances have earned him a spot as 29th all-time globally.
Craig's upper body lifts are equally elite: a 606-pound bench press in competition and a 694-pound deadlift round out his extraordinary total.
Craig's IG: https://www.instagram.com/craig_pawgking_foster/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | If you watch one of my training videos, I don't lift a lot of heavy weights. Most of my PRs are in the meets. I'll work up to like an opener and that's it for me. What do you do to build the grind to finish the batch? More tricep work, more board work, more bands. Usually a lot more bandwork. Embrace to suck. Work hard. It's not going to be over in one day. It's going to take forever. Oh yeah! ever. |
| 0:29.8 | It's time to sit down, keep it real, and cut the bullshit. |
| 0:31.8 | Welcome to Table Talk. |
| 0:34.8 | All right, guys, we're back with another episode of Table Talk. |
| 0:38.6 | Today, my guest is Craig Foster, top-rank power lifter with a 2298 total. And fourth all-time. Is that still true with the squat? I always got to ask that, |
| 0:46.7 | because sometimes the open powerlifting isn't updated either. I always make sure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And now 14 times consecutively squatting a thousand pounds. |
| 0:59.0 | Yes. |
| 1:00.0 | And so before we get started, I got a gift bag here for you. |
| 1:05.0 | So, thank you. |
| 1:07.0 | And there's a shirt, sticker pack, some element packs. |
| 1:16.9 | And then there's a training log, notebook, journal that Pioneer made for us. |
| 1:18.0 | I had them custom made. |
| 1:21.6 | So it's out of the same leather that the P2 belts are made. |
| 1:23.7 | Then I have a coin in there. |
| 1:26.7 | I guess you could say like it's a challenge point. |
| 1:29.2 | It's a reward point, but it's, |
| 1:36.1 | I give those to people that I think resonate the aim of the company, which is to live, learn, |
| 1:41.1 | and pass on, you know, basically people that are going to help the sport grow, that are growing the sport that aren't dickheads. That know, that's trying to be a good way to put in there. |
| 1:46.2 | So it's, it's, I appreciate you for what you do and everything that you've been doing |
| 1:50.7 | and not being the dick ed, right? |
| 1:53.0 | Thank you. |
| 1:53.5 | I appreciate that, yeah. |
... |
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