The tripod position, otherwise known as “standing in base” or the “technical get up,” is a movement I first learned in Brazilian jiu jitsu, but later learned more about in MovNat training. Simply put, it ... Continue Reading
5 Essential Tips for Building a Better Exercise Practice
In a previous article, I explained the difference between practicing, training, and testing, and how knowing this difference has helped me make better gains in my physical efforts. Today, I am going to ... Continue Reading
12 Reps – The Breaking Muscle Digest – Vol. 1, Issue 13
Happy Mother's Day to all the 12-Repping moms out there. Without you, none of us would be here. There was so much terrific new content on the site this week that we only had room for one article ... Continue Reading
Can You Hula Hoop Your Way to a Better Core?
The hula hoop. It was much more popular when I was a kid, but it’s still around today (no pun intended). Check out the First Lady of the United States hooping it up: I consider the hula hoop ... Continue Reading
Youth Athletes on the Bench: It’s Not Always a Bad Thing
As a coach and trainer, as well as a parent of youth athletes, I am going to take a deep breath, throw my shoulders back, and yell out the unthinkable, “It’s not always bad for a youth athlete to sit on ... Continue Reading
Pimp Your Strength Program With Movement and Mobility
Mobility and motor control are two important factors to consider when you embark on a new strength program or even just begin strength training. Mobility is a concept that is often misunderstood or loosely ... Continue Reading
6 Reasons Ladies Need to Show Their Upper Bodies Some Lovin’
This article is for those of you guilty of upper body neglect. You hit the gym, get in some squats, maybe some leg presses, lunges, and kill the core. If you consider curls and kick-backs an upper body ... Continue Reading
Switch Gears: A 4-Week Plan for Intermediate Cyclists
Last month, I introduced a beginner cycling program that included tips for checking your bike over and some initial training sessions to start you on your fitness journey (or get you restarted after a ... Continue Reading
How to Do a Proper Bent Press With a Kettlebell or Barbell
The bent press is an amazing exercise that aids in thoracic mobility, shoulder strength and stability, and allows you to press a great amount of weight overhead. This article takes you through the steps of ... Continue Reading
How to Perform a Powerful Kettlebell Dead Snatch
I am sure many of you know how rewarding of an exercise the one-arm dead snatch is. Personally, it is my favorite exercise, and as a health professional for over ten years, I have both performed and taught ... Continue Reading
4 Kit Bag Must-Haves for the Strength Athlete
Tight singlets, baseball caps, and long CrossFit socks. These items will not do much for your training, but there are some pieces of kit that will genuinely get you closer to your true training potential, ... Continue Reading
The Elliptical for Cardio? Smart Strength With Charles Staley
Note: Charles is here on a weekly basis to help you cut through the B.S. and get to the bottom of the biggest questions in health and training. Post your questions via social media or in our discussion ... Continue Reading
Go Outside and Play! 5 Fitness Lessons From Your Inner Child
In a few short weeks, kids will be flooding the beaches, malls, and playgrounds of the United States to enjoy their summer break. Many of us wish we were them. Of course, we once were and while you can ... Continue Reading
5 GRID Players to Watch in 2015
This time last year, I published my 5 Athletes to Watch in CrossFit and the NPGL list. All five were subsequently drafted by GRID teams, and each went on to play key roles for their respective ... Continue Reading
A 3-Week Workout Plan to Crush Murph
With Memorial Day fast approaching, it’s common that people start to think about one of my favorite workouts - “Murph.” I like Murph for a variety of reasons, but most of all because no matter how you ... Continue Reading
3 Wrist Strengthening Exercises to Prevent Yoga Injuries
Wrist injuries are common in yoga, yet we ignore them and move in to poses that put pressure on our wrists without knowing how our muscles support this complex joint. We can learn to take care of ... Continue Reading
Positivity, Consistency, and the Keys to Success as a BJJ Novice
Everyone starts somewhere. No matter what sport or hobby you did before your first day of Brazilian jiu jitsu, everyone had a first day that was filled with various emotions. Sometimes, people are excited. ... Continue Reading
The High Costs and Not-So-Sexy Side of Being a Pro Athlete
I've had the privilege of delivering seminars all over the world, at gyms and boxes, to passionate and fascinating people committed to self-improvement. I give what I know - the good, the bad, the ugly, ... Continue Reading
Repeat After Me: There Is No Such Thing as Overtraining
There is no such thing as overtraining. There is only under-recovery. Most people don’t put in enough time, effort, or intensity to put themselves into a state of overtraining. Most people simply don’t ... Continue Reading
4 Drills to Own Your Position in the Big Lifts
Listen to any seasoned powerlifting coach talk and you’ll no doubt hear him or her say that position is key in any big lift. Whether we’re trying to sit in the hole during a squat, pull ourselves to the ... Continue Reading
How to Diagnose and Treat Low Back Pain Without an MRI
When I graduated from University with my education in physiotherapy, I embarked on a quest that continues today - to understand spinal problems as well as anyone on the planet ever has and to be the best I ... Continue Reading
12 Reps – The Breaking Muscle Digest – Vol. 1, Issue 12
Every week it goes the same way. When it's time to put together the 12 Reps digest and email, I fret about finding enough great content to fill it up. Then every week, the problem quickly becomes how to ... Continue Reading
Situational Stress and Shooting Accuracy For Police
Going to the range and shooting a firearm while completely un-fatigued is the normal approach. Aiming at a target with a normal heart rate, relaxed mind, and ample time to steady the weapon gives you the ... Continue Reading
Pound for Pound Lifting: Who Is Stronger? (Wilks vs. Sinclair)
Whenever weightlifters gather, they always compare performances, as you might expect. Everyone wants to know where he or she falls in the sport hierarchy. Since weightlifting is a sport of numbers, it is ... Continue Reading
