Results matching “log”

This looks great - Cory Swede Burns' '5th Set for Powerlifting'. A customised training course designed for anyone who likes to lift heavy.

For a peek into Cory's mindset, and the general thinking behind '5th Set' :



Cory Swede Burns' '5th Set for Powerlifting'.



NB : We first looked at this one in the weekly Strength & Fitness Newsletter (part of the Strength Kit). If you'd like to have it sent to you automatically (free!) each week, just add your email here.

Monday, 13 Jul 2015 - Issues

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 :

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, here's how.


Video : Improving Ankle Mobility



Good stuff.

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.


Previously : In Gymchat 213 we discussed How to get BIGGER and STRONGER (with Josh Hewett, Suneet Sebastian, Louis Farone, Paul Marsland and Jason Paris). Great conversation.

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: Planche Nugget

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.


Noticed this nugget on the Bodyweight Culture Forums, in a discussion on the Planche :
The skill is very simple to describe but hard to do. Here we go:
  • Take the ab-wheel.
  • Get into a pushup position while holding an ab wheel.
  • Now instead of rolling it toward your head, roll it toward your feet and back.

If you can roll the wheel with straight arms down to the point where the wheel will touch your pubis (lower front of hipbone) and bring it back up to the pushup position, you should hurry and take Paul Hamm's spot in the Olympics.

Nice one.


Checking Out : Swede Burns' '5th Set for Powerlifting'

This looks great - Cory Swede Burns' '5th Set for Powerlifting'. A customised training course designed for anyone who likes to lift heavy.

For a peek into Cory's mindset, and the general thinking behind '5th Set' :



Cory Swede Burns' '5th Set for Powerlifting'.




Quick update on the Hip Thruster we mentioned recently - fantastic thing.

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



Good stuff Bret, looks great.

The enigmatic Benjamin Andrews
The enigmatic Benjamin Andrews.
I love hearing everyones' fitness backgrounds, it's always fascinating to hear how someone got started. Here's how Benjamin Andrews began his own training journey.

Scott




I was that kid who was really fat in high school, and started hitting the gym hard after graduation. Since then, I've finished my first BA and somewhere along the way I've lost 30lb, and turned most of my mass from fat to muscle. I've been doing dedicated weight training in the gym for about a year and a half now, having just recently recovered from a bad case of Crossfit blues. Currently I'm training to compete in my first Strongman contest next summer, and I'm pushing myself hard to reach my goals before I do so.

My training approaches are almost entirely self-taught. Youtube and the internet community are both great places to learn techniques and get tips from the pros. I've been tinkering with my own routine for about 9 months, and I've settled into a rotation that fits my needs and my body's abilities. I train a mixture of powerlifting and bodybuilding, mainly anything I can lift in the gym, and I devote one day out of my Eight Day cycle to training for strongman events, either using equipment my tiny gym has, or any lifts I can simulate using gym equipment. I'm working on some implement of my own at home, and hope to have my first lifting log carved soon.

Beyond that, I try to listen to my body when training. If I finish my squat sets on leg day, and my arms feel like they need to be hit, I'll do a few exercises for the arms and call it a day. If I'm not feeling my training, I'll probably call it a day, or change up my routine to something more suited to my energy levels. I think listening to your body, and learning what it needs, and when it needs a push, and when it doesn't, is the most important part of training.

Cheers Ben, appreciated.

Monday, 6 Jul 2015 - Issues

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 :

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, here's how.


Video : Functional Roles of Muscles

Another great bit of anatomy education.




Gymchat 277 - TBA

Mystery Guest
Mystery Guest.
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 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.


Previously : In Gymchat 213 we discussed How to get BIGGER and STRONGER (with Josh Hewett, Suneet Sebastian, Louis Farone, Paul Marsland and Jason Paris). Great conversation.

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 a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week: Overhand Card Tearing

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.


Tearing cards
Completed tear.
When it comes to the various feats of performing strongmen & women, one that frequently comes to mind is the tearing of a deck of cards. In the article Overhand Card Tearing, Bikes Cut the Correct Way, Adam explains the basic technique for doing exactly that :
  1. Hold it firmly
    Hold it firmly.
    Hold the deck firmly with your weak hand (right side shown for me) with the deck firmly and horizontal to the floor.
  2. Pinch the deck
    Pinch the deck.
    Pinch the deck with the strong hand with the thumb and index finger. It's the same grip you use to use a remote control.
  3. Pull towards your chest
    Pull towards your chest.
    Pull your strong hand (pinch side) towards your chest. The index finger splits the deck. You must pinch hard!
  4. Turn your weak hand towards the floor
    Turn your weak hand towards the floor.
    Continue to pull hand towards your chest, turn your weak hand towards the floor. The deck will rip - not twist - if you have a tight grip. The tear line will be clean.
  5. Separate the deck
    Separate the deck.
    Continue to pinch the deck hard and pull back towards your chest until you separate the deck. The line will be a clean cut right through the deck. With this method you can put the cut anywhere you want on the deck.
Tearing cards
Tearing cards.
It takes pain tolerance and hand strength with this method. Keep practicing. THERE IS NO TRICK. Rub some lip balm on your hands after you tear if the skin is raw.
I can now rip decks of bicycles in less than 3 seconds, and quarter them in a second with this grip. It makes you strong.

NB : it's certainly possible, but by no means easy. If you enjoyed doing that and would like to take it a step further, check out Jedd's superb Card Tearing eBook. Invaluable resource.


Checking Out : The Strength Calisthenics Certification (SCC)

This sounds fantastic.

A stripped-down version of the 3-day PCC we looked at a while ago, the Strength Calisthenics Certification (SCC) sounds like the ideal introduction to the world of progressive calisthenics work.

Full details over on the Dragon Door page, but briefly; the course covers cornerstone movements such as push-ups, pull-ups, squats and bridges - in an intensive, 1-day seminar. Perfect.




Quick update on the Hip Thruster we mentioned recently - fantastic thing.

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



Good stuff Bret, looks great.


During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Monday, 29 Jun 2015 - Issues

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 :

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, here's how.


Video : Kettlebell Rowing Variations

Very interesting combinations.




Gymchat 277 - TBA

Mystery Guest
Mystery Guest.
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 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.


Previously : In Gymchat 213 we discussed How to get BIGGER and STRONGER (with Josh Hewett, Suneet Sebastian, Louis Farone, Paul Marsland and Jason Paris). Great conversation.

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


Tip of the Week: Training When Travelling

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.


We've had a number of questions over the years along the lines of 'how do I train when travelling?'. Mark Konen's approach (from the article Pack Light, Train Hard) :

Suitcase
Well traveled suitcase.
I am visiting my sedentary family soon and I will not be near a gym so here is my plan:

First, there is a wide variety of bodyweight exercises I can do including push-ups, sit-ups, mountain climbers, burpees, squats, pull-ups and jumping rope. I can fashion these as a circuit or even as a Tabata workout. So, the first thing I will pack is the Gymboss interval timer. Since I will already have my laptop with me, I could also use an online Tabata timer.
To make the bodyweight exercises even more challenging, I will bring along my jumpstretch bands; specifically the mini-bands. I can add resistance to any exercise I do and can also use it for assistance in pull-ups and range of motion (ROM) work. I also have a couple minor, nagging injuries that would benefit from some band work.
I will bring some running gear and would run in areas where I could also find some things like rocks to lift and throw. I may add in some hills and speed training. (I do use the word "speed" with a sense of humor)!
I'll toss in a Captains of Crush Gripper. I can use that while watching sports on the tube.
OK, so far so good. But I really would like to do some heavy lifting so what can I do that is the same as what I would do at my home gym? Sandbag training! All I have to do is to take my sandbag liners of 50, 25 and 10#, empty them at home and then go buy a couple of 50# bags at a hardware store close to where I'll be staying. Sand is cheap.
That about covers all I could possibly need to get in great workouts while out of town. Since I am going to a colder clime, it may be unlikely there will be a heavy snowfall this early in the season, but if I happen to be in a big snowstorm, you can't beat snow shovelling! Snow shovel intervals could be interesting, challenging and fun. Come to think of it, I'll have to look in my dad's garage. I wonder if he has a sledgehammer? I may be able to talk my mom into steering the car while I push it down the street for time or reps!

Good stuff.


Looking Forward To : Sandbag Fitness - 150 High Intensity Workouts

Looks great.

This one's exactly what the title suggests - 150 superb sandbag-focussed workouts. If you've just got yourself a sandbag (or are about to get one), this book is an excellent place to start.

Full review when it launches - it hits the shelves on Aug 1st. Matt Palfrey's Sandbag Fitness: 150 High Intensity Workouts.




Quick update on the Hip Thruster we mentioned recently - fantastic thing.

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



Good stuff Bret, looks great.


During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
Looks great.

Still working my way through the 'to read' pile. Next on the list - Dr Chris Hardy and Marty Gallagher's Strong Medicine. Can't wait to dive in.

A brief comment by Paul Wade will help explain what the book promises to deliver :

Strong Medicine is flat-out amazing. If you ever wanted to take your training and your nutritional theory to an elite level--better than 99.9% of certified personal trainers--this is the book for you. It's all in here: genetics, gut bacteria, cutting-edge stress biology, molecular nutrition.

Full review shortly.



NB : We first looked at this one in the weekly Strength & Fitness Newsletter (part of the Strength Kit). If you'd like to have it sent to you automatically (free!) each week, just add your email here.

And if you're looking for other training-related books I recommend, check out the complete lists on Goodreads.


Monday, 22 Jun 2015 - Issues

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 :

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, here's how.


Video : Tutorial - Straight Arm Press to Handstand

Good stuff.




Gymchat 277 - TBA

Mystery Guest
Mystery Guest.
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 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.


Previously : In Gymchat 213 we discussed How to get BIGGER and STRONGER (with Josh Hewett, Suneet Sebastian, Louis Farone, Paul Marsland and Jason Paris). Great conversation.

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


Tip of the Week: It's Never Too Late to Start

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.


We'll be discussing this in a lot more detail in an upcoming Gymchat (and if you'd like to be involved, let me know); the idea of starting your strength-training well into your senior years.
We've looked at a number of older athletes over the years (for an idea of how many there are, just take a glance at the 'still got it' tag on the blog), and this quote sums up my thinking perfectly.
From the post 'Exercise in Healthy Older Adults' :
Age is not a contraindication to exercise, which can usually be initiated safely in older persons.

In short, it's never too late to start.

Checking Out : Strong Medicine - How to Conquer Chronic Disease And Achieve Your Full Genetic Potential

Looks great.

Still working my way through the 'to read' pile. Next on the list - Dr Chris Hardy and Marty Gallagher's Strong Medicine. Can't wait to dive in.

A brief comment by Paul Wade will help explain what the book promises to deliver :

Strong Medicine is flat-out amazing. If you ever wanted to take your training and your nutritional theory to an elite level--better than 99.9% of certified personal trainers--this is the book for you. It's all in here: genetics, gut bacteria, cutting-edge stress biology, molecular nutrition.

Full review shortly.




Quick update on the Hip Thruster we mentioned recently - fantastic thing.

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



Good stuff Bret, looks great.


During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.
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