The Leviathan.

The Leviathan is a wonderful combination - a water-fillable Mace to make your leverage work even more challenging. And yes, it's made-to-measure.

You'll find the details over on the StrongerGrip site, but the picture at left will give you an idea of what to expect. Custom, hand-made and supremely tough.

The StrongerGrip Leviathan.

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 :

• Gem From the Vault : Visualisation
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  See it first.

  
  

• Looking At : Feb 19, 2017
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.

NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, get in touch.

Video : Road to the Arnold 2017 -- Hafthor Björnsson

The insanely strong Hafthor Björnsson.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Josh Hewett.

If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.


NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week : Using (and Making) a Fat Bar

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, 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 from the obscenely strong Max Shank, in the form of a video from the article The Fat Bar. Take a look.

This video shows the bar in action. To read how it helps, and how to make one; head over to the article The Fat Bar. Nice one.

Over to Max :

Good stuff.

Checking Out : The Leviathan

The Leviathan.

The Leviathan is a wonderful combination - a water-fillable Mace to make your leverage work even more challenging. And yes, it's made-to-measure.

You'll find the details over on the StrongerGrip site, but the picture at left will give you an idea of what to expect. Custom, hand-made and supremely tough.

The StrongerGrip Leviathan.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Great combination.

The Matrix PowerWatch is a fitness tracker/smartwatch that's powered by body heat. Go for a run, record your session and recharge the battery.

A bit of video to show you what I mean :

These'll be shipping later this year. Very keen to try one.

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 :

• Gem From the Vault : DIY - Home-made Gym Equipment II
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  The DIY fun continues.

  
  

• Looking At : Feb 12, 2017
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.

NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, get in touch.

Video : Squat School | Hip Structure and Squat Technique

Extremely thorough explanation. Love it.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Conor Kelly.

If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.


NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week : Checking Your Squat Depth

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, 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 from a thread on the VirtualMeet Forums, looking at a device called the Safety Squat. Very interesting idea.

Over to James Chochlinski :

The safety squat arrived yesterday. No instruction manual, just a picture. Tried some squats with it using just the bar. Seems to work similarly to the youtube video sensor. Placement just above the knee requires deeper squat to trigger the sensor; Not as deep when placed higher up on the thigh. It's just a level sensor, so the difference is due to the shape of my thigh. Happy with the safety squat so far.

James was also kind enough to share some video of the device in action :

The obvious use is for powerlifters when training for a meet. However, on Google+, Raymond Ho shared an alternative way to put it to work :

The idea is actually good. I see people when they start loading up the bar (which is too heavy for them) they start to get higher out of the holes until it looks more like a partial rep. and if you squat by yourself then it stops you from cheating.

Sounds great.

I'm curious : has anyone here used a device like this, and what are your thoughts on the idea?

Checking Out : The Matrix PowerWatch

Great combination.

The Matrix PowerWatch is a fitness tracker/smartwatch that's powered by body heat. Go for a run, record your session and recharge the battery.

A bit of video to show you what I mean :

These'll be shipping later this year. Very keen to try one.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Indestructible Elbows.

Full review coming up shortly (I'm about to dive into this one myself); in the meantime, check out the details over on the book's sales page.

Indestructible Elbows.

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 :

• Gem From The Vault : Heavy Sandbag Training - Part I
  Michael Amos
  Building the Sandbags.

  
  

• Looking At : Feb 5, 2017
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.

NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, get in touch.

Video : Fixing the 'Knees cave in when squatting' Problem

Nice one guys.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Kurtis Frank.

If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.


NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week : The Modified Jefferson Lift

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, 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 from Jason's superb article 29 Things to do with a Barbell in the Corner; and looks at just one of the many ways to put a partly-loaded barbell to work. The Modified Jefferson Lift.

Over to Jason :

This is where you straddle the barbell with both legs, and grasp above the weights while you lower yourself straight down as if sitting down into a chair. The R.O.M. is limited so you can use heavier weights if you feel comfortable.

Good stuff.

Checking Out : Indestructible Elbows

Indestructible Elbows.

Full review coming up shortly (I'm about to dive into this one myself); in the meantime, check out the details over on the book's sales page.

Indestructible Elbows.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.