Sit down less, lie down more

I was recently drawn into a discussion with another fit-pro about the whole ‘weight machines vs free weights’ discussion. For those who don’t know in the 50’s/60’s commercial gyms expanded in number and were looking for a way to save the time and space that free weights took up. This led to the development of ‘weight machines’ and was the beginning of the destruction of human physical culture. I may be exaggerating, but I covered this previously in my blog ‘I hate functional training‘. Read more

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Rules of the Pull (Up)

Functional strength could also be considered ‘skill strength’, or the ability to easily apply your strength to a specific task. And what is ‘functional’ if not the ability to move your own bodyweight around?

Now, whilst there are many guys walking around most gyms who have the ability to pull a barbell with over twice their bodyweight off of the floor, there seems to be a shortage of guys who have the ability to perform five strict deadhang pull ups. Which is just weird, because unless they weigh over 16 stone they ‘should’ be strong enough to do it. So why are ‘good’ pull ups a rarity in most gyms?

Read more

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Leg Press and the Spanish Inquisition

A few weeks ago I was grilled over a Facebook post I’d made regarding the leg press machines found in most gyms. To spoil the ending… I’m not very fond of them. I think they take up space on the floor that would be better used for people to lie down on. The metal that they are made of would be better used in the construction of some kettlebells or a suspension rig.
Avoid-the-leg-press

So why is it that I would never consider putting a client on the leg press machine? Here’s the reasons I gave on Facebook fleshed out a bit, plus a few extra ones. Read more

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The Noble Push Up

The push up. Quite possibly the first ‘proper exercise’ many of us experienced at primary school, after school sports, or if we thought it was the way we could transform ourselves into Batman. The push up (or ‘press up’ for our US friends) is so ingrained in our cultural psyche as a part of ‘physical preparation’ that it appears in training montages from Rocky, to Tim Burton’s Batman, to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, through Rocky again, Christopher Nolan’s Batman and most TV shows where the protagonist has to be shown to ‘get serious’ to face the coming challenge.

Rocky OAPU

The original training montage!

Here are a few simple points on training the push up.

  1. No push ups on knees!

Read more

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If you could only do three exercises…

An off the cuff, quickie, unedited (and unapologetic) piece I just wrote. My answer may change slightly in the morning…

My good friend and Brazilian Jui Jitsu/Kali/Gladiator extraordinaire Christian ‘c-Lefty Dog’ Ekerct asked a question on Facebook recently.

“To all Yoga-, Strength-, Fitness- and/or Martial Arts Trainers/Coaches:

If you could choose only three exercises/drills/postures of your art, what would it be?

(If the name is not to common, please explain it a bit)”

Three exercises/drill/postures, with no other knowledge of what the goal is, or the physical history of the individual/group! Christian has a tendency to not ask easy questions! Read more

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Why kettlebell training doesn’t work

Sharon and Nikki were having their weekly catch up late in the morning one autumn day. They lived in the suburbs and frequented an authentic privately owned coffee shop. Their children had both recently left the city for University and they had long since left full-time work behind and sought other avenues and adventures.

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“I wish I had your genetics, I don’t understand how you can stay in such good shape and still eat like that”, this was Sharon; she stared longingly at Nikki’s chocolate fudge cake… with cream.

“Well, it’s not as if I over indulge”, said Nikki, noting that Sharon was now on her second piece of granola slice. “I only really indulge like this when we meet up, and maybe two glasses of wine at the weekend. But, I’m fairly active in the garden.”

“Did you say you were going to a kettlebell class twice a week? I’ve been going to one for about 10 months now.” Read more

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