"My Hamstrings Are Tight" Truth is, this is rarely the case. At least not in the way you think. *Quick Note: Some people DO have tight hamstrings. This has to do with the tendon length, muscle belly, past injury, origin and insertion points. Sometimes, when you put all these things together in the right combo, you DO, in fact have structurally"tight hamstrings". Most don't. What the Hell Do I Mean by Tight Hamstrings? Ummm they feel tight...right? But for real, TENSION. Lots of tension in the muscle, in the hamstring. That's usually what people mean when they use the term "tight". But the real question is, Tension When? I … [Read more...]
You Should Do This: Chaos Carries
July 19, 2018 by
As if PROPERLY performed loaded carries aren't bad enough. Using a band as a handle takes them to a whole new level.... But Why Do Loaded Carries In the First Place? Loaded Carries might be the most "functional" exercise there is. I mean, ya pretty much gotta pick up and carry stuff all the time. *Or at least decently strong people have to pick up and carry things all the time. There are lots of people who don't pick up and carry things, you don't want to be those people, Those People DIE. "Perceived work ability in midlife was associated with mortality and disability in old age among blue-collar and white-collar employees. It is plausible … [Read more...]
You Should Do This: Half Kneeling Corner Press
July 12, 2018 by
Fun "Fact" (actually its an "informed opinion" based on the personal experience of yours truly: The Vast Majority of People Should NOT Overhead Press. Not everyone, not all, but most. Wait But What? "The Shoulder Press is A Foundational Movement" I agree, its great when done correctly. It strengthens the shoulders, triceps, upper chest and core, strong enough, even the legs. But most can't do them correctly. Don't believe me? Walk by just about any group exercise class doing shoulder pressing and you'll see: Overarched backs The weight out in front of the body Elbows out at 90 degrees only using 50% range of motion. Most people … [Read more...]
You Should Do This: Front Rack Reverse Lunge
July 6, 2018 by
No quippy, I'd like to think, witty, intro to this one. The Front Rack Reverse Lunge, it's a bitch boss exercise. If you do it, it'll make you better That should be enough. But I have to find something semi-interesting long winded to say I guess, so here goes. Why Reverse Lunge in The First Place: Easier on The Knees: Initiating the movement by sitting back into the hips activates the musculature around the hips (glutes, hams etc) preferentially. This means you're FAR less likely to ram the femur into the kneecap (you can, it's just much more difficult than in forward lunges). Initiating into the hip also helps to lessen the chances of a … [Read more...]
Size Matters: How Your Muscle Does What it Does.
June 27, 2018 by
"That's What She Said" - Michael Scott What a way to start a science article, with dick jokes... Am I right? What the hell are we talking about? The Henneman Size Principle "The Size Principle of motoneuron recruitment stated that for any net excitatory input to the motoneuron pool, motoneurons were recruited in an orderly fashion, always from small to large." - Assessment of Size Ordered Recruitment Say Whaaaa? A quad isn't just a muscle. Well it is. But really a quad is a collection of motor units. Motor Unit: "A motor unit is a motor neuron and the muscle fibers it innervates. It consists of both a neuron (nerve cell responsible for … [Read more...]
You Should Do This: Single Arm Dumbbell Bench
June 21, 2018 by
No, I don't change the dumbbell magically half way through the movement. Just took pictures of the bell in different hands. Time for a Story Kids: Long Ago in the Way Way Back Time Lil Roy went to his (probably 2nd) Strength and Conditioning seminar evvveeeerrrr. It was the 1st Annual Mid Atlantic Sports Symposium, or at least I THINK that's what the name was. Any who, it at George Mason a year after they made the Final Four and it was Hosted by Todd Hamer. *I've been to LOTS of these things through the years and could totally be wrong about the following facts, it coulda been a different seminar, but the essence of the story is the same. This isn't a … [Read more...]
You Should Do This: Rotational Side Plank
June 15, 2018 by
Obliques, Might be the most Important Core Muscle. But then again, that's kinda like saying, "If you can only do one exercises which would you do?" Well, I can do ALL exercises, so how's about's I just choose the one that best fits the job at hand. Thanks.. Cause really all core muscles are VERY important. But obliques, "Tie the ribcage to the hips" - Kelly Starett. Wait, But What? Think about it. Here's the functional description of the obliques: The external and internal oblique muscles rotate and side bend the trunk. These muscles also contribute to spinal stability.......Acting alone, the external oblique can flex the trunk, side bend the torso … [Read more...]
Esoteric Sh@t: Why We Fall For Stuff Like Apple Cider Vinegar
May 31, 2018 by
This Just Happened (again): *I've been asked this question al least 20 times in the last month or two.... Client: "What Do You Think About Apple Cider Vinegar?" Me: "What do you mean? I think it makes pulled pork taste good...." Client: "Do you think taking a shot of it before you eat does anything for losing weight?" Me: "Have you ever taken a shot of Apple Cider Vinegar? I haven't, but I'm pretty sure you aint eating sh@t after you do." Apple Cider Vinegar Helps You Lose Weight? Really? Seems too easy right? Mostly, how the hell did we JUST COME ACROSS THIS NOW? We're Drawn to Esoteric, Novel, Unbelievable Sh@t No matter how unbelievable, … [Read more...]
