This article describes importance of developing strength as one of the physical qualities evaluated in the All-Russian physical education and sports complex “Ready for Labor and Defense”. The analysis of the results of the conducted research on improving strength is also presented. The study involved first-year students of Vyatka State University. They completed the required exercises of the standard “Ready for Labor and Defense”, which allowed us to assess the students’ strength: pulling up from the vise on a high crossbar, pulling a 16 kg kettlebell, bending and unbending their arms while lying on the floor. Then the students improved their strength abilities using the developed technique for six months, after which they re-took the same physical training standard tests. Further, the results obtained before the experiment and after the experiment were compared. In the course of the study, it was revealed that the presented technique aimed at improving strength and strength abilities, used in physical education classes for the first-year students, contributed to a more successful completion of the standard requirement of the complex “Ready for Labor and Defense”. The following research methods were used: theoretical analysis of scientific literature, comparison, statistical method, generalization.