Results matching “log”

Wherever possible, I use the various products that are advertised on this site. Case in point : the wraps I purchased from Adam Glass.

These are the business. After using them once, the old scraps of leather I'd been using (a disused car-washing cloth from the look of it), were relegated to the big round filing tray. A few weeks later, they're like old friends. Perfect.

If you're just thinking about trying your hands (quite literally) at a little short-steel bending, grab a pair of Adam's wraps; and a copy of Jedd's Bending eBook. It really is a superb combination.

Wherever possible, I use the various products that are advertised on this site. Case in point : the wraps I purchased from Adam Glass.

These are the business. After using them once, the old scraps of leather I'd been using (a disused car-washing cloth from the look of it), were relegated to the big round filing tray. A few weeks later, they're like old friends. Perfect.

If you're just thinking about trying your hands (quite literally) at a little short-steel bending, grab a pair of Adam's wraps; and a copy of Jedd's Bending eBook. It really is a superb combination.

Remember last time I said ladies should lift? Nothing has changed. But some of you may now be saying, "Well, I'd love to start a strength training program, but I have no idea where to start." And others of you might be saying, "Why should I listen to this bitch anyway?" Okay, let's tackle the latter first. I have no idea. But, I mean, you've read this far, so may as well keep going.

Look, I avoided weight training for years. Going to the local gym and putzing around on the little dumbbell curl machine had about zero appeal to me, and though I tried to get into it from time to time, I could never really commit to what felt boring and pointless and much less appealing than staying home and watching bad sitcoms on TV while eating spoonfuls of peanut butter right out of the container. (I suppose my blog in those days could have been called, "Straight to the Jar".) But then I found a style of weight training I loved, namely this kickass combination of plyometric drills and running and jump-rope with technical lifts and cool tricks mixed in for a terrifyingly hard and super fun workout, and I got hooked. I'm not saying that will absolutely work for you, but there's probably something out there involving barbells and exercises that will. Oh, and did I mention that this training also made me lose body fat, get muscle definition, speed up my running, protect my bones, feel super strong and badass, and lift my ass a good inch higher without Spanx? And that I'm not one of those naturally skinny people who can eat anything and look like a rail? That my metabolism is so slow I could probably survive as long as the cockroaches after the nuclear winter wipes out all the food supplies? Just saying.

This is a guest post from Fitness Fixation's Kelly Mills. Oh Ladies, Time To Start Strength Training...

Remember last time I said ladies should lift? Nothing has changed. But some of you may now be saying, "Well, I'd love to start a strength training program, but I have no idea where to start." And others of you might be saying, "Why should I listen to this bitch anyway?" Okay, let's tackle the latter first. I have no idea. But, I mean, you've read this far, so may as well keep going.

Look, I avoided weight training for years. Going to the local gym and putzing around on the little dumbbell curl machine had about zero appeal to me, and though I tried to get into it from time to time, I could never really commit to what felt boring and pointless and much less appealing than staying home and watching bad sitcoms on TV while eating spoonfuls of peanut butter right out of the container. (I suppose my blog in those days could have been called, “Straight to the Jar”.) But then I found a style of weight training I loved, namely this kickass combination of plyometric drills and running and jump-rope with technical lifts and cool tricks mixed in for a terrifyingly hard and super fun workout, and I got hooked. I'm not saying that will absolutely work for you, but there's probably something out there involving barbells and exercises that will. Oh, and did I mention that this training also made me lose body fat, get muscle definition, speed up my running, protect my bones, feel super strong and badass, and lift my ass a good inch higher without Spanx? And that I'm not one of those naturally skinny people who can eat anything and look like a rail? That my metabolism is so slow I could probably survive as long as the cockroaches after the nuclear winter wipes out all the food supplies? Just saying.

Via Fight Geek : A clip from Ross Enamait's DIY archives - a home-made kicker. Great idea.

Via Fight Geek : A clip from Ross Enamait's DIY archives - a home-made kicker. Great idea.

After two weeks of a less-than-perfect diet, I'm ready for a somewhat more health-conscious approach. If you're in the same boat, check out some of the videos Rob's been posting.

The above clip is definitely one to think about : is it possible to reverse Type 2 Diabetes through nutrition alone? Head over to Raw For 30 Days and take a look.

After two weeks of a less-than-perfect diet, I'm ready for a somewhat more health-conscious approach. If you're in the same boat, check out some of the videos Rob's been posting.

The above clip is definitely one to think about : is it possible to reverse Type 2 Diabetes through nutrition alone? Head over to Raw For 30 Days and take a look.

I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around March 15). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives.

Enjoy.

The Zercher Squat

This is the first in a series of Timeless Exercises; a collaboration with Run to Win's Blaine Moore. The Zercher Squat.

What is the Zercher Squat?

To the uninitiated, the Zercher Squat is a strange beast. Instead of the bar being held across the shoulders (slightly higher or lower for Olympic Weightlifters, Bodybuilders and Powerlifters); it's held in the crook of your arms. The inside of your elbows, if you like.

This is somewhat painful (although you do get used to it a little), however it's an extremely effective exercise. As Louie Simmons notes in Dead Lift Secrets :

It teaches you exactly how to squat. It teaches you to push your knees apart. Push your chest up. Push your buttocks out. The whole nine yards.

Origins

The Zercher Squat was one of the many cruel and unusual exercises created by St Louis strongman Ed Zercher (1902 - 1995). Zercher's own home gym resembled a junkyard more than a basement, and was filled with such toys as anvils, wrecking balls and assorted pieces of machinery. Sounds perfect.

Technique

This is one of the rare exercises where using a thick bar actually makes it more comfortable. A strongman yoke with an adjustable crossbar is great; a thick (2.5" - 3") barbell is also a good choice.

The lift comprises two stages, although it is common to see only the second one being performed in gyms.

The weighted bar begins on the floor, and is deadlifted (using a conventional, or shoulder-width stance) to a point a little above the knee. Aim for the lower quad muscles, rather than your kneecaps.

Slowly squat down; balancing the bar at this point on your lower thighs. Slide your arms under the bar until it reaches your elbows. Now stand up.

Simply reverse the process to complete the exercise. That's one rep.

NB : You may notice that this movement resembles the action of lifting a heavy stone, and it can be a great way to help train for such an event.

How to hold the bar

Regardless of how you hold the bar, there'll be some pain involved. Whilst you can probably ignore it when there's 50kg on the bar, it's a different story when the bar weighs 200kg.

There are three things to consider here. Experiment with them and find the combination that feels right to you. They are :

How your hands are -

• as fists
• clasped together

How your forearms are -

• crossed over
• bringing your hands together
• straight ahead (or at a slight angle)

What the bar is resting against -

• your skin
• a board
• something soft, such as a towel

The videos below show a variety of these combinations.

Videos

The following videos will give you an idea of the various techniques that people are using for this wonderful exercise :

Power Circuit Training
Josh Henkin and Keats Sniderman
(partial Zercher Squat shown)

Zippy Videos
(130kg partial Zercher Squat shown)

Exercises You've Never Tried #18
T-Nation staff

425lb x 2 partial Zercher Squat [streaming, 1.3mb .flv download]

Old training clips compilation from Chub

Other 'Zercher' exercises

There are several other exercises which use the same method of holding the bar. Try a few of these :

• Zercher Lunges
• Zercher Good Mornings
• Zercher Situps
• Zercher Deadlifts (simply start with the loaded bar on the ground, squat down and hook your arms under it, then stand up)

Of course, the original Zercher Squat is still a personal favourite. Definitely a keeper.

Resources

The Zercher Lift

A truly uplifting experience

USAWA

Wally's Place

Finnish Power
(thanks Kris)

I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around March 15). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives.

Enjoy.

The Zercher Squat

This is the first in a series of Timeless Exercises; a collaboration with Run to Win's Blaine Moore. The Zercher Squat.

What is the Zercher Squat?

To the uninitiated, the Zercher Squat is a strange beast. Instead of the bar being held across the shoulders (slightly higher or lower for Olympic Weightlifters, Bodybuilders and Powerlifters); it's held in the crook of your arms. The inside of your elbows, if you like.

This is somewhat painful (although you do get used to it a little), however it's an extremely effective exercise. As Louie Simmons notes in Dead Lift Secrets :

It teaches you exactly how to squat. It teaches you to push your knees apart. Push your chest up. Push your buttocks out. The whole nine yards.

Origins

The Zercher Squat was one of the many cruel and unusual exercises created by St Louis strongman Ed Zercher (1902 - 1995). Zercher's own home gym resembled a junkyard more than a basement, and was filled with such toys as anvils, wrecking balls and assorted pieces of machinery. Sounds perfect.

Technique

This is one of the rare exercises where using a thick bar actually makes it more comfortable. A strongman yoke with an adjustable crossbar is great; a thick (2.5" - 3") barbell is also a good choice.

The lift comprises two stages, although it is common to see only the second one being performed in gyms.

The weighted bar begins on the floor, and is deadlifted (using a conventional, or shoulder-width stance) to a point a little above the knee. Aim for the lower quad muscles, rather than your kneecaps.

Slowly squat down; balancing the bar at this point on your lower thighs. Slide your arms under the bar until it reaches your elbows. Now stand up.

Simply reverse the process to complete the exercise. That's one rep.

NB : You may notice that this movement resembles the action of lifting a heavy stone, and it can be a great way to help train for such an event.

How to hold the bar

Regardless of how you hold the bar, there'll be some pain involved. Whilst you can probably ignore it when there's 50kg on the bar, it's a different story when the bar weighs 200kg.

There are three things to consider here. Experiment with them and find the combination that feels right to you. They are :

How your hands are -

• as fists
• clasped together

How your forearms are -

• crossed over
• bringing your hands together
• straight ahead (or at a slight angle)

What the bar is resting against -

• your skin
• a board
• something soft, such as a towel

The videos below show a variety of these combinations.

Videos

The following videos will give you an idea of the various techniques that people are using for this wonderful exercise :

Power Circuit Training
Josh Henkin and Keats Sniderman
(partial Zercher Squat shown)

Zippy Videos
(130kg partial Zercher Squat shown)

Exercises You've Never Tried #18
T-Nation staff

425lb x 2 partial Zercher Squat [streaming, 1.3mb .flv download]

Old training clips compilation from Chub

Other 'Zercher' exercises

There are several other exercises which use the same method of holding the bar. Try a few of these :

• Zercher Lunges
• Zercher Good Mornings
• Zercher Situps
• Zercher Deadlifts (simply start with the loaded bar on the ground, squat down and hook your arms under it, then stand up)

Of course, the original Zercher Squat is still a personal favourite. Definitely a keeper.

Resources

The Zercher Lift

A truly uplifting experience

USAWA

Wally's Place

Finnish Power
(thanks Kris)