This Week on Straight to the Bar
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 :
Sand Digs
Scott Andrew Bird
How do your warm up your hands before heavy grip workouts? Like this.- Looking At : Dec 9, 2012
Scott Andrew Bird
We’ve been discussing some very interesting techniques, products and services recently. Here are the highlights.
Over to you. I’d love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you’d like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here’s how.
Video : Kody Burns – New World Record 270.52 lb 2 Hand Pinch at Gripmas 2012
Fantastic.
The Straight to the Bar Community on Google+
As you’re no doubt well aware, I love talking about strength training – on the blog, on Twitter and so on. Can’t get enough.
Joining the list is the Straight to the Bar Community on Google+, which is free and open to everyone who loves discussing strength-training techniques, events, equipment and a whole lot more. If you’re also a huge fan of these things (and if you’re reading this, you almost certainly are), come and say hello. Cheers.
The Gymchats : We’re still finalising the details for this week’s discussion – I’ll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.
NB : If you’d like to suggest a future topic, or schedule an interview for one of the upcoming discussions, just leave a note on the Community Page over on Google+. Alternatively you can contact us privately, over here. Look forward to hearing from you.
Tip of the Week: Setting up Bands for Dumbbell Benching
Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there’s always a way to improve what you’re doing.
This tip comes to us from the Diesel Crew, in the form of a quick video demonstration. How to set up bands for the dumbbell bench press.
It’s actually fairly straightforward (once you’ve done it a couple of times). The steps :
- Create a loop
- Put a twist in the loop
- Set a neutral, thumb up hand postion inside the ends of the band
- Rotate the thumb down as you move the band to a upper to mid back position
- Maintain band tension as you pick up the bands and throughout the movement
A quick video demonstration :
Good stuff.
Straight to the Bar 2012 : Strength-Training Resources
We’ve noted a number of superb resources – books, DVDs, equipment, workshops and sites – in the newsletter this year. Here are a few personal favourites.
Quick update on the The RKC Book of Strength and Conditioning we mentioned recently – an incredible collection.
As you’ll see, this book manages to distil an awful lot of RKC wisdom into a single package. A snippet from the Dragon Door site will give you the overall idea :
Since 2001 and the world’s first Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) Instructor Certification workshop, thousands of individuals–martial artists, first responders, military, and fitness and strength professionals, have learned how to use kettlebells quickly and safely. And then introduce the remarkable benefits of the kettelbell to a global community of kettlebell enthusiasts.
Many of these RKCs have created a wide variety of effective workout programs for their clients, customers, teams, and units. So, who better to answer the question “How do I use kettlebells to get the best possible results for ME and MY goals?” than these same RKCs?
We asked the RKC Instructors to submit their most prized workouts, so you can not only see, but also use proven programs that have been successfully used by these qualified experts. The result became The RKC Book of Strength and Conditioning, replete with time-tested, results-producing kettlebell workouts that can satisfy the needs of newbie and pro alike, for years to come.
Some workouts are used to develop strength. Some are used for conditioning. All have produced results either for the instructors themselves, their clients, or both. Enjoy the pain!
Once again, it sounds fantastic. And if you check it out, drop me a line – I’d love to hear what you think. Cheers.
Exercise of the Week : Handstand Wall Runs
Strange name, great exercise.
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.
Kettlebell Exercise Demonstrations & Tutorials
We’ve looked at a lot of kettlebell exercises and variations over the years – in the form of tips, tutorials and demonstrations.
Where do you find them all? Right here – a complete list of Kettlebell Exercise Demonstrations & Tutorials.
Enjoy.
Free Downloads from the Strength Kit
I recently added a number of resources to the Straight to the Bar Strength Kit, and as a Strength & Fitness Newsletter subscriber you’re more than welcome to download as many of them as you like. Several great eBooks, podcasts and videos – all absolutely free.
Just head over here, save them to your hard-drive, and dive in.
Good stuff.
NB : This is an ever-changing list. If you’d like to put your own work in front of a fantastic strength-focussed audience, let me know.
Want to Help Out?
As you might expect, at Straight to the Bar we’re always looking for new ways to share the love of strength-training with the world. Via the main site, the weekly Gymchats, this newsletter and a whole lot more.
We’ve got a new project coming up (a couple actually), and we’re looking for someone to help out with the graphics side of things. In return we offer not only our eternal admiration, but the sincere appreciation of the entire strength-training community. And, of course, the myriad connections and opportunities that go along with that.
If you’re a designer (think illustrations more than physical products) and have more than a passing fondness for the world of strength training, get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.