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 :

• Spider/Blob & Variety
  Dan Hardisky
  A modern twist on an unusual 1960s training method.




• Training Logs : Database, Spreadsheet, Paper etc?
  Various authors
  This is a great discussion on how training logs are stored and updated - whether that involves a pencil & paper, a spreadsheet, a database or an application on your phone or tablet. Whatever you use, we'd love to hear about it.

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 : I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment beneath the article itself, and share your views with the fantastic strength-training community. Cheers.

Video : DIY Pinch Grip Apparatus

More DIY goodness, this time in the form of a 115lb pinch grip apparatus. Love it.

Twitterchat 112 - Outdoor Training

I love training outdoors. Hot or cold, wet weather or not. Always fun.

This week we're discussing the many ways to get at least part of your training outside, and the benefits of doing just that. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than USA Jungle Gym's Daniel Lapic (@mantis77). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Outdoor Training
When : Wed Apr 6, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

If you've never been to one of these twitterchats before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And 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 : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Making the Most of Your Gym Time II. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's a brief summary. Was a great one.

Checking Out : Foam Roller Workbook

Whether you're recovering, stretching or managing pain, the foam roller is your friend. Great thing.

The Foam Roller Workbook is a detailed look at using this deceptively simple piece of equipment. No matter how the roller fits in to your own training regime, this book will show you exactly what to use; and how. Very comprehensive.

The book comes out in hardcover form on June 1st, and a little before that for the digital version. Looking forward to it.

Quick update on the Beast Sled : Last week we noted the Beast Sled; beautiful thing.

If you haven't ordered yours yet, swing by the The Beast Sled site and check them out. I'd love to hear what you think.

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 :

• Late Nights and PRs
  Matt Hunt
  What's your own training like? Here's a glimpse of what Matt's getting up to these days.




• Health & Fitness Research
  Various authors
  There has been some fantastic research posted recently, both on the forums and the Facebook page. Dive in.

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 : I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment beneath the article itself, and share your views with the fantastic strength-training community. Cheers.

Video : DIY Training Equipment

Reading Fight Geek's excellent site this morning, I came across this : a brief video showing how to make a few of your own strength training tools (medicine ball, slosh-pipe & suspension trainer). Good stuff.

Want more? For several fantastic grip tools you can make yourself, check out Jedd's superb Home Made Strength II. Love it.

Twitterchat 111 - Making the Most of Your Gym Time II

Love training? Same here. In the garage, local park or a hotel gym somewhere.

This is the second part of the discussion on 'Making the Most of Your Gym Time', looking at things from the client's point of view. How to make the most of the time spent in the gym, and in the period inbetween visits. Nutrition, training logs, measurements and so on. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Body by D-Rock's Derek Peruo (@bodybydrock). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Making the Most of Your Gym Time II
When : Wed Mar 30, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

If you've never been to one of these twitterchats before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And 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 : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Making the Most of Your Gym Time. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's a brief summary. Was a great one.

Checking Out : The Beast Sled

Yael pointed me in the direction of this recently, and I must admit, it looks great.

The Beast Sled has thick uprights (same as an Olympic bar), 4" skids and is as tough as they come. Whether you're doing strength, speed or endurance work, the Beast Sled is for you.

70 lb of pure joy.

Quick update on Home Made Strength II : Grip Strength Edition : A few weeks ago we noted Jedd's upcoming DVD (now on sale), the second in the Home Made Strength series. Absolutely fantastic.

This is the one that shows precisely how to build - and train with - several fantastic grip tools. It really is top quality.

Thanks to everyone who grabbed a copy, and to those that left feedback; it's greatly appreciated. If you haven't yet got one for yourself, you can grab it here. Love it.

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 :

• DIY : How to Build Your Own Tire Sled
  Matt Hunt
  I love occasionally building my own training gear - great way to test out new ideas. Matt walks us through the process of building a particularly fun training tool - the Tyre Sled.
  
• Sgt Sweaty : A New Beginning
  Kevin 'Sgt Sweaty' Miller
  How did Kevin become obscenely strong? Like this.
  

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 : I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment beneath the article itself, and share your views with the fantastic strength-training community. Cheers.

Video : Dave Lemanczyk - On Form, Frequency, & Gains

If you've watched Keg Conditioning, you know that Dave clearly knows his stuff.

Over the past couple of weeks he's uploaded a stack of videos to his youtube channel, both demonstrating and analysing various aspects of his own training. Here's just one example - a detailed analysis of form, frequency and gains.

Nice one.

Twitterchat 110 - Making the Most of Your Gym Time

For those of you who've got your own training facility (or are considering getting one), how do you make the most of your time there? How do you not only look after yourself, but keep the business running well?

This is the first part of a discussion on 'Making the Most of Your Gym Time', looking at the business side of things. How to get client referrals, marketing, supplemental income and so on. Everything that can mean the difference between financial success and failure. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Body by D-Rock's Derek Peruo (@bodybydrock). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Making the Most of Your Gym Time
When : Wed Mar 23, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

If you've never been to one of these twitterchats before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And 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 : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on The Future of Fitness. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's a brief summary. Was a great one.

Checking Out : StrongerGrip Olympic Plate Adapter Sleeve

Perfect timing.

I've been doing the eBay thing quite a bit lately, and it's fair to say that I've amassed quite a respectable collection of plates (both Olympic and standard, in various conditions). For the Olympic ones among them, this is ideal.

It's a StrongerGrip adapter sleeve to enable the Olympic plates to be used with all kinds of grip toys. It's shown here on a Red Rafter, but it also works beautifully with things like the Gripballs.

If you love your grip work (and I can't exactly blame you), and are keen to make a little more use of your Olympic plates, check out the StrongerGrip Olympic Plate Adapter Sleeve. Beautiful thing.

Quick update on Home Made Strength II : Grip Strength Edition : A few weeks ago we noted Jedd's upcoming DVD (now on sale), the second in the Home Made Strength series. Absolutely fantastic.

This is the one that shows precisely how to build - and train with - several fantastic grip tools. It really is top quality.

Thanks to everyone who grabbed a copy, and to those that left feedback; it's greatly appreciated. If you haven't yet got one for yourself, you can grab it here. Love it.

I love learning, and have always been surrounded by a fantastic collection of books, videos and magazines.

This is certainly the case when it comes to health & fitness works - it's fair to say that I've checked out a lot of them over the years. Sharing everything from basic exercise techniques to the many, many ways to fine-tune your diet.

Here are a few personal favourites.

The Primal Blueprint

Mark Sisson

Hardback | Paperback
Confused about what to eat, how much to eat; even when to eat? This book will help you get the most out of your food plan.

Superb.

Diesel Crew Bending eBook

Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson

eBook
If you're new to the world of nail bending, this is the perfect book to get. It'll show you the exact techniques you'll need to get started right away. Written by world-class bender Jedd Johnson.

Card Tearing eBook

Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson

eBook
This is a fantastic book. If you've ever considered learning this incredible strength feat, the Card Tearing eBook is the perfect place to start. Love it.

Functional Correction Manual

Tim Hull

Paperback
If you ever wake up with that 'just run over by a truck' feeling, you need a copy of Tim Hull's Functional Correction Manual. Not only will it help you to locate and repair the problem, it'll give you a hand in preventing it happening in the future.

Superb book.

Precision Nutrition

Dr John Berardi

Paperback
When it comes to body transformation - whether that's a increase in strength, packing on a bit of muscle or losing a bit of excess fat - this is the perfect place to start. Dr Berardi's Precision Nutrition.

Bruce Lee : The Art of Expressing the Human Body

Bruce Lee & John Little

Paperback

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. Brilliant.

Strength Training Anatomy

Frederic Delavier

Paperback

This is a fantastic book. As Josh explains, it superbly shows what's going on while you train. Love it.

101 Fitness Myths

Maik Wiedenbach

Kindle eBook

A superb combination of fitness mythbusting and no-nonsense advice. If you're not quite sure where to start, grab this.

Of course, there are also a number of DVDs. Again, here are a few personal favourites.

The Complete Guide to Kettlebell Lifting

Steve Cotter

Just got your first kettlebell and wondering how to use it? Steve's your man.

The Encyclopedia of Clubbell Training

Scott Sonnon

When it comes to learning how to use Clubs and Maces (or the Clubbells in this case), a little instruction goes a long, long way. And this is certainly the way to do it.

Feats of Strength

Logan Christopher & Bud Jeffries

Bending, tearing and a whole lot more. Love it.

Intervention

Dan John

This is the inimitable Dan John at his storytelling best, sharing an enormous amount of training wisdom in the process. Fantastic.

The Definitive Guide to Kettlebell Juggling

Logan Christopher

Comprising no fewer than three content-packed DVDs, Logan shares a wealth of exercises, variations and training methods in The Definitive Guide to Kettlebell Juggling. It really is essential viewing for anyone looking to get into this amazing activity.

Industrial Strength Grip II

'Unbreakable' Adam Glass

If you've ever seen 'Unbreakable' Adam T Glass in action, you'll appreciate just how valuable this is. Brilliant.

No matter what your strength-training goals are, if you're looking to become stronger, these are well worth checking out. Dive in.

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 :

• Keeping the Conversation Going : The Return of Comments
  Scott Andrew Bird
  I've been waiting for this for a long, long time. Love talking about training.
  
• Facebook Helps You Lose Weight? What!?!
  Ferris Stith
  An interesting way to use financial motivation for physical transformation.
  

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 : I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment beneath the article itself, and share your views with the fantastic strength-training community. Cheers.

Video : Muscle-up Variations (Italian)

Pitbull Training's Coach Miletto demonstrates several variations of the superb Muscle-Up. Very interesting indeed.

Twitterchat 109 - The Future of Fitness

What will the fitness industry be like in 5 years? 20 years? 100 years?
This week we're having an open discussion on that very topic - The Future of Fitness - the things that you think are likely to happen. The equipment we'll probably use, the kinds of medical technologies that may have an impact; and how we might share our successes and failures. Whatever the future holds.

Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : The Future of Fitness
When : Wed Mar 16, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

If you've never been to one of these twitterchats before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And 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 : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Sled Dragging. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's a brief summary. Was a great one.

Looking Forward To : Andy Bolton's 2011 Seminar DVD

This looks great.

Whenever there's talk of insane levels of strength, you certainly hear the name Andy Bolton. Freakishly strong.

This DVD (package, really) is based on this year's seminars, as well as a few things he's picked up over the years. Covering everything from assistance work and grip training to the big three themselves, this is a very interesting compilation.

Comes out tomorrow.

Quick update on the AtLarge BCAA+ : Thanks to everyone who grabbed some, it's great stuff. The discount still applies for another few days (up until the end of March 20th), so if you missed out (or would just like to grab some more), here are the details :

Head over to the AtLarge BCAA+ page, grab a bottle or three, and use the coupon code SB25 when ordering. Tell Chris that Straight to the Bar sent you. He'll look after you.

As you might expect, I've visited a lot of sites over the years, and created profiles on a number of them. Here are just a few :

• Blogger
• del.icio.us
• Digg
• Flickr
• Flickr (Straight to the Bar Team)
• Facebook
• iTunes Ping
• Kiva (Straight to the Bar Team)
• LinkedIn
• Myspace
• Netscape
• SmugMug
• Stumbleupon
• Squidoo
• Technorati
• Seti
• Straight to the Bar Forums
• Twitter
• YouTube

I write regularly for a number of sites; on a variety of cooking, environmental and strength-training topics. Here's just a sample :

Blogs

I write for a number of blogs on a regular basis (primarily on environmental and fitness topics), as well as providing ad-hoc articles to many others. A few of my favourite pieces are :

• The Ultimate Guide to Freezing Food (part I, II)
  
• Saving Water (part I, II, III, IV, V, VI)
  
• Inspiring Transformations
• What to look for when buying fish
• Making the most of Libraries and Family Tree Research Centres
• Getting your first kettlebell

In addition to these, I'm the editor of (and regular contributor to) :

• Straight to the Bar
• Strength Tweets
• Scott Bird's Family Tree
• Cameraderie
• Go The Mighty Eels

and many forums, boards and social networks.

eBooks

I've written several ebooks, most of them elaborating topics which are mentioned on Straight to the Bar. These include :

• Buying your first kettlebell (a revised version of the article I wrote for Harrow Drive, reprinted with permission)
• 10 Essential Conditioning Tools
• How to paint a kettlebell

I love talking about training.

Since the very beginning of this blog (Jan 2004), I've been looking for ways to keep this conversation going, in as many ways as possible. The forums, weekly twitterchats, YouTube videos and photos on Flickr. And of course, Facebook.


Alongside those - and predating them in many cases - were comments beneath the blog articles themselves. These provided invaluable feedback to the various article authors, as well as becoming conversations in their own right. It offered a tantalising glimpse into the strength-training community.

Unfortunately, due solely to spam, I was forced to close down these comments in 2007. Although there are many other ways to talk about training (particularly the ones mentioned above), I always missed the kinds of insights they brought. Sometimes immediately, and sometimes long after the article was written. Always extremely informative.

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 :

• High Fat Diets, Carbohydrate Intake, Water Consumption
  Various authors
  Just a few of the fascinating topics that cropped up following the discussion on fat loss. Would love to hear your thoughts.
  
• TNS Gripper Day
  Matt Hunt
  The gripper work continues. Fantastic.
  

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' button beneath each post). Cheers.

Video : Chain Loaded Ab Wheel

Chains and an ab wheel. Love it.

Twitterchat 108 - Sled Dragging

Sled dragging is not only a great way to work out, it's downright fun.
Whether you're training indoors or out in the sun, a little sled work is fair game. This week we're looking closely at this particular method of training; what it is, the equipment involved, benefits and so on. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than the incredible Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson (@JeddJohnson). Fantastic.
Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Sled Dragging
When : Wed Mar 9, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

If you've never been to one of these twitterchats before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And 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 : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Nutrition For Fat Loss. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's a brief summary. Was a great one.

Checking Out : Kettlebell Snatch Domination

This looks fantastic.

I'm a big fan of Logan's work, and this is certainly no exception. Slightly unorthodox, challenging, and very, very effective.

In Kettlebell Snatch Domination, Logan explains (and demonstrates) how to use the Kettlebell Snatch very much to your advantage. How to gain both strength and endurance. Fat loss. Gripping techniques. And much, much more.

There really is a lot more to this apparently simple exercise than you might think.


Overall, very, very impressive. Full review shortly, and in the meantime - here's the man himself : Logan Christopher. Superb.

Quick update on the AtLarge BCAA+ : Thanks to everyone who grabbed some, it's great stuff. The discount still applies for another couple of weeks, so if you missed out (or would just like to grab some more), here are the details :

Head over to the AtLarge BCAA+ page, grab a bottle or three, and use the coupon code SB25 when ordering. Tell Chris that Straight to the Bar sent you. He'll look after you.

Submitting Articles

One of the things I really enjoy in the world of strength training is people's willingness to share their ideas. Everywhere you look, someone's performing an exercise in a different way; or using an uncommon training technique.
If you'd like to share your own strength-training insights, a guest post on Straight to the Bar might be just what you're looking for. Whether you're a personal trainer, professional athlete or just someone who loves this stuff; an article here will put you in touch with some incredible readers.

The process involved is nice and painless. To share an article, simply log in and copy/paste your article from your word processor of choice. One of the editors here will review it, and publish as soon as possible.

If you'd like to join the superb team of writers here, let me know.

Talking About It

The other side of the articles is the conversation beneath each one, which discusses the various points raised in the article itself. Many of the Straight to the Bar writers have contributed greatly to many of the posts on this site.

If you'd like to do the same, I'd highly recommend starting with the 'Best of Straight to the Bar' articles. You'll find them all here :

straighttothebar.com/articles

Pointing to Upcoming Competitions & Events

If you know of a strongman or bodybuilding competition - or a similar fitness-related event - tell us about it. Just add it to the Strength Calendar, and point everyone to it. You'll find the calendar here :

docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Apakfv2ufLhsdFd2UXBtS3JjY0N4bnpBY0wxS1lfR1E

The Gymchats

If you'd like to be on an upcoming Gymchat (the weekly interviews) - or would simply like to point us to someone you'd love to see on the show - feel free to contact Josh directly. You'll find all his contact details here.

Asking Questions, Seeking Help

We also receive a number of messages asking specific questions, and asking for help. Greatly appreciated.

The best place for these is in the Straight to the Bar Community on Google+ : plenty of trainers, coaches and serious fitness enthusiasts over there. Or for things which are a little more confidential, you can also contact us privately. Either way is fine.