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 :

• First Powerlifting Meet
  Various authors
  On the forums, both Chris and Meatax are getting ready for their first powerlifting meet (fantastic experience). What advice would you give them?
  
• Floral Apron Adventures : 26
  GoodyGirl77
  The hard training continues. Nice one.
  

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

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the Like, Digg and Retweet icons). Cheers.

Video : Pain Time - Farmers' Holds

Combining grip strength, mental toughness and a great posterior chain workout. Farmers' Holds.

Checking Out : Bulldog Leash

Just noticed this on the Art of Strength site - the Bulldog Leash. Essentially a covered 10' length of chain designed to attach to the base of a kettlebell, ready for swinging, lifting, throwing, and other fun things.

Looks fantastic.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 63 - Kettlebell Training for Beginners : I love training with kettlebells. Indoors or outdoors, by themselves or with ropes, bands and other fun things.

This week we're taking a look at Kettlebell Training for Beginners - how to get started with this wonderful form of training, what to use and where to go for help. The way to go from a complete novice to someone who uses them on a regular basis.

Helping us to navigate this fascinating world is Jackie, better known as @girlwithnoname. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Kettlebell Training for Beginners
When : Wed Apr 28, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets.

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

See you there.

NB : If you'd like to be a guest on a future twitterchat, let me know. It's great to hear how other people are training.

Nitro Circus Live

Last night, 60 Minutes (the Australian version) had a segment on motocross rider and stuntman Travis Pastrana; the core of Nitro Circus.

For anyone who's currently enjoying the sun in this beautiful part of the world, there's a great chance to check out Travis in action - the Nitro Circus Live show. Fantastic.

Learning From : Free eBooks, Podcasts and More

I've added a number of ebooks to the list of items that newsletter subscribers receive. For everyone who's already signed up, here are the links. As a bonus, there are also a number of sites, podcasts and newsletters I recommend :

Free eBooks, Podcasts and More

NB : if you'd like to recommend an item to add to this list - whether it's yours or just one you've stumbled across - I'd love to hear about it. Thanks.

Exercise of the Week : Band-Assisted Handstand Push-up

Handstand Push-ups are great things, and this is the perfect way to test them out. Band assisted.

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 :

• Tackling the One-Armed Push-Up
  Al Kavadlo
  Al looks at a great way to demonstrate some serious bodyweight strength (and, of course, build it at the same time) - the One-Armed Push-Up. Good stuff.
  
• Leg Day - Going for 8s
  Rob Sinnott
  Another great day in the gym.
  

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

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the Digg and Retweet icons beside them). Cheers.

Video - Improving Posture, Activating the Glutes

The Diesel Crew takes a look at dips, rows and other fun things. Good stuff.

Checking Out : MKB Kettlebell Backpack

I was chatting to a friend this morning about outdoor training (love the stuff - especially at this time of year), and he mentioned this - the Kettlebell Backpack (video).

Great idea; anyone here tried one? Would love to hear about it.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 62 - Training at Home : I love the home gym - everything's always ready to go, set up exactly the way I like. Adjust weights, add bands/chains/other fun things and dive in. Perfect.

This week we're taking a close look at the many ways to enjoy Training at Home - training partners, feedback, equipment and so on. The many ways to make the most of what's available.

Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is Kira 'Papa K' Clarke, better known as The Fight Geek - (@thefightgeek). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Training at Home
When : Wed Apr 21, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets.

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

See you there.

NB : If you'd like to be a guest on a future twitterchat, let me know. It's great to hear how other people are training.

Learning From : The Art of Expressing the Human Body

If you've ever watched a Bruce Lee film and marveled at his strength, speed, agility, endurance, flexibility or muscularity, this book should take pride of place in your collection.

Unlike many other writings covering everything from Lee's training methods to nutrition, this book is based not on the recollections of people around him; but on Lee's own notes, discussing his bodyweight, cardiovascular and strength training during the many phases of his brief career.

If you've ever seen an exercise being performed and thought to yourself 'I'm sure I've seen that somewhere before', chances are that it's in this book. Superb.

Exercise of the Week : Wheelbarrow Walking Up Stairs

Grab your training partner, and find a staircase. These are fun.

There are several variations of the Wheelbarrow Walk, and there are plenty of ways to make each easier or more challenging. Here's one of my favourites - the Wheelbarrow Walk Up Stairs :

NB : a quick way to make this a little more challenging - try Wheelbarrow Walks Down Stairs. Backwards.

On the Forums

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, head over to the forums :

• Kipping Pull-Ups
  Al Kavadlo
  Al looks at the 'other' way to perform pull-ups - using kipping. Good stuff.
  
• Floral Apron Adventures : 25
  GoodyGirl77
  The serious leg work continues. Nice one.
  

Ready to add your own workout log or training article? Just head over to the Articles & Logs page and log in, and click 'Post to Your Blog'. That's all there is to it.

NB : if you like what you see, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the icons for Digg, StumbleUpon etc beneath each article). Cheers.

Video - Dave Johnson : Steel bending World Record

At the 4th Leg of Britain's Strongest Hands, Dave Johnson bent an incredible 10 x 30", 5/8" HRS bars in 60 secs.

Fantastic.

Reading : 20 Strength, Fitness and Health Sites

Back in 2006 I noted some of my favourite strength-training sites (20, to be exact); many of which are still on my daily reading list.

Of course, over the past 4 years we've noted many, many other great resources - both online and offline. Blogs, books, newsletters and seminars. Fantastic.

Time to pull them together. As I'm currently updating the original list, do you have a site or two that should be added? Which is your favourite strength, fitness or health site on the web?

Whether it's your own site or a personal favourite, tweet me the URL. Alternately - if 140 characters just isn't enough - post the details on the forums. Should be a great collection.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 61 - Supplements for Strength Athletes : A little dietary fine-tuning can have a big impact.

This week we're diving into the world of Supplements for Strength Athletes - vitamins & minerals, protein shakes, amino acids and so on. The many things that are taken, the benefits they offer and the ways to measure their effectiveness. Everything you'll need to keep training hard & heavy, frequently.

Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is Body by D-Rock's Derek Peruo - (@bodybydrock). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Supplements for Strength Athletes
When : Wed Apr 14, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets.

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

See you there.

NB : If you'd like to be a guest on a future twitterchat, let me know. It's great to hear how other people are training.

Learning From : The Grip Authority

As many of you already know, I'm a huge fan of grip training.

Over the years I've been fortunate enough to work with - and learn from - several freakishly strong gripsters, including the massively talented Adam Glass, Aaron Corcorran and Ryan Pitts.

And, of course, Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson.

Not only is Jedd insanely strong, he's an incredible teacher. To give you an idea, here are just a few of the superb series he's shared over the years :

• Straight to the Grip Contest (part I, II, III, IV, V, VI)
• Hammering Strength into the Wrists (part I, II)
• Hub Lifting (part I, II)

Want more? If you're keen to learn the skills necessary to remain at the top of this extremely competitive game, head over to The Grip Authority. A wealth of instructional videos, articles and discussions to help you become obscenely strong.

If you're serious about your grip strength, it's the best investment you can make.

Exercise of the Week : The Kettlebell Hot Potato

This exercise is about as simple as they come. Love it.

There are several variations of the Hot Potato available (for the most common variety, watch the video) - with some of them incorporating more of a throw than a pass.

Still, the basic idea is the same - the 'bell is moved from hand to hand. Repeatedly.

A quick video demonstration of this wonderful exercise :

NB : for more on this wonderful exercise, Jeff Martone explains it well on the H2H Kettlebell Drills DVD.

On the Forums

Hope you had a great Easter.

As you can see, the forums aren't available just at the moment (I'm upgrading the software), but should be back to normal shortly.

In the meantime, here are a couple of items from the archives that are well worth another look :

• A Little Yoke Work : 10 Exercises for a Bigger Neck
  Scott Bird
  Traps maketh the man.
  
• Grip Training - Lifting the Inch Replica Dumbbell (part II, III, IV and V)
  "Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson
  Brilliant series.
  

NB : if you like what you see, show the authors your appreciation by voting (click on the 'tweet' image above each article). Cheers.

Video - Steve Maxwell: The Spartacus Log Lift

This lift was seen many years ago in the film Spartacus, and is essentially a Turkish Get-Up with a log.

Fantastic.

Stocking the Home Gym : Bars, Plates, Hooks & Collars

Work in the home gym continues.

This week we're taking another look at a few staple ingredients, specifically Bars, Plates, Hooks and Collars.

Enjoy.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 60 - The Importance of Mental Strength When Training : It's incredible how much of an impact your state-of-mind has on your training. A little mental toughness goes a long, long way.

This week we're diving into the world of Mental Strength, and its Impact on Training - what it is, why it's essential, and how to get it. Everything you'll need to keep those PRs coming regularly.

Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is Strong Body, Stronger Mind's Leisl (@missleisl). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : The Importance of Mental Strength When Training
When : Wed Apr 7, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets.

See you there.

Got an event that you'd like to add? Let me know.

Watching : Grip 'n' Rip DVD

This is absolutely superb. If you've ever wondered what the Bio-Feedback approach is all about, grab this.

The Grip 'n' Rip DVD.

Brilliant.

Exercise of the Week : Neider Press

This is a fantastic exercise.

I first saw a particularly creative variation (with a weighted bar held vertically) over on Ross Enamait's site, and it's since become a firm favourite.

Possibly named after strong-shouldered Bill Nieder, the Neider Press is a simple matter of moving a heavy object (typically a bar, but it could be anything) to arms' length and back. Repeatedly.

Here's a quick clip to give you an idea of what I mean.

NB : there are many, many ways to vary this exercise - changing the angle, weight, time etc. Experiment.

On the Forums

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, head over to the forums :

• Jumping Rope for Conditioning
  Al Kavadlo
  Al takes a look at a great conditioning exercise - Jumping Rope. Good fun.
  
• Building a More Complete Chest
  Rob Sinnott
  Another great day in the gym.
  

Ready to add your own workout log or training article? Just head over to the Articles & Logs page and log in, and click 'Post to Your Blog'. That's all there is to it.

NB : if you like what you see, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the icons for Digg, StumbleUpon etc above each article). Cheers.

Video - San Angelo Tire Throw Games

What do you do after your outdoor workouts? A spot of tyre-throwing of course.

Good fun.

Stocking the Home Gym : The Power Rack

A friend of mine is in the process of setting up a home gym, and is currently looking around for the perfect rack.

Although he isn't competing, he certainly enjoys throwing heavy objects around. The rack will be at the gym's core.

I pointed him in the direction of this article, which outlines a few things to consider when buying a rack. I'm curious though, what sort of rack are you using right now? What would you buy if you were starting from scratch, and why?

Looking forward to your comments. Love seeing which equipment people are actually using.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 59 - Eating Paleo, Training Hard : Whenever the idea of a Paleo or Primal Diet is brought up, it's common to hear names such as CrossFit in the same sentence. Why exactly is that?

This week we're diving into the world of Eating Paleo and Training Hardhow this type of diet can aid your recovery, reduce illnesses and generally enable you to spend more time hoisting obscenely heavy objects. Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is Primal Chat's, own @PrimalChat. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Eating Paleo, Training Hard
When : Wed Mar 31, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbpc in your tweets

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

See you there.

Got an event that you'd like to add? Let me know.

Watching : Bio-Feedback Bonus

With the Grip 'n' Rip DVD coming out next week, it's a great time to see what the Bio-Feedback approach is all about.

Here's a brief sample. Brilliant.

Exercise of the Week : Kettlebell Halo

I love the Halo - perfect for loosening up the shoulders.

Although it can be performed using any heavy object (plates, clubs, block weights), it's most commonly seen with a fairly modest kettlebell. To see how it's performed, it's over to Marcus Martinez :

NB : for more on this wonderful exercise, Steve Maxwell explains it well on the 300 Kettlebell Challenge Instructional DVD (disc 1).

On the Forums

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, head over to the forums :

• The Human Flag
  Al Kavadlo
  Al takes a look at a another great exercise - the Human Flag. Good fun.
  
• 635lb Deadlift at 196lb Bodyweight
  Mike 'The Machine' Bruce
  The deadlift PRs keep on coming. Nice one Mike.
  

Ready to add your own workout log or training article? Just head over to the Articles & Logs page and log in, and click 'Post to Your Blog'. That's all there is to it.

NB : if you like what you see, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the icons for Digg, StumbleUpon etc above each article). Cheers.

Video - Traveling Push Up

Another great push-up variety - the Traveling Push Up.

Good fun.

Deal of the Week : Powerclubs

I love club training.

During the week I got a couple of emails from people asking where to get clubs in the UK; the short answer, London Kettlebells. Perfect.

Incidentally, no matter where you are in the world, there's a good chance that you're not too far from a supplier of these wonderful tools. Here are several others that I've used over the years, as well as those that come highly recommended by trainers I've worked with.

Enjoy.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 58 - Making Your Own : Combat Training Equipment : Building your own gym equipment is a fantastic way to kickstart the home gym, no matter what your training goals are. What's more, it's an inexpensive way to get a taste of the many options available.

This week we're diving into the world of DIY Combat Training Equipment - everything from medicine balls and sandbags to clubs, rings and push-up boards. There are hundreds of superb home-made tools just waiting to be constructed.

Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is Keith Johnson - better known as (@Ogedei). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Making Your Own : Combat Training Equipment
When : Wed Mar 24, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets (here's how)

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

See you there.

Got an event that you'd like to add? Let me know.

Reading : The Bending eBook

This is a fantastic book.

Although it came out more than 3 years ago now, I still refer to this book regularly (the review will help explain why). And what's more, the latest version contains a host of updates which will certainly help take your bending up a notch.

Filled with detailed information on the materials and techniques you'll need, this is an incredible resource. If you're just getting serious about short steel bending, you need this book.

Brilliant.

Exercise of the Week : Renegade Row

The Renegade Row is a fantastic exercise.

Named after Coach John 'The Renegade' Davies, it's a controlled lift with each arm (independently) from a near-push-up position. As with many exercises, the simplest way to learn it is to see a bit of video, and try it out for yourself.

Here's the kettlebell version of the humble Renegade Row. Good fun.

NB : the weights being lifted can be in the form of kettlebells, dumbbells or anything else that's close to hand. Experiment.

On the Forums

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, head over to the forums :

• All About Australian Pull-ups
  Al Kavadlo
  Al takes a look at a great exercise - the Australian Pull-up.
  
• Two PRS : Bench and Squat
  A great day in the gym.
  

Ready to add your own workout log or training article? Just head over to the Articles & Logs page and log in, and click 'Post to Your Blog'. That's all there is to it.

NB : if you like what you see, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the icons for Digg, StumbleUpon etc above each article). Cheers.

Video - Steve Maxwell: Half-Moon/Iranian Twisting Push-Up

Enjoy last week's Circular Push-ups? Grab a taekhte and try these.

Good fun.

Deal of the Week - TRX Mobile Workouts

In last week's twitterchat we noted the value of the TRX for combat athletes. Here's a simple way to store your favourite workout or two on a mobile device - the TRX Mobile Workouts.

Good fun.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 57 - Achieving Optimum Health : It's pretty clear that health is strongly connected to your training. Feel better and you're well on the way to a solid performance in the gym.

This week we're diving into the world of Optimum Health - how to eat better, feel better, and function better in the weight-room. Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is NU FIT's, own Max Barry (@NU_FiT). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Optimum Health
When : Wed Mar 17, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets (here's how)

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

See you there.

Got an event that you'd like to add? Let me know.

Reading - The Primal Blueprint

Over the past week I've been getting a number of questions about my diet, particularly on the difference between Paleo and Primal approaches. The Primal Blueprint (full review) takes a detailed look at the Primal side of the fence.

As Sandy notes, since switching to Primal he's noted a number of changes in both body composition and overall health. If you're curious to see how, pick up a copy of The Primal Blueprint.

Great book.

Exercise of the Week : Battling Ropes Pole Pull

I love Battling Ropes work, and this is one of my favourite exercises. The humble Pole Pull.

Enjoy.

On the Forums

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, head over to the forums :

• Improve Your Athletic Performace with Depth Jumps
  Al Kavadlo
  Depth jumps are much underrated - they're a great exercise. Al explains; and there's also a box-jump discussion in the main area of the forums, and several jump-training variations here.
  
• Floral Apron Adventures
  You'd never know there was some illness-caused gym-free time recently. The serious training is back on.
  

Ready to add your own workout log or training article? Just head over to the Articles & Logs page and log in, and click 'Post to Your Blog'. That's all there is to it.

NB : if you like what you see, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the icons for Digg, StumbleUpon etc above each article). Cheers.

Video - Mighty Mitts Competition

There's a stack of great video coming out of the current Arnold. Here's just a taste of the Mighty Mitts competition. Good stuff.

Deal of the Week - Card Tearing eBook

This is a fantastic book (full review).

Tearing a deck of cards is an amazing activity, and this book will show you exactly how to do it. It's a complete progression, including advice on everything from training to selecting the right cards at the right time.

What's more, as part of a birthday celebration, Jedd is currently offering this book at the discounted price of just $19.97. If you've ever considering testing yourself with this wonderful feat, now's the perfect time to do it.

Love it..

Coming Events

Twitterchat 56 - Bodyweight Training for Combat : If you've ever trained in any of the martial arts, no doubt you're well aware of the incredible range of bodyweight exercises. For warming up, technique work, strength-training and stretching. Good fun.

This week we're diving into the world of Bodyweight Training - specifically for combat - the many things that work and the ways to incorporate them in your training. Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is MMA Stuff's, own @jimmyvo. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Bodyweight Training for Combat
When : Wed Mar 10, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets (here's how)

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

See you there.

Got an event that you'd like to add? Let me know.

Exercise of the Week : Circular Push-up

Here's a simple one that I was first taught many years ago in a Judo class (it was part of our warm-up routine) - the Circular Push-up.

As the name suggests, the body moves in a circular motion, like this :

Love it.

On the Forums

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, head over to the forums :

• Elbow Pain when Lifting
  Various authors
  This is a very interesting thread on the elbow pain sometimes experienced during training. Possible causes and solutions.
  
• The One Arm Chin-up: A Lesson in Humility
  Al Kavadlo
  Ever tried working toward the OAC? Great experience.
  

Ready to add your own workout log or training article? Just head over to the Articles & Logs page and log in, and click 'Post to Your Blog'. That's all there is to it.

NB : if you like what you see, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the icons for Digg, StumbleUpon etc above each article). Cheers.

Video - Thick Rope Training

A dose of rope work. Good stuff.

Deal of the Week - The Definitive Guide to Kettlebell Juggling

This is a brilliant collection.

Kettlebell Juggling is an amazing activity, and these DVDs will show you exactly how to do it. It's a complete progression, assuming nothing more than a basic proficiency with a kettlebell.

What's more, Logan has updated this collection with an even greater array of bonus materials - including regular video tutorials to help keep you at the top of your game.

Perfect.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 55 - Log Training : If you've ever considered competing in a Strongman competition, a dose of log work will quickly form a major part of your routines.

This week we're taking a close look at this superb form of training - what it is, how to do it well, and the many ways to make it even more challenging. Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is Strongman Chase Karnes (@ChaseKarnes), who's certainly no slouch with the log. Fantastic.


Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Log Training
When : Wed Mar 3, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets (here's how)

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

See you there.

Personal Record Every Day

What's your latest PR? No matter what sort of training you enjoy, there are always records to be broken. Helping to highlight that process (as well as giving away some fantastic training gear) is none other than Adam Glass and Josh Hanagarne. Nice one.

Got an event that you'd like to add? Let me know.

Reading : Diesel Crew Bending eBook

Ready to bend some steel?

Grab a copy of the Diesel Crew's Bending eBook.

Superb.

Exercise of the Week : Seated Half-Press

Although the Seated Half-Press looks like a shoulder exercise, it's actually for the lateral head of the triceps. And a new triceps movement is always welcome.
From the original article :

To perform the movement, put a bench in a power rack and set the pins just above head height. With the bar directly overhead, take a shoulder-width grip and point your elbows out to the sides. Press, pause at the bottom and repeat.

Love it.

On the Forums

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, head over to the forums :

• A Brief History of Circuit Training and Peripheral Heart Action (PHA)
  If you joined us for the discussion on Circuit Training the other day, you'll find this fascinating. A glimpse into the history of Circuit Training and Peripheral Heart Action.
  
• Neck Training Basics
  Getting ready to begin training your neck? Where do you start? Mike explains.
  

Ready to add your own workout log or training article? Just head over to the Articles & Logs page and log in, and click 'Post to Your Blog'. That's all there is to it.

NB : if you like what you see, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the icons for Digg, StumbleUpon etc above each article). Cheers.

Video - Heavy Axle Front Squat

Use your axle for everything. Over to Warwick.

Deal of the Week - The StrongerGrip Swing Ball

This is a fantastic tool.

You may have seen the original version in use in one of Rocannon's videos, and the one pictured at left is the updated incarnation. Loadable, tough and brutal.

Love it.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 54 - Fat Loss : Looking to shed a little excess bodyfat? Get back your former shape, move down a weight division whilst staying strong, or show some definition perhaps.

This week we're diving into the world of Fat Loss - what it is, things that work and the way to tie it in to your training. Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is Jimmy Smith Training's, own @jimmysmithtrain. Fantastic.

Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Fat Loss
When : Wed Feb 24, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets (here's how)

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

See you there.

Got an event that you'd like to add? Let me know.

Reading : Strength Training Anatomy

This is a fantastic book.

As Josh explains, it superbly shows what's going on while you train.

Love it.

Exercise of the Week : The Bradford Press

Named after weightlifter Jim Bradford, the Bradford Press (sometimes called the Rainbow Press) is one of the first shoulder exercises I added to my routines. And once you try it, you'll understand why.

From the original article :

The exercise looks similar to a Military Press, except that the weight is moved in an arc from in front of the head to behind it; and back again. This manages to work all parts of the deltoids, as well as giving the forearms something to think about. An unusual, but highly effective, movement.

As with a number of fairly uncommon exercises, a brief video demonstration also goes a long way :

Nice one.