I’m constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you’re looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you’ll enjoy these :
Nice one.
Previously : In Gymchat 162 we discussed Neck Training II with combat athlete Andrew Nalepa. Great conversation.
NB : If you’d like to take part in a future episode – either as an interviewee, or as a guest host – just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.
The 3D Swing Shirt.
Gem From The Vault : Row, Row, Row
Scott Andrew Bird
Time for a little back work.- Looking At : Oct 27, 2024
Scott Andrew Bird | follow @scottbird
What’s been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.
Video : I Tried BOKH (mongolian wrestling) (Sensei Seth)
Nice one.
Gymchat 278 – TBA
We’re still finalising the details for this week’s discussion. I’ll post them on the blog (and X, Facebook etc) shortly. In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show – (there’s an example below, and a full list here). And if you’ve got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we’d love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.Siegmund Klein demonstrating Exercise #4 in his Super Physique course.
NB : If you’d like to take part in a future episode – either as an interviewee, or as a guest host – just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.
Checking Out : 3D Swing Shirt (Workout Clothing For Analyzing Your Golf Swing)
Very interesting idea. The 3D Swing Shirt is am item of workout clothing which is squarely focused on your golf swing. Sensor laden, it shares its insights in real-time both in playing and on the course. Beautiful. A little video :The 3D Swing Shirt.
Ever Tried Kettlebells?
If you've seen people using them but never taken the plunge yourself, here are the ones I use personally. You can also pick up a book/DVD/course if you want to learn how to put them to work.
Tip of the Week : Learn How to Sleep Correctly (Dr Matthew Walker)
Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via X (Formerly `Twitter`), the blog; and the newsletter. Wherever you are, there’s always a way to improve what you’re doing.We’ve certainly discussed sleep – my favourite form of recovery – many times over the years, and this is a great summary of the basics. Nice one.
Unlock Your Hips, Unlock Your Squat
I get a lot of questions regarding the impact of ‘unlocking your hips‘ on heavy squatting. Rick Kaselj goes into it in plenty of detail in the ‘Unlock Your Hip Flexors‘ program; and I’ve also posted a brief video below which demonstrates/explains some of the exercises.
Both (working with Ryan, and Rick’s program) are highly recommended. And as always, we love hearing your feedback – if you sample any of the above exercises or the ‘Unlock Your Hip Flexors‘ program, we’d love to hear about it.
Exercises Of The Week : Round and Round She Goes
Slingshot.
These three basic movements – and their variations – are great as part of a warmup. Just pick up a kettlebell and go.
Hot Potato
For this you’ll need a small, light kettlebell (8kg or so – it depends on your hand size and strength). Turn it over and pick it up in one hand, without using the handle. Quickly pass it back and forth from one hand to the other.
This one is perhaps best done against the clock (rather than counting reps). It’s hardly an exact science.
Slingshot
Using a heavier bell (perhaps a 1-1.5 pood), grab the handle and pass it from one hand to the other around your body. As fast as you can (this is definitely a safer one outside).
Once again, do it for time rather than reps.
Figure 8
This time bend at the hips, and pass the bell (using the handle) in a figure-8 around your legs.
Variations
For the Hot Potato, anything round with a little bit of weight will be fine (medicine ball, bag of sand etc).
For the Slingshot and Figure 8, grease up the handle a bit if you’re looking for a challenge. Remember though, it’s only part of a warmup.
Final thoughts
As with the swings, these movements are both simple and fun. Sure, you could do these with things other than kettlebells, but after dropping the bell, or accidentally hitting yourself in the back, you’ll be glad you chose that little black ball with a handle.
Incidentally, if you’d like to get in touch regarding this or any other aspect of strength, you can contact me here. Look forward to hearing from you.
Fitness Reading/Listening For The Week : ‘Wall Pilates for Seniors : 31 Easy Low-Impact Home Exercises to Improve Your Strength, Flexibility, and Balance’ (by Michael Smith)
It’ll come as no surprise that we discuss a lot of fitness-related books, courses & podcasts; on this site as well as the various networks noted in the sidebar.
Following a recent conversation (it was actually on calisthenics) I was pointed to Michael Smith’s ‘Wall Pilates for Seniors’. Great way to get people moving.
( And if you’re keen on testing it out yourself, you’ll be happy to know that it blends well with the slightly more strenuous forms of training. )
Enjoy.
Incidentally, I’m always looking to add to the ‘books to read‘ list. If you’ve come across something which you’d love everyone else to check out, drop me a line.
There’s also a list of our all-time fitness suggestions over there. Dive on in.
Slingshot.
