The Internet is a full of freely distributed information, how-to instructional videos, and a seemingly infinite number of cats being jerks and sitting in strange places. While free exchange of ... Continue Reading
Why I Believe in the Core Vales of the YMCA
Behind all of the sets, reps, and grueling workouts, lost in the shuffle are the values behind what we do in fitness. Values start with us and they also start with the organizations we belong to. While ... Continue Reading
Too Much BJJ Can Be a Bad, Bad Thing
It’s Tuesday morning. You wake up and don’t feel right. It could be brain fog or you’re just moving a little slow. Your joints are bothering you a little more than usual. But yesterday seemed like a normal ... Continue Reading
Weightlifting Will Make You Shorter (and Other Ridiculous Assumptions)
In the sport of weightlifting, it has been and often still remains to be believed that partaking in the sport will result in making a person shorter. Specifically, the myth remains in regards to the ... Continue Reading
Is It Possible to Squat Too Much? (Athlete Journal 3)
With my first week of my next training cycle in the books, it’s time to make a few revisions. I must have been out of my mind thinking I could have a day of pause squats with five-second pauses while ... Continue Reading
Switch Off Your TV: The Truth on Fat Loss
An afternoon talk show got me thinking of this topic. This particular program was a segment on weight loss and the appropriate exercises for it. Obviously, I was skeptical as to what the content would be. ... Continue Reading
The 2014 No-Gi Pan Ams (Athlete Journal Entry 53)
I competed in the IBJJF No-Gi Pan Am tournament on Saturday, and I ended up falling short. I was disappointed, but I bounced back quickly and got right back to training on Monday. Tournament Day I ... Continue Reading
For the Push Up Pros: Can You Do All These?
The push up. A simple, classic movement. Something we all start with as children. Yet, it's also something we can continue to refine and develop throughout our athletic life. For some, achieving the ... Continue Reading
The 3 Fitness Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes (Athlete Journal 110)
My career in the fitness industry spans nearly thirty years at this point. Often, my younger colleagues will ask me what changes I’ve noticed among gym-goers over that period of time. The funny ... Continue Reading
4 Ways to Make Better Connections With Friends, Clients, and Yourself
With all the gadgets and gizmos produced to make us more connected to one another, it is crazy to think of the plague of loneliness that still exists. According to an article in Business News Daily, the ... Continue Reading
Craving Success? Then Respect the Process
Two years ago at this point, I was struggling to come to terms with running as I prepared for Ironman. Far from being an experienced triathlete like most first-time Ironman participants, this was to be my ... Continue Reading
Setbacks and Mind Games During Injury Recovery (Athlete Journal 4)
About a month or so after my surgery to repair my fully ruptured Achilles tendon, I had a dream that sums up all the paranoid thoughts I’ve encountered on the road to recovery: I’m driving my car up a ... Continue Reading
6 Life-Changing Ways Your Black Belt Journey Can Transform You
When awarded his fifth degree black belt at the age of 81, Willie Nelson said, "I think martial arts is one of the best exercises you can do. Mentally, spiritually, physically, everything." His achievement ... Continue Reading
An Analysis of Interesting Weightlifting Records and Trends
Every year about this time I take a look at the world records in the sport of weightlifting. I guess it's the accountant coming out in me, as I like to do a bit of horizontal and vertical analysis of the ... Continue Reading
The Science of Strength Training for Vertical Jump and Change of Direction
Athletes who can jump higher and change direction rapidly have advantages over other athletes in many sports. Two recent studies point to strength as being an important causal factor and predictor of these ... Continue Reading
Priorities in Life and Training (Athlete Journal 38)
Training slowed down a little bit last week. I missed two BJJ days and one strength and conditioning day. There was nothing that I could do to make these missed days up. Kids, work, injury, and other ... Continue Reading
The Biggest Loser: The Most Damaging Show on TV?
With millions of viewers tuning in to watch NBC’s The Biggest Loser, 67% of them being statistically overweight, this show has a major influence over the masses and their education on how to go about ... Continue Reading
When a Single Moment Is the Difference Between Winning and Losing
Phoenix had it won. Race eleven of the semifinal match between the San Francisco Fire and the Phoenix Rise was so close. All either team needed to do was win race eleven and they would move on to the ... Continue Reading
The Fitness Industry Has Failed: How Variety Will Get You Fit
The fitness world is always a strange place. From the Shake Weight to CrossFit to petty infighting between brands or offshoots of brands, there’s always something that makes you shake your head. But of all ... Continue Reading
Born to Run: Why Track and Field Deserves Your Respect
I spend quite a bit of my time searching and perusing strength and conditioning info, programming theory, and other Breaking Muscle-worthy content even though I'm in high school and should be doing my ... Continue Reading
The Next Step in My Yoga Practice (Yoga Teacher Training Journal 1)
Just a few weeks ago, I was at the grocery store with my six-year-old daughter. As I waited impatiently in the hallway during her fourth trip to the bathroom, I noticed a flyer on the bulletin board. It ... Continue Reading
How to Turn Negative Thoughts into Positive Actions
In part one of this series on Get Your Mind Right on Game Day, we looked at the methodology behind creating and using motivational themes. In part two, we are going to talk about something everyone ... Continue Reading
Vitamin D in Elite Athletes: The More the Better
Vitamin D affects your muscles, immune system, and energy levels, so it will probably also have an effect on your performance. In a new study in PLOS One, researchers wanted to see whether vitamin D levels ... Continue Reading
Off to Copenhagen (Athlete Journal 52)
These were my last few weeks of training before heading off to Copenhagen for the 2014 Worlds Masters Weightlifting Championships. Monday I found myself very sluggish during the warm up and cut back ... Continue Reading
