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 : Evolution of Sandbag Training (Part 2)
  Josh Henkin | Follow @joshhenkin
  Ready for some new ways to put the sandbag to work?

  
  

• Looking At : Sep 20, 2015
  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 : Bodyweight Jump Variations

Nice one.

Gymchat 277 - 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.

Brian Tabor.

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: Fast or Slow Reps?

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.

One of the areas that Josh Hewett and John Paul Catanzaro covered in Gymchat 256 - Injury Prevention & Management was the general approach to choosing rep speed based on your goals. John Paul outlines the basic idea :

Good stuff.

Checking Out : My Health - Upgraded

My Health: Upgraded.

Next on the reading list - My Health: Upgraded; a peek into the future - covering a number of the areas we discuss on the blog, and over on Google+ - by 'medical futurist' Dr Bertalan Mesko. Very interesting area.

Review shortly. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the future of medicine, and of health in general. Drop us a line.

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

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Prototype of the Mighty Hand Trainer.

Say hello to the Mighty Arm Trainer; based on the Gonzo Grip (now the Mighty Hand Trainer, pictured at left), together with some wonderful insights by Mike Moeller. Available Sep 26.

To check it out - and to pre-order one - swing by the Strongergrip site :

http://www.strongergrip.com/armwrestling/mighty-hand-trainer/

Good stuff.

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 : Jaw Lifting - What, Why and How
  Ryan Pitts
  How to do it the Right way.

  
  

• Looking At : Sep 13, 2015
  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 : Deadlift Considerations, & Performing the Romanian Deadlift (RDL)

Great explanation Alan.

Gymchat 277 - 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.

Bill Kociaba training a wheelchair-bound client.

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: Fine-Tuning Your Lifestyle

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.

One of the areas that Josh Hewett and Adam Farrah covered in Gymchat 255 - Pillars of Paleo was the general approach to fine-tuning your lifestyle. Though the specifics will obviously vary from person to person, Adam outlines the basic idea :

Good stuff.

Checking Out : The Mighty Arm Trainer

Prototype of the Mighty Hand Trainer.

Say hello to the Mighty Arm Trainer; based on the Gonzo Grip (now the Mighty Hand Trainer, pictured at left), together with some wonderful insights by Mike Moeller. Available Sep 26.

To check it out - and to pre-order one - swing by the Strongergrip site :

http://www.strongergrip.com/armwrestling/mighty-hand-trainer/

Good stuff.

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

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Personal Trainer Magazine.

Although I'm not a Personal Trainer myself, I'm very much interested in the world of fitness. From both the client and business sides of things.

With that in mind, I'm certainly intrigued by John Spencer Ellis' Personal Trainer Magazine (free this month). Available in PDF, iOS and Kindle forms (same content, it's just personal preference), I'll be checking it out tonight. Review soon.

Personal Trainer Magazine.

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 : Lift Weights? So What!
  Logan Christopher
  Time to get serious.

  
  

• Looking At : Sep 6, 2015
  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 : Weighted Ring Push-Ups

Great combination - and a little more challenging than he makes it look.

Gymchat 277 - 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.

Bill Kociaba training a wheelchair-bound client.

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 Power of Naming Your Workouts

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.

Kira Robert Clarke (Fight Geek).

A few years ago, a couple of young dudes I trained with (Muay Thai), wanted to do some extra conditioning work. I offered to take them on a run up Puke Hill on the weekends.

After a few nervous side-glances, both of them asked, "Why is it called Puke Hill?" After striking a suitably melodramatic pose, I just smiled and then walked away.

When they finally got to do the run, I noticed three distinct changes to the way they normally trained:

• Intensity - It was the hardest I'd seen either of them train.
• Team-work - When one of them almost gave up, the other one slowed down and ran beside his friend--helping him to complete the last set of sprints.
• Accomplishment - After the run, neither whined or complained. In fact, despite their exhaustion, both had shit-eating grins plastered across their ugly faces.

Of course Puke Hill is just a hill. Sure it was steep, and using it for interval-sprints was quite challenging, but what hill sprints aren't challenging? So here's the point of my story: I believe that by simply giving the run a name, my two padawans trained harder, worked together better, and gained a greater sense of individual and shared achievement.

Good stuff.

Checking Out : Personal Trainer Magazine

Personal Trainer Magazine.

Although I'm not a Personal Trainer myself, I'm very much interested in the world of fitness. From both the client and business sides of things.

With that in mind, I'm certainly intrigued by John Spencer Ellis' Personal Trainer Magazine (free this month). Available in PDF, iOS and Kindle forms (same content, it's just personal preference), I'll be checking it out tonight. Review soon.

Personal Trainer Magazine.

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

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

TACFIT Medicine Ball PDS System.

The TACFIT Medicine Ball PDS (Proximal-Distal Sequencing) System is a comprehensive approach to medicine ball work; focusing on reducing injuries. It does this via a number of books & tutorial videos, which illustrate planned workouts as well as defining the underlying philosophy.

Full review shortly. The TACFIT Medicine Ball PDS System.

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 : Tackling the One-Armed Push-Up
  Al Kavadlo
  Up for a challenge?

  
  

• Looking At : Aug 30, 2015
  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 : OBB Power Handles

I was talking to someone about these this morning - very interesting idea. Brian Schwab's approach to the 'tight shoulders' problem.

Gymchat 277 - 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.

Bill Kociaba training a wheelchair-bound client.

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: Sleep Hygiene

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.

One of the areas that Josh Hewett and Sincere Hogan covered in Gymchat 253 was the general approach to sleep hygiene. Though the specifics will obviously vary from person to person, Sincere outlines the basic idea :

Good stuff.

Checking Out : TACFIT Medicine Ball PDS System

TACFIT Medicine Ball PDS System.

The TACFIT Medicine Ball PDS (Proximal-Distal Sequencing) System is a comprehensive approach to medicine ball work; focusing on reducing injuries. It does this via a number of books & tutorial videos, which illustrate planned workouts as well as defining the underlying philosophy.

Full review shortly. The TACFIT Medicine Ball PDS System.

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

Good stuff Bret, looks great.