In almost every MMA fight, there will be takedown attempts and scrambles on the ground. Technical skill is the most important part of a fighter’s game but when matched against an opponent with an equal or ... Continue Reading
Why We Retire From Competition: When and Why We Quit Our Sport
Retiring from competitive weightlifting is not a subject often covered in the research, magazines, or on websites. Those in the throes of our sport do not like to think about this eventuality. We are ... Continue Reading
Kinesio Taping: Does it Work?
If you watched the recent summer Olympic Games, there is a good chance you noticed some athletes donning multi-colored tape strips and patches on various body parts. It was quite noticeable on those more ... Continue Reading
Dynamic Stretches Improve Flexibility and Strength
You’ll find no lack of advice on how to train. But how should you warmup? While warming up is decidedly less sexy than lifting and setting PRs, it’s one of the most important ways to prevent injury and ... Continue Reading
Living With the FMS: Reconciling Training with Test Results
There’s nothing worse than being told you can’t do something. If you’re anything like me that is likely to set you off into a near apoplectic fit and a tirade that ends with a lot of swearing and me ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Chris Duffin, Entry 21 – Debt of Gratitude
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
12 Reps with Valerie Worthington, BJJ Black Belt and Instructor
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
The Heraean Games: Not Just For Sparta
Every fourth year there is woven for Hera a robe by the Sixteen women, and the same also hold games called Heraea. The games consist of foot-races for maidens. These are not all of the same age. The first ... Continue Reading
Body Fat, Ice Baths, and My First Fitness Competition – Oh My!
OMG. I’ve committed to doing my first fitness competition in December. Apparently, I agreed to whittle down my body fat percentage to an acceptable level for the bikini division. My coach tells me I ... Continue Reading
The Good Wife: Supporting an Athletic Spouse
Photos provided by Danette "Dizzle" Rivera. I sat in the near-empty stands of a pristine tennis court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden with a pink umbrella trying to fight off the cruel sun. The ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Andrew Read, Entry 21 – A New Bike and A Lot of Back Bends
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 21 - A New Bike and A Lot of Back ... Continue Reading
The Scale Lies: Why The DEXA Scan Is Best
In 1988, during a now infamous episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show, the talk show megastar triumphantly wheeled out onto the stage a red Radio Flyer wagon heaped full with 67 pounds of gelatinous “fat.” This ... Continue Reading
A Doctor’s Tips for Knee Surgery Recovery
As with most uncommon occurrences in life, they tend to come in multiple numbers. To the misfortune of a few of my newer patients lately, knee surgery seems to be the topic of discussion at my office. From ... Continue Reading
Announcing the Top 3 Photos From September…Plus Details For Next Month!
Thanks to everyone who submitted photos for September's photo contest! We love Olympic weightlifting here at Breaking Muscle, and it was fun to see all the quality photos we received this month. If you ... Continue Reading
Knee Wraps Help Your Lift, But Harm Your Knees
The back squat is commonly deemed the king of lower body exercises, and many lifters rely on knee wraps to protect their knees when squatting due to the heavy loads that are involved. Knee wraps are also ... Continue Reading
Dear Coach: Are Double or Single Kettlebells Better?
Dear Coach, Hey, this is a question for Andrew Read or whoever can answer it really, but in regards to the article on Adding Muscle with Kettlebells: How I Build Up My Grapplers, is it a must to use ... Continue Reading
Sunday Seven: The Week’s 7 Most Popular Articles, Vol. 27
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 topics include mature athletes, progress, sandbags, CrossFit in Brazil, and ... Continue Reading
Duane Stevenson: Coach, Athlete, One Tough Monster
When chatting with Duane Stevenson, I observed that all of us play the hand we’re dealt, and he agreed. I commented that he seemed to be playing his hand with aplomb. He liked that. Duane is a personal ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Charles Staley, Entry 15 – Solid 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
Free Sport Specific Workouts – Hockey and Football
Are you a hockey or a football player? Looking for a training program to get stronger and improve your conditioning? You're in luck, because Breaking Muscle is giving you free sport specific workouts ... Continue Reading
Why You Need to Know Your Snatch to Clean and Jerk Ratio
When I see lifters competing in a meet, I and other experienced coaches can easily determine the appropriateness of their trainings and the expertise of their coaches. I can see common features of the ... Continue Reading
Cross Training Doesn’t Work
I hate to break it to you but cross training doesn’t work. It’s painful to admit to yourself but it’s true. First, some history. Back in the early days of sport science coaches noticed that athletes ... Continue Reading
Compression Gear Worn During Recovery Improves Performance
Recovery is an area where athletes are constantly looking to improve. There are many methods used for recovery, and now compression garments have become increasingly popular with athletes because of their ... Continue Reading
FightMetric: Where MMA Meets Statistics
The sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) has exploded in popularity, and while it is still in its infancy, this has not stopped a multitude of fans from developing rabid interest in specific fighters and ... Continue Reading
