When I teach college courses, I am always the happiest when I find students who are chasing knowledge rather than chasing a grade. Many students’ questions relate to how they can do better on the test, ... Continue Reading
Is There a Correlation Between Sprint Times and Vertical Jump?
Short distance work is often used to assess and develop individual factors like agility, strength, and speed. Yet despite its importance, the relationship between a power movement, such as a ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: James Kearns, Entry 5 – 2/5/2014
EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to the athlete journal of James Kearns. James is an active Brazilian jiu jitsu competitor and also trains and competes in Olympic weightlifting.Follow his journals here every ... Continue Reading
Beginning BJJ: Solutions for First Year Problems
Brazilian jiu jitsu is a complex martial art that challenges students both physically and mentally. There are endless techniques and concepts to learn. A simple movement of the hand can be the difference ... Continue Reading
Low Back Pain: A Guide for Coaches and Athletes on Anatomy, Types, and Treatment
When I practiced massage therapy, clients frequently came to me seeking treatment for lower back pain. Now, as a coach, I see that coaches will encounter many athletes with back pain, as well. In order to ... Continue Reading
CrossFitters Shouldn’t Do Isabel (And Other Blasphemies)
I surrender. No more talk of “Is CrossFit dangerous?” We’ve all squeezed the juice out of the lemon. The dirty little secret of rhabdo, the ACSM study, the online survey. I surrender. No more ... Continue Reading
How to Run Faster and Lift More (While Training GPP)
When it comes to training, specificity rules. If you want a bigger snatch, then you’ll need to spend time snatching and deliberately using heavier loads. If you want to run faster, then you’ll need to ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Chris Duffin, Entry 87 – Cycling Down
EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to the Athlete Journal of world champion powerlifter Chris Duffin. Follow Chris as he trains and competes in various events over the coming year. Chris's journal will be posted every ... Continue Reading
Calorie Restriction for Endurance Athletes: Why It’s Not Always A Good Idea
Everyone knows that the way to lose weight is by using a simple formula where the calories out are greater than the calories in. What a lot of people forget is that your results in triathlons or other ... Continue Reading
300 Swings a Day for Faster Fat Loss
Would you like a simple way to cut fat? If so, then gather round and let me tell you this tale, it would do you none finer. It is about the kettlebell swing, and specifically, about doing 300 kettlebell ... Continue Reading
Another Slam Dunk for Outdoor Exercise
Do you prefer exercising indoors or outdoors? Do you feel like you perform better in one setting than the other? An upcoming study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research examined this ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Terry Hadlow, Entry 15 – 2/3/2014
EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to the athlete journal of Terry Hadlow. Terry got started in Olympic weightlifting in 1970 and is the only Canadian to have competed in senior nationals in five different decades - ... Continue Reading
My Desert Island Exercise: Core Twist (Jathara Parivartanasana)
If I could do only one pose for the rest of my life it would be this core twist - jathara parivartanasana. This amazing shape covers everything in one pose - the inner thighs, the shoulder girdle, the ... Continue Reading
Do We All Squat the Same? 3 Movement Principles For Every Body
Let’s get one thing straight. We as humans haven’t changed much in the last few hundred thousand years. (Yes, we have been around that long. It’s scientific fact.) You are only perhaps a little bit taller, ... Continue Reading
How to Work Up to a Freestanding Handstand
In my previous article I showed you how to get up and hold a handstand against the wall. In this article you’ll learn to take a much more advanced step by balancing out in the open. In my ... Continue Reading
What Strength Training Means to Me: How a Bookish Girl Became a Lifter and Coach
My approach to strength training has been shaped largely by my experiences. There really is no better place to learn than under the bar. I don’t intend this to sound fatuous. My background is book learning ... Continue Reading
The 2014 Top 10 Fitness Blog Contest – Nominate Your Favorite Blog to Win!
The 2014 Top 10 Fitness Blog Contest Begins! Every year Breaking Muscle holds a contest to determine the Top 10 Fitness Blogs on the Internet. Given that there are a lot of fitness sites out there, we ... Continue Reading
Higher Exercise Intensity Correlates With Suppressed Immunity
Sometimes when you come down with a cold or flu while training intensely, you know that pushing yourself too hard was the culprit. While it’s understood that excessive training can make you vulnerable to ... Continue Reading
Sunday Seven: The Week’s 7 Most Popular Articles, Vol. 95
Every Sunday we post the "Sunday Seven" so you can quickly see the seven most popular articles of the week. This week's most popular posts cover the iliotibial band, common squat mistakes, the AbMat, ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Jess Papi, Entry 18 – 2/1/2014
EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to the athlete journal of Jess Papi. Jess is a blue belt at Scranton MMA and also pursuing her degree in exercise science. Read her entries every week for insights on competing, ... Continue Reading
Back to Basics: 11 Articles and Videos on Breathing Better
Breathing. We do it all day, every day. So what’s there to learn? As it turns out, the answer is rather a lot. Becoming better at breathing is advantageous for everything from relaxation to performance. ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Charles Staley, Entry 75 – Testing Week
EDITOR'S NOTE: Ever wonder how a world-class coach actually trains? Wonder what it's like to train as a "mature athlete?" Welcome to the athlete journal of Charles Staley. A big believer in practicing what ... Continue Reading
How to Build a Better Pedal Stroke, Part 2
In my first article on how to get a better pedal stroke, I discussed my personal goal to see if altering my stroke would help me become more efficient. Research seems ambivalent as to whether a more ... Continue Reading
Off-Season Strength Training for Cyclists: The Strength Phase
Presuming readers have followed the advice offered in previous installments of my cycling program, it’s now time get serious about developing strength. True, after a few months of preparation work a ... Continue Reading
