In 2005, I was the contemporary music director for a local United Methodist Church. During that time, I had a good finger on the pulse of the congregation. One of the recurring themes was that many people ... Continue Reading
Fitness Is Beautiful: Paul Anthony Smith (Featured Photographer)
If you follow any high-profile CrossFit athletes on social media, you've probably already seen many of the stunning photos by Paul Anthony Smith. Recently we had the chance to talk to Paul about his ... Continue Reading
5 Simple Solutions for Anterior Knee Pain
Patella-femoral pain syndrome, otherwise known as PFPS, is characterized by recurring pain and irritation in the front of the knee, typically directly below the patella. PFPS is one of the more amusing ... Continue Reading
I Will CrossFit Every Day
“I guess I’m just surprised you’re still going to do CrossFit,” my sister said, as I cradled the phone against my ear and folded a pair of my daughter’s bright pink leggings. For about six months ... Continue Reading
Drinking to Thirst: Is It Enough?
Does the average person need more water than they are inclined to drink, even in a situation where water is lost in high volumes? The usual answer is "yes." In a recent review in Extreme Physiology and ... Continue Reading
Pre-competition Reflection (Athlete Journal 7)
The time has flown by faster than expected, but I’ve never felt better in the gym. This week I just want to look back on what I’ve learned so far over the past month with high frequency training, and how ... Continue Reading
4 Steps to Increasing Strength to Weight Ratio for BJJ
Here’s my opinion as a strength and conditioning expert and a BJJ practitioner: Most Brazilian jiu jitsu competitors should not cut weight. <strong">Instead, they should improve their ... Continue Reading
Kinesio Taping for Performance: How It Really Works
In my coaching and playing, I've taped a lot of ankles. Mostly my own and a few kids I've coached, but I've taped those same ankles a lot. I've taped them enough to be incredibly good at it. If your ... Continue Reading
How to Read and Analyze Research Like a Pro
As coaches and athletes, we're constantly surrounded by an unending stream of reports on the findings of this or that study. Many of them seem to contradict each other and it can be confusing how two ... Continue Reading
WTF Workouts: Do You Have What It Takes to Complete Them?
WTF workouts are challenging. If you can complete them, you must be in fine shape. They can be brutal and can lead to you saying, "Why the flip am I doing this?" WTF, of course, stands for "win the ... Continue Reading
Keep Training When Life Is Busy (Athlete Journal 57)
I had a lot on my plate this week, but I’m feeling much better and I’m ready to take on the challenges. Once in a while, I have one of those weeks when it seems like I never have a moment to sit ... Continue Reading
4 Out-of-the-Box Ways to Train Your Core
If you’ve ever had a major abdominal surgery you know how important your core muscles are for everyday functioning. Before my first c-section, I took these muscles for granted. But now, after ... Continue Reading
Base Building for Strength (Athlete Journal 113)
A basic tenet of periodization is that each training cycle should start off general and end up specific. Another way to put it is that “a peak is only as tall as the base is wide.” Of course, ... Continue Reading
Everything You Need to Know About Speed Training
Since the dawn of man, speed has been highly sought after. Whether it involved a hunter taking down a wildebeest, man outmaneuvering the enemy on the battlefield, or an athlete burning up the turf against ... Continue Reading
The Role of Aerobic Exercise and Diet in Weight Loss
When it comes to losing weight, there is often a difference between what clients expect and what a trainer wants them to do. Many clients believe you need more exercise, whereas coaches often believe diet ... Continue Reading
Want a Bigger Jerk? It’s All About the 2-Phase Dip
Recently, I wrote about a common error in the jerk - that of stopping at the bottom of the dip. Due to the response, I’m going to expand upon the dip so we might understand this phase of the jerk a little ... Continue Reading
Heart Rate Variability: The New Science of Recovery
Heart rate variability is an indicator of how well the parasympathetic nervous system functions. It provides athletes with a powerful measure of both their recovery and their ability to function well in an ... Continue Reading
3 Deadly Sins of the One-Armed Kettlebell Swing
You can hear your mail carrier curse as he lugs your package up to your door. You squeal with excitement as the sounds of heavy breathing gets closer and closer. It’s finally here! You have been waiting ... Continue Reading
How to Save Money on Endurance Events, Gear, and Coaching
According to USA Triathlon, the average triathlete is 38 years old. The average income for a triathlete is $126,000. But according to the stats, over forty percent of triathletes make less than that ... Continue Reading
Gold at the New York Pro (Athlete Journal 42)
After winning gold in the heavyweight and absolute divisions this past weekend at the New York Pro, I’m feeling pretty good as I get ready to head out to Masters Worlds this week. I worked my game ... Continue Reading
A Weightlifting Etiquette Handbook for CrossFitters
Dear CrossFitters: I love you, know I do. But also know that our weightlifting cousins look at us and our grip-and-rip weightlifting technique as the Cousin Eddies of the sport. While they hone ... Continue Reading
5 Steps to Safely Train Around Lower Back Pain
True veterans of the iron game who have clocked enough hours under some heavy-ass loads know that lower back injuries are a frustrating part of the game. If you think this doesn’t apply to you, think ... Continue Reading
Body Composition and Bone Density Trends in Distance Runners
Most runners know they need to develop strength in order to excel at running and reduce the risk of injuries. But size can sometimes come with strength, which can reduce running performance if taken too ... Continue Reading
Backbends 101 (Yoga Teacher Training Journal 3)
I couldn’t wait for my third yoga teacher training weekend to arrive. On the agenda were three of my favorite things: philosophy, twists, and backbends. Wheel Pose All About Backbends Backbends ... Continue Reading
