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 :

• 7 Years of Straight to the Bar : The Contest
  Scott Andrew Bird
  New gear for the home gym? Perfect.
  
• Strength Training Changed My Life
  Joe Hashey
  Strength-training certainly has a transformative effect. Here's Joe's own story.
  

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.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the SU and Twitter icons beneath each post). Cheers.

Video : 260kg Squat with Strap Setup

How do you use straps when squatting? Like this.

What's This?

I love vintage strength-training equipment, and this certainly qualifies. A pair of wooden-handled vintage dumbbells. Now the tricky part - identification.

Does anyone here know who used these, who sold them or perhaps who made them? Carrie (the bells' new owner), has more pics on her Flickr page.

Take a look - they're great things.

Twitterchat 100 - Fitness for Beginners

Pretty soon, everything settles in to a routine - but exactly where and how do you begin?

This week we're looking at Fitness for Beginners, or just where to start. How to clean up your diet (and what is meant by a 'clean diet'), the equipment you need, whether or not you should hire a personal trainer and much, much more.


Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than We're Working Out's (@alkavadlo). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Fitness for Beginners
When : Wed Jan 12, 9pm EDT (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.

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

For those who missed out on the conversation, I'd love to hear your thoughts. What sort of (training-related) things are you motivated by?

Checking Out : Shoulder Harness

If you enjoy your sprinting or dragging work, a good shoulder harness is essential.

There are several ways to use a harness such as this, and the video below demonstrates one of the more common : as part of a simple dragging setup. Just add a dog leash (or similar strap), a length of chain and you're good to go. Beautiful.

Straight to the Bar will be turning an incredible 7 years old in a couple of weeks (Jan 17th - here's the first post). To everyone who's written, read and commented on the numerous articles, photographs and ideas - thank you all sincerely. It really is appreciated.
I'm also incredibly grateful to the support of our sponsors. These companies are all hand-picked and makers of things I actually use myself, in my training, diet and fitness education. Thank-you to all of them.

Many of them have contributed to the 7 Years of Straight to the Bar contest, donating some incredible equipment, nutritional products and books. Whether you're just beginning your fitness journey, or have been doing this for years, these will help out in no small way. For the contest itself, the full prize list is :

The Rotater (review)

Following years of shoulder abuse and injury, I was more than a little keen to try out The Rotater. And I have to say, it easily exceeded expectations.

Love it.

Follow The Rotater on Twitter : | Facebook

StrongerGrip Loadable Club

I'm a big fan of leverage training in any form, especially things like the Loadable Clubs from StrongerGrip.

Beautiful things.

Follow StrongerGrip on Twitter : | Facebook

NSD Powerball

This is an excellent way to get a little wrist training in - the NSD Powerball.

Love it.

Follow StrongerWrist on Twitter : | Facebook

The Diesel Crew's Nail Bending DVD
If you're new to the world of nail bending, this is the perfect DVD to get. It'll show you the exact techniques you'll need to get started right away. Created by world-class bender Jedd Johnson.

Follow Jedd on Twitter : | Facebook

AtLarge Nutrition's BCAA+

Much, much more than a protein shake.

Beautiful stuff.

Follow AtLarge Nutrition on Twitter : | Facebook

Gymboss

Ever tried interval work with a stopwatch, or by counting out the time? Grab a Gymboss.

The perfect way to time your fat-shedding sessions.

Follow Gymboss on Twitter : | Facebook

The Primal Blueprint & The Primal Blueprint Cookbook

If you're ready to take your health seriously and make the most of all your work in the gym, these two books are essential reading.

I can quite honestly say that my life changed (very much for the better) after discovering the work of Mark Sisson. Superb.

Follow Mark on Twitter : | Facebook

Mini Pinch Plate from Submit Strength
19 pounds of pure grip-training joy.

Love it.

Follow Submit Strength Equipment on Twitter : | Facebook

Straight to the Bar 'Got Yoke?' T-shirt (review)
What's black, comfortable and helps you out in the gym? A Straight to the Bar T-shirt of course.

Follow Scott on Twitter : | Facebook

As well as several bonus items. More on that over the next week or so - suffice to say that you'll want them. Seriously.

Thanks once again to all of the sponsors listed above - the equipment, nutritional products and books really are appreciated. And as they're all things I use myself, I know that the contest winner will be receiving some top-notch gear. More than $500 worth.

NB : if you're a an equipment/product maker or author and would like to add your name to the list above, send me an email. Look forward to hearing from you.

Straight to the Bar will be turning an incredible 7 years old in a couple of weeks (Jan 17th - here's the first post). To everyone who's written, read and commented on the numerous articles, photographs and ideas - thank you all sincerely. It really is appreciated.
By way of a thank-you we'll be - together with our fantastic sponsors, all of whom are hand-picked and makers of things I actually use myself - giving away some fantastic equipment to a lucky forum member. Details below.

NB : if you haven't already registered on twitter, there's still time. It's free, nice and quick, and definitely recommended. There's some fantastic information on there.

Contest Details

This contest is open to anyone who's interested in the world of strength training. Whether you're a beginner just dipping your toes in the water, or a professional athlete who's been training hard for years; this is for you.

All you need to do is to hop onto twitter, and :

1. Follow our sponsors at twitter.com/scottbird/sttbsponsors. They share some fantastic information.
2. Tell your friends about the contest with a quick tweet :

   'Win $500 worth of fitness gear : 7 Years of Straight to the Bar ( bit.ly/fXDA1g ). Just follow @scottbird/sttbsponsors . #7yearsofSttB'

That's it.

At the end of the month we'll be selecting one of the posts at random, and sending that person some incredible prizes. A Rotater, a Loadable Club from StrongerGrip, the Nail Bending DVD, a tub of AtLarge Nutrition's BCAA+, a Straight to the Bar t-shirt and much, much more. There's a full list of all the sponsors and prizes here.

Deadline

The closing date for entries is the end of the month, midnight on Jan 31st 2011. That's midnight in your local timezone, if you're a last-minute kind of person.

And thank-you again. I really am grateful for all the support, and wish you all the best in your own training.

Keep Lifting,

Scott

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 :

• Five Reasons to Start Bending Nails
  Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson
  Remember the Nail Bending DVD we mentioned a few weeks ago? Absolutely superb.
  
• Motivation for Training
  Dean Coulson
  Looking forward to this week's twitterchat (details below)? Same here.
  

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.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the SU and Twitter icons beneath each post). Cheers.

Video : Training to Set Heavy Grippers (Using Lighter Ones)

Joe, this is fantastic. Your creativity is truly amazing.

Twitterchat 99 - Motivation

What is motivation? What role does it play in your training, and how can it be improved?

This week we're taking a look at this fascinating area from a number of angles. What it is, how to get it, and how to use it to your advantage. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than All Round Athlete's Dean Coulson (@DeanCoulson). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Motivation
When : Wed Jan 5, 9pm EDT (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.

Quick update on last week's twitterchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Improving Your Client's Success. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Are your clients aware of each others' goals? What about those of clients who've already achieved them?

Looking Forward To : You Are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises

This looks great.

Having refined his routines training various groups of Special Forces operatives, Mark Lauren has teamed up with writer Joshua Clark to create this extremely detailed work. For anyone who enjoys the challenge of the occasional bodyweight session, You Are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Exercises looks like a superb read.

Comes out tomorrow.

Hi, my name is Jedd Johnson. I am a CSCS through the NSCA, an RKC through Dragondoor, and am co-founder of DieselCrew.com. Our website is dedicated to exploring the development of strength and conditioning for all athletes in all sports.

Over the years, my favorite facet of strength training has been Grip Strength and I compete in several competitions every year. Grip Competitions involve Crushing, Pinching, Support lifting and other forms of hand and lower arm strength.

One of the coolest parts of the sport of Grip is Nail Bending. Bending nails, spikes, bolts, steel stock, drill rod, and other things is one of the most exciting and obsessive types of strength training you can do.

Up until now, Nail Bending might be one of the last things you would ever think of doing in your program, but there are actually a ton of benefits that you can get from Bending. Check these out :

1. Forearm size

Nail Bending involves a great deal of tension in the hands, wrists and forearms which leads to major forearm muscle development. Often, forearm work at the gym involves movements like wrist curls and other simple variations.

While wrist curls and similar classic forearm exercises bring about results, they pale in comparison to the bulk built by bending. The sustained tension of nail bending causes growth in both the flexor side of the forearm and the extensor side of the forearm, creating an impressive look of balance and control.

In short, your forearms will probably BLOW UP!

2. Mental and Physical Toughness

In order to Bend Big Nails, you have to work hard and be mentally strong. Bending nails, bolts and other items involves taking a perfectly good nail and twisting it into a shape that makes it completely useless for any of its normal industrial applications. You're doing something that was never meant to be done, and to do this requires you to focus all of your strength and your mental power into the bend. A lack of commitment from either end of the spectrum will end up in your inability to finish up the bend.

When you become proficient in harnessing your mind's and your body's power in nail bending, imagine the results you will see in your other lifts or in the sport you play. You'll be unstoppable compared to everyone else who has never truly tested themselves in the ways you have after taking on the challenge of bending.

3. Make an Impression!

Take Note: Nail bending is NOT some form of trickery or sleight of hand like magic is.

However, it DOES bring about much the same reaction from a crowd.

Imagine talking about this new sort of strength training you are doing and when they ask you to show them, you bust out a nail, wrap it in a towel and bend it right before their eyes.

How awesome will that be?!?!

You could use this classic feat of strength of Bending to set yourself from everybody else at school, at the gym, or at your place of work. Instead of just blending in with the rest of the people, you will automatically be set apart from everybody else.

Instead of just somebody in the crowd, you'll become the Strong Guy/Gal (Yes, ladies bend too!!!), or The Nail Bender.

Every time people see you, even if it's only occasionally, you'll be burned in their mind as somebody with a strong grip - nobody to mess with, that is for sure.

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 :

• Old-Time Strongman Performances
  Mike 'The Machine' Bruce
  Brief clips from some of Mike's Strongman shows. Good stuff.
  
• Robert Lucarelli's DIY Equipment
  Robert Lucarelli
  I love a spot of DIY, and here are a few examples of Rob's work. Nice one.
  

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.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the SU and Twitter icons beneath each post). Cheers.

Video : Double Overhand Axle Power Shrugs

Love a spot of yoke work? Same here.

Twitterchat 98 - Improving Your Client's Success

There are many ways to set your training-related goals - whether they're goals for a particular competition or overall fitness goals for the year. To lift this much, run that far, beat that time and so on.

This week we're taking a look at a spot of goal-setting, and several other elements that make up a client's success. Behaviour change models, motivation etc; from both the athlete's and the trainer's point of view. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Food and Fitness's Anthony Paradis (@foodnfitness). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Improving Your Client's Success
When : Wed Dec 29, 9pm EDT (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.

Quick update on last week's twitterchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Training for Football : AFL. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Ever tried a little Australian Rules football?

Considering : Equipment for the Home Gym

I love the home gym - it's the perfect place to get away from everything for a while, and focus on building a stronger, faster, fitter me. Good fun.

Looking around, I'm certainly not the only one. If you're in the market for a bit of equipment (whether you're just setting up the gym, or adding to the one you've already got), take a look around places such as the Exercise & Fitness area on Amazon. Some very interesting ideas in there.

One item that caught my eye is this neck-training machine. Personally, I'm a fan of the neck harness approach, but I'm curious : has anyone here used a machine such as this?Thoughts?

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 :

• The Pistol Squat
  Al Kavadlo
  Always learning new skills and combinations, Al takes a look at this extremely challenging bodyweight (or with added resistance) exercise.
  
• Training Logs
  Various athletes
  There are many, many ways to train. Here are just a few.
  

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.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the SU and Twitter icons beneath each post). Cheers.

Video : Staggered Stiff-Legged Deadlifts

Interesting variation.

Twitterchat 97 - Training for Football : AFL

No matter which sports you enjoy, if a spot of Australian Rules Football (AFL) is on the list you're in for a treat. It's certainly a fast-paced and - if you're not used to it - somewhat unusual game. Highly recommended.

This week we're taking a look at the training required for this particular code, and how it compares to other forms of the game. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Alpha Kettlebell's Troy Anderson (@troyATS). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Training for Football : AFL
When : Wed Dec 22, 9pm EDT (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.

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

For those who missed out on the conversation, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you ever buy yourself a fitness gift or two? What sorts of things?

Watching : The Corrections

I'm a long-time fan of Jordan Vezina's work, and I really admire stuff like this.

Jordan has put his entire DVD 'The Corrections' on Youtube, for anyone to watch - completely free. And yes, it's superb information.

To check out all the videos (the DVD's been broken into several parts, separated by topic), swing by Strength Beyond Strength.

Superb.

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 :

• Fitness Goals for 2011
  Various athletes
  Mine are primarily strength related - how about yours? Got any meets/competitions/contests/gatherings lined up? And how do you determine your goals - are they things you've never tried, or improvements (such as lifting a heavier weight, or completing the course in less time) to the things you already do?
  
• Training Logs
  Various athletes
  There are many, many ways to train. Here are just a few.
  

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.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the Like and Retweet icons above & below each post). Cheers.

Video : Olympic Lifting Techniques - Positions and Speeds

From Glenn Pendlay's Olympic Lifting Techniques DVD - a discussion on the importance of both position and speed. Good stuff.

Twitterchat 96 - Last Minute Fitness Gifts

With the holiday season in full swing (around here at least) it's time once again to take a look at just what's out there. What exactly do you buy for the fitness person in your life? If they're setting up a home gym (ready for the new year), what are the kinds of things they'll need? How about gifts for someone you care about that you'd love to see become fit, but that currently isn't?

This week we're discussing the many forms of Last Minute Fitness Gifts available. Things you can buy now, and - in most cases - get delivered and set up in time for Christmas Day itself. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than SEE's Adam Stoffa (@SEEAdamTrain). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Last Minute Fitness Gifts
When : Wed Dec 15, 9pm EDT (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.

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

For those who missed out on the conversation, I'd love to hear your thoughts. What's your current diet like - Primal? Vegetarian? Anything goes?

Checking Out : Industrial Strength Grip

This looks fantastic.

Tomorrow (Tue Dec 14, 2010) the incredible (and Unbreakable) Adam Glass will be releasing Industrial Strength Grip; a superb package for anyone new to the wonderful world of grip. To get a taste of what's on offer, here's a brief video demonstrating a simple grip-training routine using equipment you probably already have.

(a dumbbell, a towel and a couple of plates).

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 :

• Training the Trainer : MMA Workout
  Al Kavadlo
  Always learning new skills and combinations, Al enjoys a workout with none other than MMA fighter Matt Ruskin.
  
• Post-Injury Behind-the-Back Deadlifts (Hack Squats)
  Mike 'The Machine' Bruce
  An uncommon lift - great to see. Over to The Machine.
  

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.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the Like and Retweet icons above & below each post). Cheers.

Video : Extreme Swiss Ball Push-ups

Nice one.

Twitterchat 95 - Hormones & Diet

Inspired by Mark Sisson's superb The Primal Blueprint, Body by D-Rock's Derek Peruo (@bodybydrock) has been learning about Insulin, Cortisol and the many other hormones that influence our diet, training and overall condition. It's safe to say that there's a strong link between what we eat and our hormone production; in both directions.

This week we're taking a close look at this connection between Hormones & Diet, discussing the pros and cons eating and training at various times, in ever-changing ways and conditions. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Hormones & Diet
When : Wed Dec 8, 9pm EDT (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.

Quick update on last week's twitterchat : 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, I'd love to hear your thoughts. At what age did you start training? In what form?

Checking Out : TRX Pro Pack

Once again, there are a lot of strength-training products on sale right now. Getting ready for Christmas, and spending a bit of time with friends and family.

One of my favourites for use when spending any length of time away from home (more specifically, away from the home gym) is the TRX. Hook it up and go.

If you're new to the world of suspension training, Derek takes a great look at the possibilities here. And when you're ready to grab the equipment, check out the TRX Pro Pack. TRX, instructional DVD and manual; and a workout to get you started. Perfect way to start.

As a bonus, Fitness Anywhere is currently offering the TRX at a tasty 20% discount. Just enter the code TRXMAS when you're checking out.

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 :

• The Best of Both Worlds : Interview with Troy Andersen
  Yael Grauer
  Some interesting ideas - nice one.
  
• Training Logs
  Various athletes
  There are many, many ways to train. Here are just a few.
  

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.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the Like and Retweet icons above & below each post). Cheers.

Video : Abmat Medball Pass Situp

Grab your training partner.

Twitterchat 94 - How Do You ...

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. Fantastic variety.

This week we're delving in to as many of these approaches as possible, discussing How and Why you currently train the way you do - sharing the things that work, and discarding the ones that don't. Really looking forward to it.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : How Do You ...
When : Wed Dec 1, 9pm EDT (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.

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

For those who missed out on the conversation, I'd love to hear your thoughts. How would you define core strength? What sorts of things can it help?

Checking Out : Basketball Strength II

It's safe to say that there are a lot of discounts on training-related products at this time of year. Everything from the training gear on Amazon to individual products such as the TRX and Ultimate Sandbag.

Of these, one of the ones that caught my eye is a 50% discount on Dave Lemanczyk's Basketball Strength II. If you've seen any of Dave's stuff, you know just what you're in for. This is the real deal.

To get the discount, just grab your copy of Basketball Strength II (either for yourself or as a gift) and enter the code CYBERMON at checkout. That's all there is to it.