This Week on Straight to the Bar

As I noted last week, I'm currently on vacation in the beautiful New Zealand (back Nov 16). In the meantime, here are a couple of Gems From The Vault :

• Thomas Topham : The First Modern Strongman
  Scott Andrew Bird
  A close look at a fascinating 18th century Strongman.




• GripWalking
  Dan Hardisky
  Like your grip work? You'll love this. Great idea.

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : Autumn Training (Parkour)

Nice one.

Gymchat 143 - Strength Training Over 40 : II

A little over a year ago we first looked at the idea of training longevity; specifically Strength Training Over 40. Time to revisit some of those ideas, from a slightly different angle.

This week we'll be returning to our discussion, looking at the nutritional, recovery, injury and equipment considerations related to training at this age. Everything that will help make sure you're stronger, healthier and in generally better condition in your 40s (and onward) than you are/were in your 20s.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Zen My Fitness' Raymond Ho. And as I'm still on vacation, this conversation will be moderated by none other than Personal Trainer Kirk Fontaine. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Strength Training Over 40 : II
When : Wed Nov 9, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Gymchat 142 - Fitness & Autism. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the transcript. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: Improvements in Fitness Trained Autistic Clients

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to use from Eric Chessen, and was part of last week's conversation on Fitness & Autism. Great discussion.

---

From the Fitness & Autism discussion, in response to the question :

What kind of short term and long term improvements do you see in your autistic clients once you start training them?

It depends on the individual, but it is never only physical improvement. That's why I created the PAC Profile, because we're never just looking at physical ability, but adaptive and cognitive abilities as well. In the short-term, I've had athletes begin to really enjoy movement and improve in their gross motor skills, strength, stability, and stamina.

In the long term it becomes a lifestyle, and the athletes begin to embrace movement and fitness.

Good stuff. Whether you know autistic individuals or not, it's great to know what's possible.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

As I noted last week, I'm currently on vacation in the beautiful New Zealand (back Nov 16). In the meantime, here are a couple of Gems From The Vault :

• Why Conditioning is King
  Dean Coulson
  Conditioning is what is often meant when people talk of 'getting in shape'. Dean explains what it is, how to incorporate it in your training; and above all, why you'll want to. Fantastic.

  
  

• How to Become a Better Armwrestler
  Scott Latella
  There's a lot more than brute strength involved in this wonderful sport. Scott explains.

  
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : Kneeling Jumps into Med Ball Throw -n- Sprint

Very interesting combination.

Gymchat 142 - Fitness & Autism

The ability to dive in and experience almost any aspect of training is something most of us take for granted.

This week we'll be taking a look at the incredible work of Autism Fitness' Eric Chessen, who is certainly well-versed in making a difference in this extremely challenging area. As I'm still on vacation, this interview will be conducted by none other than Personal Trainer Kirk Fontaine. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Fitness & Autism
When : Wed Nov 2, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
URL : TBA (follow Kirk Fontaine for details)

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Stretching & Warming Up. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the transcript. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: Why Warm Up?

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to use from Kirk Fontaine, and is a snippet from last week's discussion on Stretching & Warming Up. Was a great one.

---

As part of the , Stretching & Warming Up discussion, in response to a couple of questions on 'Why Warm Up?' :

If you are to participate in exercise the first thing you need to do is warm up. The warm up is important to prepare your mind and body so that you can get the very best out of the exercise. The effect of a warm up on preventing injury is not clear however research does suggest increased muscle temperature decreases the risk of muscle tear. Warming up will :

• Increase your heart rate to give you increased blood flow around the body to the muscles
• Improves oxygen delivery to the muscles
• Stimulates faster muscle contraction
• Improves the joints ability to endure stress.

Good stuff.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Blast from the Past : Good Morning Variations
  Scott Andrew Bird
  Whether it's for rehab, prevention or simply strength (these can really help your deadlift) - there's nothing quite like a dose of lower back work.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Flickr Group
  Various authors
  There have been several great photos posted here recently (you'll see some of them in the sidebar), notably by Roy Scott, Zach Wheeler, Davie Easton and Wild Kiwi. If you haven't already, add some of yours. Love seeing where/how everyone trains and competes.

  
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : GripBalls at the Playground

Here's a video that Ryan posted during the week, showing a couple of ways (note the different grips) of getting a dose of grip work in during outdoor workouts. Nice one.

Gymchat 141 - Stretching & Warming Up

Over the next few weeks I'll be doing a little travelling (New Zealand - should be plenty of photos when I get back), returning on Nov 16. As I'm not sure what my internet connection will be like at the time of the discussions, I've invited a couple of guest moderators to look after things.

This week it's the incredible Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo. Should be a brilliant conversation.

---

When you work out, do you warm up at all? Stretch perhaps? Or do you dive straight in?

This week we'll be discussing the benefits of warm-ups and stretching - how, and when. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than personal trainer Kirk Fontaine (@fitnewbie), interviewed by Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo (@bodybydrock). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Stretching & Warming Up
When : Wed Oct 26, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on How Do You .... Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the transcript. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: License Plate Tearing Technique

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to use from performing Strongman Chris Rider, and is from his superb article Tearing A License Plate. Enjoy.

---

Following a thorough description of the safety requirements for performing this feat (and it really can be a dangerous one, so proceed carefully), comes the basic technique involved. Over to Chris :

Now that we have ourselves protected, it's time to grab the plate. I personally like to tear plates at chest level, and that is the method I am going to discuss. As a dry run without a plate, place your dominant hand in a hammer style grip. Place the pinky side of that hand just above the bottom of the sternum. Now place the other fist in the same manner below the dominant one so you have the thumb side of the non-dominant and the pinky side of the dominant meeting. Squeeze as hard as you can and push your hands in opposite directions with the top hand going slightly upward and the bottom hand going slightly downward. If you push straight through, the potential for being cut dramatically increases.

Want more? No problem. Head over to the original article, and watch the video below to see it in action. Beautiful.

Reading : The Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation

Superb.

The Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation is a guide to making the switch to a Primal lifestyle, in only 21 days. If you've ever read Mark's blog (or The Primal Blueprint itself), you'll appreciate how significant this change can be. Highly recommended.

Incidentally, this is the perfect book for the people you know who'd love to try something like this; but are not quite sure where to start. It really is a superb guide to making this transformation.

Fantastic.

Quick update on the Experiments with Intermittent Fasting ebook we mentioned last week : a downloadable PDF version is now available. Absolutely free.

Beautiful.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Getting to Know : Personal Trainer Vic Magary
  Scott Andrew Bird
  I love finding out more about the people here - their training, background, ideas and goals. Here's an insight into the incredible Vic Magary.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Flickr Group
  Various authors
  There have been several great photos posted here recently (you'll see some of them in the sidebar), notably by Roy Scott, Zach Wheeler, Davie Easton and Wild Kiwi. If you haven't already, add some of yours. Love seeing where/how everyone trains and competes.

  
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : Kettlebell Jerk Tutorial (Side View)

Very interesting indeed.

Gymchat 140 - How Do You...III

One of the many fascinating aspects of strength-training is that everyone has a slightly different approach; based on their own goals, available equipment and information. Love it.

This week we'll be returning to our discussion on training approaches, focusing on the many aspects of fitness other than the lifting itself. What's your current diet like, and do you take any supplements? What sort of music do you listen to whilst training, or do you prefer to lift in silence? Other than getting a good nights' sleep, how do you recover after a heavy session?

However you train, we'd love to hear about it. Join us for How Do You ... III. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : How Do You ... III
When : Wed Oct 19, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
URL : https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/HU5qTrK8zf1

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Hand Strength II : Grip Work. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the transcript. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: Minimising Wrist Pain in Olympic Lifting

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to use from Lane Hagen, and was a comment posted on the 'World Record Front Squat' piece. Great advice.

---

On 'World Record Front Squat', in response to the comment :

I use the clean position. I find it's the only way that seems secure to me. Although lack of flexibility in my wrists causes crazy pain with high weight. I am still kinda new to the movement. Maybe practice will help.

From Lane :

Hold it in the clean position and always focus on pushing your elbows up. You can also just do it using 2 fingers till you gain the flexibility. Put a bar on a rack and stretch in that position before you load up. If your wrists are getting really sore it's probably your triceps and forearms that aren't flexible enough and they are putting unnecessary strain on your wrist. Go light 'til you can keep your elbows up.

Good stuff.

Reading : Experiments with Intermittent Fasting

If the interview with Vic Magary got you intrigued about Intermittent Fasting (IF), then this free book will fill in the blanks. It's a great read.

'Experiments with Intermittent Fasting' is a collaboration between Dr John Berardi, Dr Krista Scott-Dixon and Nate Green. The book looks at what Intermittent Fasting is all about, what the benefits can be and the results of a little experimentation. Very interesting indeed.

Over to you. For anyone who's tried it, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Did it/does it work in your case?


Quick update on the StrongerGrip Loadable Club Set we noted a while ago : I had a great discussion recently on club workouts for beginners. Great way to train.

When it came to the equipment part of the discussion, we both agreed on the loadable clubs from StrongerGrip. 3lb empty and around 8lb loaded up. Beautiful things.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Blast from the Past : Rope Training II
  Scott Andrew Bird
  After three years, a few things have changed. Here's another look at this wonderful form of training.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Guides : Returning to Heavy Training After a Break [PDF] *
  Vic Magary
  No matter how long you've been away from the iron - months/years/decades - this free ebook will help you get back to it. To return to a regular routine, using the gear you've already got, and without getting injured.

  
  * as you're already subscribed to this newsletter, you get to see it first - here's the download link for the ebook. Enjoy.
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : Glob Lifting

Here's a brief look at a very interesting implement - half of a globe dumbbell, a blob variant if you like - The Glob. Nice one Jedd.

Gymchat 139 - Hand Strength II : Grip Work

I love challenging the hands. Fingertip push-ups, climbers' chins, TTK work and a whole lot more. Good fun.

This week we're continuing our discussion on Hand Strength, focusing on the Grip Training side of things. What it is, why it's important and how to go about it.


Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than the inimitable Lane Hagen. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Hand Strength II : Grip Work
When : Wed Oct 12, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
URL : https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/9Qrcm3LMR7L

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Hand Strength. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the transcript. Was a great one.

Sledgehammer Challenge for Charity

A note on the Sledgehammer Challenge for Charity we mentioned during the week. If you haven't seen it yet, the idea is simple : Rob Russell will attempt to strike a tyre with a 25kg sledgehammer a whopping 1,000 times in an hour, to raise money for the charity Children In Distress. Brilliant.

As a bonus, everyone who donates £2 or more will receive a copy of his superb ebook Unconventional Conditioning, as well as going in the draw for some particularly cool strength-training equipment. Details here.

Tip of the Week: Nail Bending Benefits - Neural Strength

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to use from 'Unbreakable' Adam Glass' article 'Why Bend Steel?'. Great question, great answer.

---

From 'Why Bend Steel?' :

First benefit is to your neural strength: Steel bending is an exceptional way to build your single unit application of tension. What I mean is this - you have to tense and load every muscle in your body, take out all "leakages", brace everything together and direct it through you hands with a sniper's precise angle. If you get sloppy punching on the nails ends, you will hurt yourself. You could possibly punch yourself in the face, roll your hands out of the groove, stab yourself, or any other combination of less desirable outcomes. This activity will turn your wrist to stone. Your ability to direct power will be significantly increased. This will directly carry over to any other strength-skill you currently have. The way I load up to bend a Huge Stainless Steel Bastard is exactly the same feeling as when I load up to pull a max dead, to press a 48kg bell, or to slam an axe through a log. It adds a critical power appliance to your "strength skill tool box".

This increase in strength and power naturally will carry over to an increase in your endurance. Anyone who has bent a nail will tell you the first time they bent it was so tiring. I have watched people sweat bullets bending their first respectable nail. As time goes on you gain huge reserves of power. A personal testament to this level of power for me was October 2007 when I bent 150 60D nails in one hour using the double under (DU) grip. That represented a massive improvement from Jan 2007, when bending 10-15 nails left my hands extremely fatigued.

Good stuff.

Checking Out : Universal Strength Apparatus

Of the many suspension trainers available, this is the only commercial one I haven't thoroughly tested. Might be time to change that.

After reading Derek's updated Suspension Training 101 piece (grab the free PDF here), I grew intrigued at some of the less-common alternatives to things like the TRX. As much as I love the setup here, it'd be great to give the USA - Universal Strength Apparatus - a solid workout or three.

How about everyone here : which one (if any) do you use? What are your thoughts on it?


Quick update on the StrongerGrip Loadable Club Set we noted a while ago : I had a great discussion recently on club workouts for beginners. Great way to train.

When it came to the equipment part of the discussion, we both agreed on the loadable clubs from StrongerGrip. 3lb empty and around 8lb loaded up. Beautiful things.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• 3 Things You MUST Know About Sandbag Training
  Josh Henkin
  These 3 'rules' (guidelines really) outline the importance of a serious, progressive strategy for your sandbag work; as well as describing how to achieve exactly that.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Guides : Suspension Training 101 [PDF]
  Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo
  I'm a huge fan of suspension training (particularly when travelling) and this ebook* by Derek Peruo will explain exactly why. It's an incredibly powerful approach.

  * as you're already subscribed to this newsletter, you get to see it first - here's the download link for the ebook. Enjoy.
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : BOSU Handstand Push-ups

With Barmageddon 2012 coming up in a few months, it's time to bring out the serious bodyweight training. Fantastic.

Gymchat 138 - Hand Strength

I love challenging the hands. Fingertip push-ups, climbers' chins, TTK work and a whole lot more. Good fun.

This week we're taking an in-depth look at all aspects of Hand Strength. What it is, why it's important and how to train for it.


Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than the inimitable Lane Hagen. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Hand Strength
When : Wed Oct 5, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
URL : https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/NHd6mBn86jQ

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Grip, Clubs & Health. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the direct link. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: Returning to Heavy Training - Inspecting the Equipment

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip is an answer to the question 'If you're using your old gear, how do you test things to make sure they're still safe and working correctly?', directed at Vic Magary during the Heavy Training after a Break Gymchat. A great discussion.

---

From Gymchat 136 - Heavy Training after a Break :

I think the most important thing to inspect would be the J-cups where you set the bar. Also simply taking a wrench to all of the bolts of a rack to make sure they are good and tight. Depending on the type, you may want to double check the collars. I'd think the barbell and plates would be fine even after a few years as long as they were subject to normal conditions.

Good stuff.

Reading : Convict Conditioning (Kindle Edition)

I love this book.

I somehow missed out on this the first time around, and was only reminded of it during a chance conversation over the weekend. And I have to say, it's a great read.

Convict Conditioning looks at a reasonably uncommon way to employ bodyweight training : to provide some serious strength gains. Through a progression of exercise variations and routines, Paul 'Coach' Wade takes the reader from the realm of absolute beginner (in a strength-training sense) to being freakishly strong. There is no doubt at all that this approach - though certainly not the only one - works.

If you're at all curious about the 'forgotten' aspect of bodyweight training - the ability to make some serious strength gains - then Convict Conditioning is for you. Fantastic book.

NB : As with last week's book, I'm reading it via the Kindle app on the iPad. It's also available as a paperback, or as an ebook directly from Dragon Door.


Quick update on the StrongerGrip Loadable Club Set we noted a while ago : I had a great discussion recently on club workouts for beginners. Great way to train.

When it came to the equipment part of the discussion, we both agreed on the loadable clubs from StrongerGrip. 3lb empty and around 8lb loaded up. Beautiful things.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Welcome to the Gymchats II : Previous Discussions
  Scott Andrew Bird
  I love these discussions, and the new format (on Google+) makes them even more valuable. Take a look at the conversations we've had recently.

  
  

• Vulcan Lever Attachment for Wrist Strength
  'Mighty Joe' Musselwhite
  Another brilliantly simple dose of DIY goodness for your gripper work. Beautiful.
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : Single Arm Ring Push-Up

Love your ring training, and looking for a challenge? Try the Single Arm Ring Push-Up. Good fun.

Gymchat 137 - Grip, Clubs & Health

I'm a huge fan of hand and forearm strengthening. Serious grip training, and all kinds of leverage work.

This week we're taking a look at this superb partnership, particularly when it comes to using equipment such as clubs. Beautiful things.


Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than StrongerGrip's Ryan Pitts. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Grip, Clubs & Health
When : Wed Sep 28, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Heavy Training after a Break. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the direct link. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: Everyone Should Compete, At Some Level

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip is an answer to the question 'Do you think everyone should compete, at some level?', directed at Nathan Teodoro during the Conditioning II Gymchat. A very interesting response.

---

From Gymchat 135 - Conditioning II :

I do, and here's why. When I was kickboxing, I was training for a big fight, and was doing about 2-4 hours of training per day, including all the basics, bag work, sparring, and so on. Because of the goal, my volume and intensity increased, and the additional sparring gave me ridiculous timing and distance. I could react so fast I didn't realize what I did until after it happened.

At that time, I had a roommate renting a room from me, and he was a decent taekwondo guy. We were getting ready to go out to meet some people at a club and he was feeling a little cocky and pretended to spar, and threw a kick toward me. I still have no recollection of doing ANYTHING, but he was looking up at me from the floor and holding his jaw. He didn't look happy at all. We went out but he didn't talk to me for a day or two. I had no idea what I did, but that's what competition does - it forces you past plateaus. That's why I think that competitive martial arts produce the best results, to be blunt.

Good stuff.

Re-reading : Never Let Go (Kindle Edition)

I love this book.

As an avid reader, I really don't care about the format that a book comes in. Paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks, audiobooks - they're all good.

Still, I've been reading quite a few of them lately via the Kindle app on the iPad. For books where the precise placement of images is not exactly critical, this combination is ideal.


Fitting the bill perfectly is the book I'm currently re-reading : Dan John's Never Let Go. I stumbled across this one whilst browsing the Kindle Store, and another reading was definitely on the cards. It's a fantastic book.

Taking the form of a collection of Dan John's essays, Never Let Go shares his philosophy of life and lifting in a superb way. From the product description on Amazon :

'You'll learn...How to get stronger, faster and leaner; Simple steps to great conditioning; What it takes to compete at high-level athletics; Dan John's top training tips; Effective workouts to carry you through your training seasons; Variations of the classic 5x5 workout; Sample kettlebell and barbell workout combinations; Outdoor cardiovascular training options for athletes; And much more...'

As you can see, it's comprehensive. If you love Dan John's take on the world (and admire his ability to keep getting stronger without injury), check out Never Let Go. Brilliant.


Quick update on the StrongerGrip Loadable Club Set we noted a while ago : I had a great discussion recently on club workouts for beginners. Great way to train.

When it came to the equipment part of the discussion, we both agreed on the loadable clubs from StrongerGrip. 3lb empty and around 8lb loaded up. Beautiful things.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Blast from the Past : Ring Training II
  Scott Andrew Bird
  After three years, a few things have changed. Here's another look at this wonderful form of training.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Flickr Group
  Various authors
  There have been several great photos posted here recently (you'll see some of them in the sidebar), notably by Roy Scott, Zach Wheeler, Davie Easton and Wild Kiwi. If you haven't already, add some of yours. Love seeing where/how everyone trains and competes.

  
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : Jump Rope Alteration

Dave Lemanczyk shares a great way to make your own skipping rope, or to modify an old one. Good stuff.

Gymchat 136 - Running

Although I've sampled a number of forms of strength-training, running isn't one of them. Yet.
This week we're taking a look at this enigmatic activity, and finding out just what I'm missing out on. How to train for it and how it helps with other forms of your training (and overall condition).

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Body by Long's Bill Long. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Running
When : Wed Sep 21, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Conditioning. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the direct link. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: The Stages of Workout Nutrition

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip is a brief look at the major stages of workout nutrition, and their goals. A bit of fine-tuning here can go a long way indeed.

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From Gymchat 133 - Workout Nutrition :

Kurtis Frank.

Any meal can contribute to a workout (glycogen replenishment mostly), but generally workout nutrition is broken into three segments. The pre-workout, the intra-workout (optional dependent on goals), and the post-workout.

Pre-workout is literally just a meal you eat before you hit the gym. It holds more importance than other meals (say, breakfast if you train in the PM) since the nutrients you ingest at this meal will still be floating around in your blood when it comes time for a workout.

Intra-workout is typically something you bring to the gym to sip on, and where stuff typically gets all fancy with supplementation and is the area most people like to talk about. (This includes post-workout shakes consumed immediately after training)

Post-workout is when you get home and make a nice meal. There are typically higher rates of muscular metabolism and generally more metabolic direction to muscle and away from fat mass (compared to other meals). So nutrients post workout tend to be put to better fates than other meals.

Good stuff.

Checking Out : Super Natural Strength

This looks fantastic.

As long-term readers know, I read a lot. Especially when it comes to Physical Culture.

Next on my list is a book that recently made its way to the Kindle, Bob Whelan's Super Natural Strength. Superb.

Super Natural Strength is a follow-up to Bob's Iron Nation, a compilation of training strategies from some of the heaviest players in the Iron Game. This is training the old-fashioned way - heavy weights, good food and plenty of recovery.

Good stuff.

NB : if you don't have a Kindle, this book is also available as a paperback; or it can simply be read online using something like Amazon's Cloud Reader.


Quick update on the StrongerGrip Loadable Club Set we noted a while ago : I had a great discussion over the weekend on club workouts for beginners. Great way to train.

When it came to the equipment part of the discussion, we both agreed on the loadable clubs from StrongerGrip. 3lb empty and around 8lb loaded up. Beautiful things.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Psychological Training in the Gym II : Overcoming All Odds
  Justin Andrushko
  Justin continues his superb series on the mental side of training, looking at the value of resilience.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Flickr Group
  Various authors
  There have been several great photos posted here recently (you'll see some of them in the sidebar), notably by Roy Scott, Zach Wheeler, Davie Easton and Wild Kiwi. If you haven't already, add some of yours. Love seeing where/how everyone trains and competes.

  
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : Power Wheel Push-up Races

Love it.

Gymchat 135 - Conditioning II

I love a dose of conditioning work, especially the outdoor varieties. Sandbags, tyres, ropes and so on.
This week we're revisiting our discussion on Conditioning (the first one was in July last year), everything from 'what it is' and 'the benefits it can bring' to the many, many great ways to get a dose in your own training.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than TDA Training's Nathan Teodoro. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Conditioning II
When : Wed Sep 14, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on From Diabetic to Fit. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the direct link. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: Getting More Light to Speed Up Bodyclock

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip is one of the major elements in my recent transformation to early rising, the speeding up of the bodyclock by adjusting the amount of light received at different times. It's a fantastically simple way to do things.

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From the article 30 Day Challenge : Becoming a Morning Person :

Increasing Sunlight in the Morning, Reducing it in the Afternoon

Dr Michael Hastings.

This idea stems directly from the Horizon documentary noted below [3], specifically the comments made by Dr Michael Hastings, Prof Debra Skene & Prof Till Roenneberg. The idea is that the amount of light your body receives at different times of day can impact the timing of your body clock.
To speed up your body clock (and spend more time awake in the mornings, less in the late evening), simply increase the amount of light you get in the mornings, and decrease the amount in the afternoon. In the mornings, go out in the sun, switch a bright light on, work outdoors if possible - whatever fits in to your current schedule. In the afternoon, stay in a slightly darkened room, wear sunglasses - again, whatever ties in to your routine.

The point is simply to increase morning light, and decrease afternoon light.

NB : to do the opposite (if you need to spend more time awake in the evenings), just reverse this. Less light in the morning, more in the afternoon and evening.

Incredibly simple, works beautifully.

Checking Out : TRX Training Courses

I love the TRX. Beautiful thing.

If you're similarly enamoured and would like to train others in using this wonderful tool, this is the perfect way to get started. There are courses available for both the TRX and RIP products.

Perfect.


Quick update on the Feats of Strength DVD : A few weeks ago we noted this incredible resource. Fantastic.

If you're keen to incorporate some old-time strongman techniques into your own training, Feats of Strength is a perfect place to start.

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Ultimate Masters World's Strongest Man 2011
  Davie Easton
  A review of this incredible Strongman competition.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Flickr Group
  Various authors
  There have been several great photos posted here recently (you'll see some of them in the sidebar), notably by Roy Scott, Zach Wheeler, Davie Easton and Wild Kiwi. If you haven't already, add some of yours. Love seeing where/how everyone trains and competes.

  
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

Video : Say No to Over Pressure

Very interesting indeed.

Gymchat 134 - From Diabetic to Fit

We all have different starting points.
This week we're taking a look at training and nutrition from another angle. How to take someone with a common medical condition (Type II Diabetes) and make a number of dietary changes which not only alter the condition itself, they allow new training approaches to be explored.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Diabetes Warrior's Steve Cooksey. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : From Diabetic to Fit
When : Wed Sep 7, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Workout Nutrition. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the direct link. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: Jouko Ahola Discusses Atlas Stone Technique

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to us in the form of a video by freakishly strong Jouko Ahola, explaining and demonstrating Atlas Stone lifting technique.

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From the article Jouko Ahola Discusses Atlas Stone Technique :





Jouko makes two excellent points here, specifically relating to his training approach. The first is that he trains using slightly higher steps than are found in competition, and the second is that he trains with heavier stones than those he competes with. Superb.

Checking Out : The ZFO Sports Weight Vest

Looking for a challenge? Try adding a weight vest to your training.

Once again, there are many, many sales on at this time of year (with Labor Day weekend in the US) and my favourite of these is in the 'Sports & Outdoors' section of Amazon. Particularly when it comes to stocking up on things that have an impact on numerous areas of my training - and a quality weight vest certainly does that.

My personal favourite is this one from Zfitness; though there are certainly plenty to choose from. If you're looking for a simple way to increase the resistance for a number of exercises, give a quality weight vest some thought.

Fantastic thing.


Quick update on the Feats of Strength DVD : Two weeks ago we noted this incredible resource. Fantastic.

If you're keen to incorporate some old-time strongman techniques into your own training, Feats of Strength is a perfect place to start.