Are you even aware you possess muscles that perform multiple joint functions? That is, a commonly-known flexor at one joint may also be a flexor or extensor at another joint. These muscles are known ... Continue Reading
Two-Jointed Muscles of the Arms: How to Train Them
In another article, I addressed the two-jointed muscles (TJM) of the lower body. This discussion will focus on the TJM of the arms: the biceps and triceps. So, here is a quick tutorial on two-jointed ... Continue Reading
Develop Your Handstand: The Importance of Progression
The handstand covers a lot of aspects of athleticism: strength, mobility, balance, stability, spatial awareness, flexibility, and more. Being able to successfully do a handstand transfers over to other ... Continue Reading
Start a Healthy New Family Tradition
We human beings are a strange lot. We continue going through the motions of cultural traditions, long after the reason they were created has been forgotten. In fact, we’ll go right on doing them, even ... Continue Reading
4 Strategies to Get Stronger This Winter
Science has proven that stronger people live longer. So, essentially, that makes strength training the fountain of youth. Now that you know the secret to youthful vibrance, you have an even better reason ... Continue Reading
Be Your Own Expert and Turbo-Charge Your Training After Age 50
As we age we expect to develop aches, pains, and reduced workout tolerance that prevents us from training the way we used to. Those of us who are female also have the added threat of menopause looming over ... Continue Reading
The Beginner Pull-Up Program: Adding Volume and Variety
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 more extended sets and ... Continue Reading
You’ve Been Competitive, Now Try Training for Life
As a competitor, coming off of competition comes with a mix of emotions. It could be regret for not competing or preparing as well as you could have, it could be pride for performing well, it could be ... Continue Reading
Extreme Calisthenics: From the Playground to the Silver Screen
A decade ago on YouTube, one of the very first viral videos was of an impossibly muscled man who called himself “Hannibal for King.” In that video, he does equally impossible things on pull up bars and ... Continue Reading
3 Core Exercises to Help You Ditch the Crunches
One of the best things about attending the annual DVRT (Ultimate Sandbag Training) Masters Summit is that I get a chance to spend time with some of the world’s best trainers. We trade ideas about how to ... Continue Reading
Stay Injury Free While Training for Size
Photo by Bev Childress Staying injury free while training for size is a multi-factorial, multi-layered process. Lifting weights is actually very safe and the injury rates are far lower than many ... Continue Reading
Yes, You Can Build Muscle Without Specialized Equipment
Every young powerlifter thinks they want to train at a bare bones garage gym with no machines or unnecessary equipment. They fall in love with the idea of training only with a barbell and heavy free ... Continue Reading
It’s Movember: Why Men Are Being Left Behind
The beautiful month of October brings us brilliant fall foliage and relief from the summer heat, along with the excitement of football season, baseball playoffs, and the start of basketball. Pink ribbons ... Continue Reading
Embrace Your Discomfort to Reveal Transformation
Source: Erica Robinson Source: Erica Robinson Ask yourself: do I want to stay the same, or do I want to be different? I have no doubt that the universal answer is that we want to be ... Continue Reading
The Greater Purpose of Strength
Welcome to the second installment of the Socially Conscious Squatter Show. Here we examine the intimate link between fitness, health, and the issues of our time. Welcome to the second ... Continue Reading
Strength Training and Hypertrophy for Women over 40
I’d like to persuade all women over 40 to start strength training for hypertrophy. Now, before you start panicking that I am trying to make you big and bulky, let me explain why it is important for women ... Continue Reading
Holistic Strategies to End Shoulder Pain
I am regularly contacted by fellow martial artists, trainers, and fitness enthusiasts about shoulder pain. Chronic shoulder pain, the kind that keeps people up at night, wanting to saw their shoulder off ... Continue Reading
Progressions and Regressions at the Heart of a Good Training Plan
In order to be able to execute complex movements with correct form and in a manner that delivers the best results during training, a breakdown of the movements has to occur so that the trainee can progress ... Continue Reading
Women and Weightlifting (And How I Fell In Love)
I am a weightlifting coach and competitive athlete, but my introduction to weightlifting was by chance. I experimented with the sport out of a desire to try something new. I am a weightlifting ... Continue Reading
Don’t Be That Guy With Chicken Legs
Go to the gym and note who makes a beeline to the cardio machines or upper-body strength training area upon entering the facility. It’s a good bet you’ll see many doing this. The majority of gym denizens ... Continue Reading
The Best Method for Talking to Your Doctor About Shoulder Injury
I was sitting at the computer one day, looking over Facebook, when I noticed a friend had posted about his shoulder problems. It got me thinking and I wondered what I could do to help him. Well, the ... Continue Reading
The Impact of Explosive Overhead Pressing Movements
Photo by Bruce Klemens Photo by Bruce Klemens Interestingly enough, not many studies have investigated the impact of explosive overhead pressing movements - push pressing, push jerking and split ... Continue Reading
8 Weeks of Ground Work to Make the Floor Your Friend
Are you a martial artist? Or a yogi? Or perhaps you simply want to be able to interact with the floor a little bit better? The ability to move well on the floor and to get up and down from the floor ... Continue Reading
Embrace Your Human Animal
You are an animal. You were born with the ability to chase down prey, to flee creatively, to coordinate attacks, and to thrive in the rainforest and tundra alike. For millennia, your species lived every ... Continue Reading
