On October 8th, 2016, I competed in my first physique fitness show. A physique show, for those of you who are unfamiliar, is a bodybuilding-type event where you are judged on stage (in either board shorts ... Continue Reading
One PED You Shouldn’t Resist
I’ve found athletes at every level will go to extremes to improve their game. Powders, pills, lighter equipment, better shoes, expensive coaching programs, and banned substances. I’ve found ... Continue Reading
Fight Strength NSFW: Hypertrophy for Different Weight Classes
This is a weekly show that focuses on the training strategies used to develop elite fighters. Phil Daru is the lead strength and conditioning coach at American Top Team (ATT). Some of the notable fighters ... Continue Reading
Balance Your Upper Body by Training Shoulder Extension
Most people involved in fitness train using pulling and pushing exercises in the forward and overhead positions (e.g. rowing, push ups, bench press; pull ups, military press), but rarely train the pull and ... Continue Reading
The 14 Minute Winter Workout You Can Do Anywhere
Winter is here…and just because the weather outside is frightful you can still get a great workout indoors with minimal space and equipment. I’ve put together a short but effective, full-body workout that ... Continue Reading
Choose the Fear that Drives You
The OR nurse’s comment was as predictable as it was common. “So, this was a mountain biking crash?” “Yup,” I replied with a grin, knowing full well it sounded much more impressive than it ... Continue Reading
Give Yourself the Gift of a Home Gym
A couple of years ago I experienced the thrill of buying my first house. With the prospect of home ownership came the chance to create my very own office and man cave. My wife quickly went to work ... Continue Reading
Make Use of the Versatility and Time Efficiency of Sled Training
Sled training can trace its origins to Scandinavian loggers who developed powerful legs and lower backs from dragging downed trees out of forests all day but the popularity of fitness sleds are a ... Continue Reading
Survive and Thrive Through Menopause Hell
Of all the misconceptions that exist in western society, perhaps the hardest to overcome is what aging should look like. This is especially true for women, who face a mountain of cultural nonsense when it ... Continue Reading
Find Your Flow State to Access Peak Performance
The flow state. Some people think it’s a myth, an urban legend, a rumor that top athletes and performers spread to throw others off of their trail. But for those that have experienced this phenomenon, it ... Continue Reading
How to Teach Your T-Spine to Bend
We usually think of mobility as it relates to our peripheral joints. Can the ankles move? Can the wrists bend? Can the shoulders let the arms go overhead? When it comes to the spine, the conversation ... Continue Reading
The Workout You’re Not Doing For Killer Glutes
When it comes to leg day, there are two muscles that get most of the attention: your quads and your hamstrings. All those Squats, Lunges, and Deadlifts hit those two muscle groups effectively. But what ... Continue Reading
The Beginner Pull Up Program: Scaling Without Bands
The Beginner Pull-Up Program is designed to help you achieve your first strict pull-up. If you already have a pull-up or two, this program will help you progress your strength toward longer sets and more ... Continue Reading
Improve Your Technique to Prevent Combat Sport Injuries
Muay Thai a martial art that sits at two different ends of the spectrum. To watch a contest live, as a lover of the game, it is beautiful and breathtaking. But when you’re the one in the heat of battle it ... Continue Reading
My Daughter Will Never Do Girl Push Ups
Two things happened on my last night of a working trip to New York: I had my first poke bowl ever, and my girlfriend Facetimed to tell me she was pregnant. Both events caused me to close my eyes and take a ... Continue Reading
Saving Youth Athletics From the Adults
If the statistics surrounding the obesity crisis weren’t scary enough already, all indications are that our kids are going to fare even worse. Ubiquitous technology and a society that has long neglected ... Continue Reading
Olympic Weightlifting: Lifting Fast and Lifting Big
Source: Bruce Klemens Source: Bruce Klemens With absolute strength being the physiological limit that defines the ability for an athlete to produce power, the optimal rate of force development ... Continue Reading
5 Phases to Recover From Your Low Back Injury
In the United States, patients with musculoskeletal conditions incur total annual medical care costs of approximately $240 billion. Eighty percent of American adults will experience back pain at some ... Continue Reading
The Male Model Workout
The camera isn’t always our friend. Sometimes you blink right as the photo is taken, sometimes you’re slouching a little, and sometimes you just don’t like the way your body looks. Sure, you can change up ... Continue Reading
Find the Martial Art That Makes You Fit
We all know that training in martial arts come with many benefits. One of the biggest takeaways is fitness, both physical and mental. The arts can help develop things like strength, provide a well-rounded ... Continue Reading
My Most Effective Squat Cue
I have a sordid history with squatting. It’s been a classic love-hate relationship, mixed with heartbreak, disappointment, and pain (dramatic, I know). When I was coming up as an athlete, like most guys, I ... Continue Reading
Kettlebell Correctives for T-Spine, Chest and Shoulder Health
As a martial artist and instructor with decades under my belt, one of the hurdles I struggled with when I started training with kettlebells was my thoracic spine mobility, or rather, my lack thereof. ... Continue Reading
Fight Strength NSFW: Your Training and Cognitive Exercise
Here at Breaking Muscle, we are very excited to present the Fight Strength NSFW Podcast. This is a weekly show that focuses on the training strategies used to develop elite fighters. Phil Daru is the lead ... Continue Reading
Whatever Your Goal, the Answer Is Play
We were born to play. All animals are, but none so much as humans. From giggling at funny faces and rolling balls across the floor to making forts and imagining new games, we spend the better part of our ... Continue Reading
