In my last article, I delved into testosterone replacement therapy and the surrounding controversy regarding the practice and procedures of prescribing TRT. Many of us are currently competitive athletes ... Continue Reading
The Value of Competition: What Weightlifters Know That the Hippies Didn’t
At various times during my active weightlifting career I was asked why I competed. What could I possibly get out of it? Months of hard work culminated by just six lifts in a competition, and no way to ... Continue Reading
Women and Pull Ups: 3 Secrets for Success You’ve Probably Never Tried
Not much impresses me more in the gym than watching a female knock out a few perfect chest-to-bar pull ups. These days it’s becoming more and more common, and women are paying more attention to strength ... Continue Reading
Foot Strike Does Not Affect Performance in Trail Runners
Foot strike technique is probably the most hotly contested aspect of running form. Everyone agrees your arms should swing back and forth, you should limit excess vertical movement, and you should maximize ... Continue Reading
Join Us for a Twitter Chat with Running and Strength Coach Richard Airey!
Twitter Chat with Richard Airey - Tuesday, August 6 at 3:30pm PST (6:30pm EST) If you're a runner looking to improve your times, Richard Airey has some tips for you. Richard is a long-time runner who ... Continue Reading
The NO BS, No Holds-Barred, Minimalist Strength Program FROM HELL(?)…NO(!), WORSE, WISCONSIN!
I have in the past done things not so respectable to my health in pursuit of fitness. Immediately this brings to mind my experience with the ketogenic diet. Now, the difference between me ... Continue Reading
To Get Your First Double Under, Ditch the Singles
Have you been drilling single unders until exhaustion in hopes of finally getting double unders? All those singles may not be moving you much closer to your goal, according to an upcoming study in the ... Continue Reading
The History, Science, and How-To of Visualization
There is what for some may be a surprising study found in the book Peak Performance by Charles Garfield. The study shows just how powerful mental training can be for athletes: There is what for ... Continue Reading
The Scrawny Male: The Journey of an Ectomorph
Don’t you dare call me petite, or skinny for that matter. It’s kind of like calling a woman big, which tends to be a bad idea, even if you mean it as a compliment, as in “Hey, I like those big, muscular ... Continue Reading
Get Your Sexy Back: How Your Workouts Are Crushing Your Libido
So, you’ve been hitting the gym regularly and eating well. You’ve shed some fat, gained some muscle, and look better than you have in years. In fact, you’re looking hot! However, you are feeling anything ... Continue Reading
Consistent Diversity: The Importance of Integrating Various Training Methodologies
For those of you who know me (even if it is just what you have gathered from Twitter, blogging, or my programming website), you will notice that when it comes to training, I am diverse. If you read about ... Continue Reading
How to Train a Powerful Athlete for Muscle Endurance
At OPT we all agree that in fitness: Everyone needs an individualized program. We are preparing for unknown pieces in fitness competitions. We believe in balancing all aspects, not focusing ... Continue Reading
Longer Isn’t Always Better – In Training, That Is
Sometimes you hit a plateau in your training. It happens to all of us and for many reasons. Some people are eventually able to overcome their plateaus, whereas others give up and never push further. A ... Continue Reading
Sunday Seven: The Week’s 7 Most Popular Articles, Vol. 68
Every Sunday we post the "Sunday Seven" so you can quickly see the 7 most popular articles of the week. This week's most popular posts cover female body image, masters athletes, lower back pain, shoulder ... Continue Reading
A Systematic Approach to Improving Your Kettlebell Swing
The kettlebell swing is a display of skill and strength. If you perform it for an extended period of time, it is also a display of your endurance relative to the resistance used. If your swinging technique ... Continue Reading
12 Reps With Eric C. Stevens, Fitness and Martial Arts Coach
EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to our 12 reps feature. In each appearance of 12 Reps, our coaches, writers, and occasional guests will be answering the same twelve questions each time. Go "into the locker-room" ... Continue Reading
6 Athlete Perspectives on the CrossFit Games
The 2013 CrossFit Games are right around the corner. Here are six unique perspectives on the details of the Games, written by CrossFit coaches, athletes, and competitors. Monthly OpEd: Why CrossFit ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Charles Staley, Entry 51 – A Reassuring 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
On %$#@ing Up and Then Moving On: The Importance of Perspective in Athletics and Life
I f*ck up. Like, all the time. I make mistakes on a more than daily basis, and sometimes the goals I set goals for myself go unmet, either on the first try or sometimes forever. I do my best to fix my ... Continue Reading
How to Adapt Your Training to Injury (Or Not Get Hurt to Begin With)
“Getting hurt training for general fitness is stupid.” - Dan John It’s amazing how a few decades of experience allows you to sum up various aspects of training into a few succinct words, but that’s ... Continue Reading
Effects of Ankle Taping on Performance and Safety
You might not see it as much in a standard recreational gym, but in the sports setting wrapping the ankles is a common practice. It's a typical practice for athletes who spend a lot of time running, such ... Continue Reading
Protect Your Dome: 6 Headgear Reviews for Martial Artists
One of the most important pieces of equipment for boxing, MMA, and muay Thai is headgear. Headgear allows you to spar harder and more frequently with a reduced risk of injury. If improving your skill and ... Continue Reading
The Pull Is Not an Upright Row: Misconceptions in Weightlifting
I don't know how many times I have had people ask me why the weightlifters they see in the Olympics don't have very impressive arms. “Nowhere near what that Arnold Whatshisname has!" To the man in the ... Continue Reading
I’ve Jacked Up My Shoulder: What Did I Damage and What Do I Do Now?
Five rounds of 15 push press, 10 burpees, 10 box jumps. 3, 2, 1 - go! It’s round three and the inability for my body to do exactly what my coach just asked me to do is now rearing its ugly head. My push ... Continue Reading
