What do Sherlock Holmes, Steampunk, martial arts, and physical culture have in common? That would be Bartitsu, the eclectic system of martial arts and self-defense originally developed and practiced in ... Continue Reading
Science Says: Visualization Improves Strength Training
Can your thoughts determine whether you set a PR? Science says “yes.” Have you ever visualized a successful lift in your mind before attempting it in the gym? If so, you’ve used mental imagery to enhance ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Chris Duffin, Entry 23 – Anger and Frustration
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
What You Need to Know to Choose a Personal Trainer
In Australia, everything can kill you. In the Land Down Under we have the Sydney Funnel Web Spider, a spider whose bite kills you within forty minutes. Go for a swim and risk being killed by a box ... Continue Reading
ICAN’s Message: You Are Mom Enough
Some people were happy to see the now-infamous cover of Time magazine earlier this year. I wasn’t one of them. While I am a huge advocate of breastfeeding, and even extended breastfeeding for moms who feel ... Continue Reading
High Intensity Running Increases VO2 Max in Cyclists
One of the fundamental tradeoffs in program design is between volume and intensity. Volume provides training specificity, practicing the fundamental movement patterns of the athlete’s sport. Intensity ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Andrew Read, Entry 23 – Learning By Doing
Click here to read other journal entries and articles by Andrew Read, and look for his new journal every Monday as he trains for Ironman Melbourne. Journal Entry 23 - Learning By Doing By the ... Continue Reading
Say Hello to Super D and Dusty, and Welcome Back Holley Mangold!
Mr. 3000 Wants You To Be Mobile AND Strong Donnie Thompson is the Strength and Mobility Director for twenty-two clinics in South Carolina. Oh yeah, and he squats over 1,000 pounds. His powerlifting ... Continue Reading
Featured Coach: Jon Engum, Part 1 – Finding Balance
“If you like this, you’ll have to check out this new thing that we’re bringing in called kettlebells.” These were the words Pavel Tsatsouline spoke to Jon Engum that would change the course of Jon’s ... Continue Reading
Science Says: Sprints Burn 200 Calories for 2.5 Minutes Work
People often blame their busy lives and schedule as the reason they do not exercise. However, there may be hope (or at least a lack of valid excuses) for those people. A new study shows that sprint ... Continue Reading
Dear Coach: How Can I Tone My Waist and Tummy?
Dear Coach, Hi, I'm 58 and have been doing a variety of classes for a long time. At the moment I'm doing kettlebells, BodyPump, BodyCombat, SpinFit, and just begun Bokwa. I'm retired so I love going ... Continue Reading
Sunday Seven: The Week’s 7 Most Popular Articles, Vol. 29
Every Sunday we post the "Sunday Seven" so you can quickly see the 7 most popular articles of the week. This week's top posts cover a lot of territory - an interview with vegan CrossFitter Ed Bauer, two ... Continue Reading
Dear Willow: Need Help With Warrior One
Dear Willow, I struggle in Warrior One. What is the deal with heel-to-heel alignment? Why can’t I get my hips square and my ankle to stop hurting in Warrior ... Continue Reading
Back to Basics: 7 Articles to Improve Gymnastics Skills
Improving gymnastics skills increases overall strength and body awareness. Whether you're a new gymnast or a seasoned coach, here are seven articles and videos by gymnastics experts to help you or your ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Charles Staley, Entry 17 – Swinging and Squatting Heavy
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
Strength Training for Judo: Part 2 – The Turner
In part one of my five part series on strength training for judo, I talked about two of the consistent needs for judo athletes, specifically cardio and grip strength, and I also defined the three types of ... Continue Reading
How To Do The Perfect Get Up
Welcome to part two of our six-part guide to performing the RKC basic six exercises. Last week’s installment was on the swing, considered the central lift to RKC training as it also forms the basis for the ... Continue Reading
Exercise Aids in Retention of New Motor Skills
Everyone knows that exercise has a positive effect on health. Most people associate those benefits with the physical side of things. There is evidence, however, that exercise can also improve brain ... Continue Reading
Throwing Caution to the Wind: Overcoming Instincts to Progress Athletically
After I read that mixed martial artist Forrest Griffin likes to get punched, I remember thinking to myself, “Well, there’s something that will never be true of me.” Ditto the fact that sometimes while ... Continue Reading
How to Work Out Like a Soldier
I’ve been a contractor for five months in Afghanistan and when I landed here, and headed to the gym, I expected the gyms to be really high tech. Since I’ve been assigned to train soldiers on a 1.2 million ... Continue Reading
Making a Comeback: Why We Go Back to Competition
As a 63 year old weight trainee involved in Canadian masters weightlifting, naturally I am interested in why former athletes often end up making a comeback. Some come back not too long after they ... Continue Reading
The Two Cardinal Rules of CrossFit
Photos provided by Miguel Tapia Images and CrossFit LA. Whether you’ve done CrossFit or just seen videos of it, you know its reputation for workouts that will crush you. I have a lot of firsthand ... Continue Reading
How Deep Should You Squat? Science Compares Partial and Full Squats
I love squatting deep. There’s something about squatting the barbell through a large range of motion that just makes you feel like something is finally right in the world. But I haven’t always done deep ... Continue Reading
12 Reps with Danette “Dizzle” Rivera, CrossFit Coach, Vegan, and Mother
EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to our newest feature - 12 Reps. In each appearance of 12 Reps, our coaches, writers, and occasional guests will be answering the same twelve questions each time. Go "into the ... Continue Reading
