We’re back with twelve of the most interesting, inspiring, and informative articles and videos from the past week and from the dim and distant past, chosen with love just for you, our loyal reader.
As the 12 Reps curator, I had a hard time narrowing it down to twelve this week. Between all the great new articles and the requests that came in from last week’s email, this one is stacked.
If you don’t see content you love, send your request here: [email protected]
Top Audio and Video of the Week:
Episode 11 of the Breaking Muscle Podcast – In this episode, we talk with the smart, funny, and charismatic Donnie Thompson. Also known as Super D (find out why at 3:55), Donny expounds on taking care of the body during hard training, the focus needed to be a champion, the use of powerlifting in training for other sports, and much more.
5 Exercises to Eliminate Neck Pain – When it comes to neck pain, it is important to not just treat the site of the pain, but to identify and address the underlying cause(s). Find out what those can be and how to fix them.
Reader Favorites of the Week:
Smart Strength With Charles Staley – Maybe we should rename this column “Smart-Ass Strength with Charles Staley” because he does such a great job of telling it like it is. This week, he answers reader questions about P90X, gym etiquette, and more.
Foraging, Farming, and the Real Meaning of Paleo – Breaking Muscle managing editor Becca Borawski-Jenkins examines her experience of getting closer to the source of her food.
The 2015 Frannie Awards – A humorous look back at the worst and wackiest ideas and happenings in the CrossFit world. Virtual shoveling? Yes, that happened. We have video.
3 Easy Ways to Be Stronger Now – See immediate improvements in your lifts using these techniques from Bob Camacho.
How to Spot a Non-Toxic Fitness Community: It’s About People – Community is built on positivity and support, not negativity, disdain, and an air of superiority. Contributor Shannon Khoury looks back on her experience in, and subsequent exit from, a less-than-positive group.
Methods to Assess and Improve Hip Function Now – Power for almost everything we do comes from or through the hips, so knowing if they’re doing their best work is essential. Follow along with the videos to make sure you’re operating at full power.
Workout Programs: Kettlebell Hypertrophy and Olympic Lifting
Kettlebell Workout Splits for Hypertrophy – While kettlebells have long been known as great tools for strength and conditioning, you can put on muscle with them, too. Andrew Read explains how and outlines his hypertrophy-specific kettlebell training plan.
4 Weeks to Bigger Olympic Lifts – Two-time Olympian, nine-time national champion, and American weightlifting record holder Chad Vaughn reveals his four-principled approach to training the Olympic lifts. Article plus four-week program.
From the Archives:
5 Ways to Build Explosive Power Without Olympic Lifting or Plyo Boxes – These five techniques require little or no equipment but create an excellent training stimulus when used as described.
Why It’s Not all About the Weight You’re Lifting – The job of an Olympic lifting coach includes designing training and then finding means of evaluating the efficacy of that training. Whether you coach others or only yourself, Bob Takano has some sage advice to help you in your duties.
We hope you enjoy these selections – see you all next week for another installment.
The Breaking Muscle Team
