The Right Tool For the Right Job The Stability ball, just like Kettlebells, Sliders, the TRX etc. is just another tool in the toolbox. [Tweet "That means there is a time and a place for unstable surface training in a program."] Here's a quick reference guide: Never the time and the place... Sometimes the time and the place. The time and the place, a lot of the time that doesn't mean MOST... First things first, When is NEVER the time? Almost All Lower Body Training and Upper Body Strength Work Why NEVER on the Lower Body? Cause it doesn't work like that homie. Caveat: yes unstable surfaces work well in the rehabilitation of lower limb … [Read more...]
What the F* is the “Open Side”, the Value of Offset Loading
March 31, 2014 by
Common Email From An Online Client: "Roy, what the hell is the "open side". followed up with "Why do we do this?" Welp, Here's the Answer(s) The "Open Side"/ Offset Loading Explained: When we load traditionally, the weight in both hands, it's easier to balance the load. Because the load is spread across a greater "surface area" in that the entire shoulder girdle and core is activated about equally. The weight is more evenly distributed across the hips. Basically, the pull on the system is more "even" left to right and because most motion occurs in the saggital plane (front to back) an even load means that less tension/ force has to be allocated to … [Read more...]
The Kettlebell Swing, It’s not a Squat/ Front Raise and it Doesn’t go Overhead.
February 26, 2014 by
The Kettlebell Swing: What are swings about? What's the purpose? A. Loaded hip hinging and FORCEFUL hip extension. http://youtu.be/VP8Jhjcxj78 RKC, HKC, Strong First...it doesn't matter who teaches it and the nuances, some hinge more, some less, regardless, it's about hip hinging and extension. Whats hip hinging? It's engaging/ creating motion from the hips...or pushing the HIPS back without creating motion at the low back. http://youtu.be/cu6XobuUQkU What does hip extension look like you ask? See that arrow? It's pointing out the FULLY extended hip. It's about using your ass to bring the hips into a fully locked out position. Think hips … [Read more...]
Your Story = Your Reality
January 21, 2014 by
"We are defined by the stories we tell ourselves." - Tony Robbins http://youtu.be/1iAVaUNTX9U Why do so many people fail to get what they want out of life? It's not because they're not capable. It's not because the man holds you down. It's not because there is some vast conspiracy set out by the Illuminati to keep you wrapped in a cloak of entertainment constantly telling you you're somehow less capable and deserving than the rich and famous so you remain unmotivated and distracted from reality, what's actually important in the world and you don't LIVE you just exist in some type of state of vicarious hero-worship. http://iwcmediaecology.pbworks.com On … [Read more...]
The Circus is in Town
December 10, 2013 by
Too often this happens: Exercise is overly complex and difficult to do <----- person equates overcoming a difficult obstacle with success/ progress--------> difficult exercise's value is given credence. Such thinking is a logical fallacy: Appeal to Novelty Appeals to novelty assume that the newness of an idea is evidence of its truth. They are thus also related to the bandwagon fallacy. That an idea is new certainly doesn’t entail that it is true. Many recent ideas have no merit whatsoever, as history has shown; every idea, including those that we now reject as absurd beyond belief, were new at one time. Some ideas that are new now will surely go the same … [Read more...]
Olympic Lifting, Nice, But Not Necessary.
November 7, 2013 by
"Athletes Need Olympic Lifts for Power Development" From strong-athlete.com How many times have you heard that line? Probably a lot....The NSCA indoctrinates everyone with it.......and I used to repeat it.... Then I got educated, thought about it and realized...that's some dogmatic BS. First things first: What is Power? Other than A kick-ass magazine about all things STRONG.... It's a measure of work done over time. Power= Work/ Time So the faster you can do work...ie. create the displacement of an object relative to a fixed point, the more powerful you are. Ex. A. 225lbs bench for 3 reps in 3 seconds. B. 225lbs bench for 3 reps in 6 … [Read more...]
The Tabata Myth: It’s Just Interval Training, Not Magic
October 16, 2013 by
Tabata This Tabata That Tabata Here Tabata There Tabata Everywhere From Tony Gentilcore "Tabata Training" Has Become THE Thing of the Minute..... Classess, workouts, even certifications So what is Tabata? The generally accepted definition: "Eight rounds of ultra-high-intensity exercises in a specific 20-seconds-on, 10-seconds-off interval." That means all out for 20 seconds, rest and go at it again for four minutes straight. That's REALLY hard. But it's not magic, it's just interval training. Think about it.... Why eight and not nine rounds? Or 16 or 100? Why are people doing 30 minute Tabata classes when the study was 4 minutes of … [Read more...]
CrossFit: My Take, Once and For ALL
October 4, 2013 by
I DO NOT Hate CrossFit. I just hate ON CrossFit, cause it's just too easy... Before the handstand pushup/ double unders/ kipping pullup/ wall ball, nut huggers set out to crucify me let me heap some praise. There are In fact there some things that ANY ONE who is in this business should thank CrossFit for. #1. More People are Doing Worthwhile Things in the Gym A lot of people have gotten away from the old back and bi's, chest and tri's body-builder workouts and machine circuits. That's something strength and conditioning luminaries like Mark Rippetoe, Louie Simmons, Mike Boyle and Charlie Francis were not able to do. CrossFit made Squats, Deadlifts, Pullups … [Read more...]
