Results matching “log”

Monday, 3 May 2010 - Issues

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 :

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, Digg and Retweet icons). Cheers.

Video : Battle Ropes

I love rope training, and this video shows just a few ways to put them to work. Good stuff.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 64 - Performance-Enhancing Supplements : Protein, caffeine, creatine - what do you have before, during and after your workout; specifically to squeeze the most out of the work you put in?

This week we're taking a look at Performance-Enhancing Supplements (legal ones of course) - what's currently used, the thinking behind them, and which ones are effective. Whether it's a pre-workout cup of coffee or a dose of HMB.

Helping us to navigate this fascinating world is Food & Fitness' own Anthony Paradis (@foodnfitness). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Performance-Enhancing Supplements
When : Wed May 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 : I've been receiving a stack of positive feedback on the 'Kettlebell Training for Beginners' discussion, and it's greatly appreciated. And particular thanks to Jackie (aka Girlwithnoname) - was a great chat.

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.


Getting Ready For :
Ultimate Warrior Workouts - Fitness Secrets of the Martial Arts

To say I'm looking forward to this is an understatement.

I'll post a full review shortly (the book isn't actually available until tomorrow, but you can pre-order it here). In the meantime, here's a brief description of what's inside :

World-renowned fitness coach Martin Rooney will take you where no warrior has gone before. On an epic international quest, Rooney traveled to top-fight destinations around the globe to study and train under the last living masters in the eight core disciplines of Mixed Martial Arts. More than 1,000 full-color photos reveal hundreds of the original training secrets he discovered along the way, from the slopes of Japan's Mt. Fuji and the beaches of Brazil to the streets of Russia. With nearly fifty varieties of push-ups, dozens of kettlebell exercises, and hundreds of unique training techniques, Ultimate Warrior Workouts also offers:
  • A complete six-month workout program
  • Cutting-edge nutrition ADVICE and a sample diet plan
  • "Warrior Challenges" to assess your fitness level
  • The history and philosophy of the arts that comprise mixed martial arts

Fantastic.


Listening To : Endurance

What are you listening to?

I'm a huge fan of audiobooks - it's a fantastic way to increase your 'reading' time, as you can do it whilst doing other things - particularly the descriptions of explorations and discoveries from a range of athletes and adventurers.

Currently I'm re-reading (re-listening to, really) the book Endurance, by Alfred Lansing, which details Ernest Shackleton's incredible 1914 South Pole expedition. A brilliant read.

How about you - what's on your 'books to listen to' list?


Exercise of the Week : Box Jump from Foam

Looking for a challenging way to vary your jump training? Try a few of these. Good fun.



So you can lift weights? Big deal. So can my grandma. What can you really do?

So you can lift heavy weights? I'm impressed, but your average person doesn't know the difference between 225 and 800 lbs on the squat. They're both beyond his ability and heavy.

I don't want to knock weightlifting, though it may sound like I am. I lift weights and think everyone should too. The benefits are numerous.

But I want to encourage you to do something more. To add in some more skill into the mix. To do things that may inspire the average person to want to do it too.

I'm talking about things like feats of strength, kettlebell juggling, crazy bodyweight feats, hand balancing and acrobatics. Things which I enjoy doing.

Don't think that these are just party tricks either. Although skill may be involved (skill is involved even in basic weightlifting exercises in case you didn't know), they require strength and more. The benefits of many of these skills extend to endurance, coordination, balance, mobility and more. Things that many weightlifters may be lacking.

Don't take my word for it. Legendary Strongman George Jowett wrote back in 1930 on the subject of hand balancing:

No doubt you will have noticed that invariably all hand balancers have splendidly formed arms and each has a firm powerful hand clasp.

I have found that hand balancers on the whole have a more perfectly formed arm - particularly the forearms and wrist- than the weight lifter.

The hand balancer employs the hand and wrist much more than does the lifter of weights and what is more interesting, he employs the arm muscles as well as the grip in many unusual ways- ways not possible to the exercise fans who handle weights only.

No doubt knowledge of this diversified method of development is what makes the mass of European strength athletes so partial to the practice of hand balancing.

The average American strength athlete could practice this valuable pastime of hand balancing more consistently than he does.

True back then and even more so today.

Monday, 26 April 2010 - Issues

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 :

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.



Monday, 19 April 2010 - Issues

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 :

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.

Monday, 12 April 2010 - Issues

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 :

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.

Monday, 5 April 2010 - Issues

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 :

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

Leisl
Leisl.
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.

Monday, 29 March 2010 - Issues

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 :

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

Primal ChatTwitterchat 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).

Monday, 22 March 2010 - Issues

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 :

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.

MyHeritage - History

A quick note on a site that a friend just pointed me to - MyHeritage. I'm just starting to explore it now (full review shortly), but it looks to be an interesting blend of genealogical research and social elements.

Definitely worth checking out.

MyHeritage - Test Area

A quick note on a site that a friend just pointed me to - MyHeritage. I'm just starting to explore it now (full review shortly), but it looks to be an interesting blend of genealogical research and social elements.

Definitely worth checking out.

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383  

Pages

Powered by Movable Type 5.2.7